SRNL’s K-12 Catalyst Grants award $125,000 to support STEM education across the CSRA
In partnership with The Columbus Foundation, regional STEM grant initiative reaches $500,000 milestone in total giving since 2023
Savannah River National Laboratory, operated by Battelle Savannah River Alliance, LLC, announced the 26 exemplary educators selected as recipients of this year’s K-12 Catalyst Grants for STEM Education. Offered in partnership with The Columbus Foundation, this year’s funding cycle will distribute $125,000 directly to classrooms across the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA), providing teachers with the essential resources needed to inspire the next generation of innovators, scientists and engineers.
This year’s awards mark a significant milestone for the regional program. Since its inception in 2023, the K-12 Catalyst Grants initiative has awarded a cumulative total of $500,000 to local educators. These funds have consistently empowered teachers to integrate state-of-the-art technology, hands-on science kits, and interactive math and engineering projects into their daily curricula.
“The K-12 Catalyst Grants are just one of the ways we invest in advancing STEM education in our community,” said Johney Green, director of SRNL and president and CEO of BSRA. “These grants equip educators with the resources they need to unlock students’ imaginations, connect classroom learning to real-world challenges, and prepare the next generation of scientists, engineers and innovators.”
The 26 winning classrooms represent a diverse and impactful geographic footprint across both South Carolina and Georgia, highlighting a broad regional dedication to academic excellence:
- South Carolina (12 Classrooms): Creative STEM projects will be funded in classrooms across Aiken and Barnwell counties.
- Georgia (14 Classrooms): Innovative educators received grants across Burke, Columbia, Jefferson, Lincoln and Richmond counties.
These grants will fund a wide array of classroom initiatives, ranging from robotics and basic coding to environmental science and hands-on laboratory experiences. By delivering resources directly to individual classrooms, the K-12 Catalyst Grants ensure that funding goes where it can make the most immediate and profound impact on student learning.
Savannah River National Laboratory is a multi-program federally funded research and development center managed and operated by Battelle Savannah River Alliance for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Environmental Management. EM transforms the nation’s environmental liabilities into opportunities for innovation, job creation, and economic growth, while ensuring safe, secure and prosperous communities across America. For more information, visit energy.gov/em.
Contact: news@srnl.gov
Teachers and schools receiving 2026 K-12 Catalyst Grants for STEM education
| Alyssa Smokes | Byrd Elementary School |
| Angela Farmer | Wrens Elementary School |
| Ashley Exantus | A.R. Johnson Health Science and Engineering Magnet School |
| Ashton Myrick | Guinyard-Butler Middle School |
| Beverly Lassiter | Richmond Hill Elementary School |
| Christina McDiarmid | Gloverville Elementary School |
| David Phillips | Greenbrier Middle School |
| Denise James | Guinyard Butler Middle School (STAR Academy) |
| Georgina Anderson | Ridge Spring-Monetta Middle/High School |
| Iesha Upshaw | A.R. Johnson Health Science and Engineering Magnet School |
| Jada Todd | Savannah River Academy |
| Jennifer Minolfo | Millbrook Elementary School |
| Jennifer Young | Stevens Creek Elementary School |
| Joanna Underwood | Carver Elementary School |
| Kaitlyn McGurk | North Augusta Elementary School |
| Kelli Randall | Graniteville Elementary School |
| Kristina Istre | A.R. Johnson Health Science and Engineering Magnet School |
| Latanza Williams | Lincoln County Middle School |
| Mary Nicodemus | East Aiken School of the Arts |
| Melissa Kelsey | Burke County Middle School |
| Michelle O’Rourke | North Augusta High School |
| Patricia Saxon | Jackson STEM Magnet Middle School |
| Raley Arnold | North Columbia Elementary School |
| Randall Williams | McBean Elementary School |
| Stephany Griffin | Tall Pines STEM Academy |
| Valarie Thompson | Academy of Richmond County |
Media contact: SRNL Media Relations