Preparing kids for the future.
What could motivated students achieve for themselves, and for our community, if they were given in-demand tech skills? If they were inspired by experienced mentors in hands-on internships? And, if they were provided access to the world’s fastest community-wide internet? We can’t wait to find out, because an entire generation of these kids is about to make their mark on the future of Chattanooga. And perhaps the world.
HCS EdConnect Powered by EPB: because every student deserves the best internet.
In 2020, nearly a third of area students lacked internet access at home. Today, HCS EdConnect Powered by EPB is changing that. A joint effort between EPB, Hamilton County Schools, and community partners, the program provides free high-speed internet to economically challenged students and has become a national model for closing the digital divide. More than 28,000 students and family members are seeing real results: improved grades, greater parental involvement, better job opportunities, continued education, and access to online healthcare.
Eighth graders enrolled in HCS EdConnect made sizable improvements in standardized test scores.
Learn moreHelping generate brighter futures at Tyner Academy.
Each year, about 200 students are getting a head start on careers in computer coding, IT, and even quantum mechanics through the EPB Institute of Technology & Networking at Tyner Academy. This partnership with Hamilton County Schools’ Future Ready Institute connects students with real-world tools and industry insight. Whether they’re learning at the Institute or onsite at EPB, students are mastering coding, assembling advanced computer systems, and troubleshooting them like pros. It’s real-world experience that encourages real-world success.
The first class of Tyner Future-Ready Institute students graduated in 2022 with more than $6 million in scholarship offers!
Opening opportunities for girls in the SPARK Mentor Program.
College prep programs in Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) are proven pathways to career success. The SPARK Mentor Program, offered in partnership with Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy, extends STEAM learning beyond the classroom. Designed for ninth-grade girls, SPARK provides hands-on, real-world experiences guided by dedicated mentors who serve as coaches and role models, helping students build the skills and confidence to envision what’s possible and pursue it.
ArtSpark Goes to School.
Utility boxes are necessary fixtures on our city streets. But what if they could also be canvases for artists? ArtSpark Goes to School—a partnership between EPB, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s Arts-Based Collaborative and other community supporters—invites Hamilton County high school students to design artwork with inspiring themes, such as “What Energizes You?” Selected designs are transformed into vinyl wraps and installed on utility boxes throughout Chattanooga, beautifying the city while providing students with real-world experience in art and design.
School Uplift saves schools money, while teaching valuable lessons.
In this partnership with TVA and Hamilton County Schools, EPB Energy Pros work alongside teachers and students to find ways to save energy. On average, schools save about 10% on their energy costs annually. From more efficient lighting to upgraded HVAC systems to energy-smart habits, students get a front-row seat to the impact of changes big and small. Along the way, they learn how saving energy protects natural resources, reduces pollution, and builds a more resilient community. When we do more with less, everyone wins!
Working with a student-led team, EPB Energy Pros helped Chattanooga School of Arts & Sciences (CSAS) earn a $410,000 grant to modernize the school’s A/C units and lighting. Rossville Middle School earned a $100,000 School Uplift.