Lexington, TN. – Henderson County Schools announced today that Lexington High School has
been selected to win a Learning Environment grant through the TVA EnergyRight School Uplift
program. Pictured are energy team members; (Back, L to R) Kaelyn Chappel, D’Mia Armstrong, Jade Clark;
(Front, L to R) Mrs. Lauren Marchbanks, Abby Cook, Paislee Douglas, Rylee Wadley, Selena Krypciak, Avery Todd.
Tight budgets and aging buildings leave many schools facing a difficult decision between
funding learning programs and making needed facility upgrades that can lower energy costs
and improve health and comfort. TVA’s School Uplift program partnered with local power
companies across seven states to help 106 public schools tackle energy waste this school year.
School Uplift is a year-long energy management training program, developed with the State of
Tennessee’s Energy Efficient Schools Initiative, that helps public schools make smart energy
choices that improve the classroom learning environment and save money through decreased
energy use.
“School Uplift is another great example of TVA and Lexington Electric’s investment in our
community,” said Lauren Marchbanks. “We learned so much through this program about how to
make our school more efficient and comfortable, and I’m proud of our staff and students whose
efforts earned this grant. We plan on investing the grant money in more flexible seating for
classrooms that will improve our facility and make Lexington High School an even better place
for all students to learn and thrive.”
Lexington High School joins over 225 schools to have completed School Uplift over the past
four years, competing to earn grants for building upgrades and other learning environment
improvements. On average, participating schools save nearly 10% on their annual energy bills
from behavior changes alone.
“Every dollar invested in our schools helps districts allocate resources to where it matters most –
educating our children,” said Monika Beckner, vice president of TVA’s Energy Services &
Programs. “We’re inspired by the winners of this year’s School Uplift grants and proud of their
dedication to reducing energy waste and building a sustainable future for us all.”
Recently, TVA’s School Uplift program was recognized as a 2024 ENERGY STAR Partner of the
Year by ENERGY STAR, administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.