On a perfect spring day in April, children at Margaret Newton Elementary School in Tiptonville had no problem leaving the playground to file back into class.

Because this classroom is a playground for their young minds.

Inviting exploration

On April 22, Gibson Electric Membership Corporation and TVA joined Lake County school leaders and officials for the grand opening of the Ripken Foundation STEM Center. Filled with innovative learning products and furnished with clover tables and stackable chairs, the STEM Center is a haven for building, creating and finding passion for science, technology, engineering and mathematics in a fun, hands-on environment.

Learning through play

A dozen students from kindergarten through second grade entered the room with their teachers and rushed to find their favorite activities. The youngest gravitated toward screen‑free coding cars, while others explored robots and magnetic tiles.

The students’ adult guests moved from group to group, watching, asking questions and taking in the excitement.

“We love doing this, but really it’s kind of for selfish reasons,” said Bert Robinson, TVA state director of Tennessee and Greater East Region. “We hope that by exposing these kids to STEM activities early on that some spark ignites for them so they want to come work for TVA or Gibson.”

Equipping educators

In addition to the equipment and furniture, Ripken Foundation STEM Center grants include a custom-designed curriculum, lesson plans that complement TVA’s workforce development initiatives and a dedicated program coordinator to help mentors and teachers.

“The training of staff is an important part,” Dr. Woody Burton, Lake County director of schools. “We have opportunities to get grant money all the time. We can buy the stuff, but if we don’t have the ability to build capacity in the adults that are charged to deliver it, nothing happens.”

Burton said the Ripken Foundation brings together the funding, the people and the vision to make the program successful.

In the weeks leading up to the opening, Gibson team members joined TVA and Ripken officials to assemble furniture and prepare the classroom ahead of teacher training in March to ensure the space was ready for children to use.

That planning isn’t top of mind for students.

They’re focused on learning through play — testing ideas, solving problems and experimenting with cool robots, circuitry boards and 3D printers. After the ribbon cutting, colorful wall wraps were installed to complete the STEM Center, transforming the space into one that sparks curiosity at every turn.

Investing in the future

For Gibson Electric, the project reflects a commitment to powering the potential of the people we serve, including our future workforce and membership.

“We are so proud to be a part of this,” said Jessica Toliver, Gibson Electric community and member engagement specialist. “We can’t wait to see what these students build, what they create and the things they do.”

The ribbon cutting marked an important milestone for the community, but for students, it was simply the next step in a journey full of possibilities.