CHATTANOOGA, TN -- A group of Chattanooga State Community College students next month will travel to Pennsylvania State University to hear from experts and build connections at the 2024 American Nuclear Society student conference. The trip was made possible by a $10,000 donation from the Tennessee Valley Authority. 

Jay Wells is a nuclear power student at ChattState and president of the College’s American Nuclear Society club—the only such club at a community college in the country. He said he looks forward to his trip to Penn State for several reasons, including networking with potential employers. 

“It’s going to be a great opportunity to get out there and show what the students in this program can do,” Wells said. “TVA has been so kind to partner with us to allow us to attend this conference.” 

Six Nuclear Power Engineering Technology and Radiation Protection students will attend this year’s conference, titled “Keystone of Tomorrow.” It will be held at Penn State from April 4 to 6. 

Terry Newman, Associate Professor of Nuclear Power, said attending the conference will bolster learning for students in these programs. 

"Attending this conference at Penn State offers our students invaluable exposure to the future of nuclear science and technology,” Newman said. "The chance to participate in the American Nuclear Society student conference is a rare privilege for our students, made possible by TVA's gracious support." 

Beyond benefitting ChattState’s nuclear students, the donation also embodies a decades-long partnership between TVA and the college, said Tom Fowler, Corporate Operations Training Manager for TVA’s Nuclear Division. 

“We find it very important that we help these students to be the next professionals in our nuclear power programs within TVA or the nuclear industry at large,” Fowler said. “We are happy to support ChattState. Today’s donation only strengthens our partnership.” 

College President Dr. Rebecca Ashford said TVA’s investment in ChattState’s nuclear programs underscores the importance of collaboration between industry and the College in creating skilled professionals. 

“Because of the generosity of our partners at TVA, our students will participate in professional development activities and learn from researchers and practitioners at the forefront of nuclear science,” said Dr. Ashford. “With this donation, TVA continues to demonstrate its dedication to investing in the future nuclear workforce, reinforcing the importance of collaboration between industry and academia.” 

Chattanooga State Community College President Dr. Rebecca Ashford speaks in the Gerald McCormick Center on March 20, 2024.