The Oak Ridge Public Schools Education Foundation (ORPSEF) invests in Oak Ridge Schools beyond what public tax dollars can provide to ensure the highest quality of education for all of our students.
To create collaborative partnerships in education that leverage collective influence, energy, and expertise, enabling Oak Ridge Schools to anticipate and respond to transformative events, enhance educational opportunities for all students, and influence education throughout the region.
About ORPSEF
We invest in initiatives that enrich student learning, expand professional development opportunities, foster innovative instruction, advance workforce development and increase access to cutting-edge technology in the classroom. ORPSEF is committed to sustaining Oak Ridge’s tradition of academic excellence, creating meaningful opportunities for the broader community to impact our public schools, and investing in the future of our students and educators.
Great schools are the heart of a great community, and Oak Ridge Schools thrive because of supporters like you. Your gift to ORPSEF is an investment in our students, educators, and the future of Oak Ridge. Every donation makes a real and lasting impact.
ORPSEF welcomes gifts from individuals, corporations, and foundations. You can give by check, credit card, or gifts of stock and securities. Many donors choose monthly giving or pledges fulfilled over time. Corporate matching gifts can double, or even triple your contribution, so ask your employer if they participate.
All donations are fully tax-deductible.
Give online or mail your gift to:
- ORPSEF
- 304 New York Avenue
Oak Ridge, TN 37830
For more information or to discuss how your gift can make the greatest impact, contact our Executive Director at (865) 425-9017 or director@orpsef.org.
Together, we are making a critical difference and continuing Oak Ridge’s tradition of excellence.
Educator Grants
Launched in 2005, ORPSEF’s Educator Grants program provides educators in Oak Ridge Schools with funding to design and implement innovative projects that enhance classroom instruction, accelerate student learning, and inspire creativity. Open to teachers, specialists, principals, and administrators across all grades, subjects, and schools, these grants support initiatives that fall outside the regular school budget, whether piloting new instructional strategies, integrating cutting-edge resources, or developing whole-school programs.
Projects are selected annually through a competitive application process, with a focus on problem-solving approaches and instructional best practices that directly benefit Oak Ridge students.
ORPSEF’s Educator Grants are open to all Oak Ridge Schools educators. The Foundation reviews applications annually.
To apply:
Visit Grant Application Below
Wildcat Manufacturing
Wildcat Manufacturing is a student-run enterprise at Oak Ridge High School that gives students hands-on experience in advanced manufacturing, design, and automation. Working with local companies, students engage in AI-driven design, additive manufacturing, robotics, and other cutting-edge technologies – while also gaining real-world business experience in securing projects, managing clients, and delivering finished products. Participants can earn college credit, develop in-demand technical skills, and prepare for success in tomorrow’s workforce.
ORPSEF proudly supports Wildcat Manufacturing by helping raise funds and providing resources beyond the school system’s budget, ensuring this innovative program continues to grow and inspire future leaders in manufacturing.
The Benita Albert Innovate Teaching Fellowship
Established to honor Benita Albert’s extraordinary 45-year career as a pioneering mathematics teacher at Oak Ridge High School, this fellowship supports Oak Ridge Schools educators in developing innovative teaching practices, particularly in STEM disciplines.
The fellowship provides high-quality professional development opportunities, fostering knowledge of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and promoting collaboration through Professional Learning Communities. These efforts equip teachers with cutting-edge approaches to prepare students for rapid technological change while sustaining Oak Ridge Schools’ culture of educational excellence.
ORPSEF provides additional funding and resources beyond the Oak Ridge School’s budget to support this initiative. High quality professional learning for all educators is critical to maintaining the culture of educational excellence that has been the hallmark of the Oak Ridge Schools.
The fellowship is open to all Oak Ridge Schools’ educators, with applications reviewed annually through ORPSEF’s Grant Application process.
To apply:
Visit Grant Application Below
Oak Ridge High School
Class of 1970 Scholarship
The Oak Ridge High School Class of 1970 Scholarship was established in 2010 to support graduates of Oak Ridge High School and the Secret City Academy in pursuing higher education at technical/vocational schools, community colleges, or universities. This scholarship is dedicated to encouraging students who have overcome challenges, demonstrated determination in completing their education, and shown promise for personal and academic growth. By recognizing and honoring these students’ perseverance and potential, the Class of 1970 celebrates the spirit of resilience and lifelong learning. In partnership with ORPSEF, the scholarship fund offers donors the opportunity to make tax-deductible contributions, ensuring the legacy of the Class of 1970 continues to impact future generations.
High School seniors are eligible to apply for this scholarship. The scholarship is designated for those students seeking to further their academic or vocational studies. ORPSEF reviews applications annually.
To apply:
Visit Grant Application Below
Lawler Exchange
Student Scholarship
The Lawler Exchange Student Scholarship was established in 2008 by Dr. Adrian Lawler, an Oak Ridge High School graduate and 1957 American Field Service exchange student to Sweden. This scholarship supports opportunities for Oak Ridge Schools students to travel and study abroad. Inspired by his own transformative experience for the support he received from the Oak Ridge community, Dr. Lawler created this fund to help future students explore other cultures, broaden their perspectives, and foster international understanding. The scholarship provides partial funding for students participating in exchange programs or international meetings. Though Dr. Lawler has since passed away, his endowment continues to honor his legacy and commitment to global learning.
Students attending Oak Ridge Schools are eligible to apply for this scholarship. The scholarship is designated for those students seeking support to participate in student exchange programs, international meetings or to study abroad. ORPSEF reviews applications annually and the amount of scholarship funds available will vary from year to year.
To apply:
Visit Grant Application Below
“The Oak Ridge Public Schools Education Foundation is an invaluable partner in our mission to ensure every student is prepared for college, career, and life success. Through their commitment to excellence, equity, and innovation, ORPSEF empowers our educators to create exceptional learning experiences that put students first, inspire curiosity, and open doors to opportunity. With their support, we are able to work together as a community to help all students thrive.”
“Through initiatives like iSchool, which provides Oak Ridge High School students with direct experience with AI- and robotics-assisted manufacturing, ORPSEF has been an innovative partner with Oak Ridge National Laboratory. I appreciate ORPSEF’s commitment to creating new learning opportunities for our community’s students and preparing them for the future workforce.”
“The Oak Ridge Public Schools Education Foundation enhances what tax dollars alone cannot provide, and our impact speaks for itself—nearly $1.4 million in grants reaching every classroom and a state-of-the-art high school that raised the ceiling on teaching and learning. Oak Ridge is a community that believes in possibilities, that values innovation, and that understands our shared future depends on giving every kid the tools they need to build it. Thank you for investing in the bright minds that will shape our tomorrow.”
Board of Directors
and ORPSEF Staff
- Benita Albert Retired Educator
- Stephen Barnes Microsoft Corporation
- Jeremy Biggs Methodist Medical of Oak Ridge
- Ivan Boatner Oak Ridge National Lab
- David Bradshaw Pinnacle Bank
- Chris Corwin 21st Mortgage Corporation
- Jim Dodson Oak Ridge Schools & Oak Ridge City Council
- Derek Hagemeyer Oak Ridge Associated Universities
- Derrick Hammond Oak Valley Baptist Church & Oak Ridge City Council
- Leigha Justice ORISE
- Ryan Overton Navarro Research and Engineering
- Nathalie Schmidt UCOR, LLC
- Barry Stephenson Materials & Chemistry Lab, Inc
- Stephen Streiffer Oak Ridge National Lab
- Peter Thornton Oak Ridge National Lab
- Cathy Toth (ORPSEF Chair) Acato Information Management, LLC
- Mike Taylor Executive Director
