From left, Marion County Director of Schools, Dr. Mark Griffith; Tennessee American Water Superintendent for Sequatchie Valley Michael Griffith; Kristy West, Whitwell Elementary School PTO President; and Whitwell Elementary School Principal Nicole Condra
Tennessee American Water and Whitwell Elementary School held a dedication Friday of the new outdoor classroom, which is also accessible to the public, at the school in Marion County. The space was funded by a Keep Communities Flowing grant from the American Water Charitable Foundation and has been named in memory of Tennessee American Water Charles “Junior” Atterton, Jr., who passed away suddenly in late 2020.
The Keep Communities Flowing grant program provides community-based grants to support projects that connect with American Water’s core focus areas like Water and Healthy Living, Environmental Education and Community Sustainability. The outdoor classroom provides a setting for the school to enrich learning in an inspiring setting. It’s also available for community use, located near a walking track and playground.
“At Tennessee American Water we believe the importance of being a good neighbor in addition to providing clean, safe, reliable water,” said Tennessee American Water superintendent for Sequatchie Valley, Michael Griffith. “It means so much to us at Tennessee American Water to remember Junior Atterton in this way. He was so proud of his community. He was a great team member at Tennessee American Water and friend to us all.”
Whitwell Elementary School was one of 12 grant recipients awarded by the American Water Charitable Foundation in 2020. Tennessee American Water employees volunteered to plant native flowering plants around the area.