Brevard, NC – May 20, 2025 – Transylvania County Schools is excited to announce that Brevard High School teachers Matthew Tuckey (Physical Science) and Rebecca Walkup (Math) have received the prestigious Excite Award from the Lemelson-MIT Program. This recognition highlights the strength of their initial InvenTeam grant application, which demonstrated many of the qualities needed for a successful final proposal.
As Excite Award recipients, Tuckey and Walkup have been invited to refine and resubmit their application for the final round of the InvenTeam Grant competition by September 8. If selected, Brevard High School will receive funding to support a student team in designing and building an innovative technology solution to address a real-world problem.
“We’re thrilled to see our teachers recognized by such a prestigious program,” said Superintendent Dr. Lisa Fletcher. “This award demonstrates that Transylvania County Schools offers students opportunities to explore, create, and excel in STEM-right here in our community.”
If awarded the grant, Brevard High students will identify a challenge, develop a prototype, and test their solution. At the end of the 2025-26 school year, the team will travel to MIT in Cambridge, Massachusetts, to participate in EurekaFest-a national event where student InvenTeams present their inventions and connect with other young innovators.
This would mark the second time Transylvania County has been represented in the InvenTeam program. In 2011, Brevard Scout Troop 703 received the grant and showcased their ergonomic rescue system for bariatric patients at MIT’s EurekaFest in 2012.
Transylvania County Schools is committed to preparing students for the future by equipping them with critical Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) skills, including experience with emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence. These skills, on some level, will be considered essential for many job opportunities in the future.