Last Updated on October 2, 2022 5:45 pm
As part of its commitment to local education, Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation presented Bright Ideas grants totaling more than $6,500.00 to six educator teams today in Watauga and Avery Counties during a luncheon ceremony honoring the teachers at Daniel Boone Inn.
Bright Ideas is an academic grants program sponsored by Blue Ridge Electric in conjunction with North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation and its 26 other member electric cooperatives. Bright Ideas grants help further traditional academic learning by funding innovative scholastic projects that go beyond available school funding.
Watauga and Avery County grant winners are:
Lindsey Gough of Cove Creek Elementary, for “Childhelp Speak Up Be Safe.” The grant for $1,293 will be used to purchase the Childhelp Speak Up Be Safe prevention education curriculum that equips children in grades 1-6, teachers, as well as parents with skills they need to play a significant role in the prevention or interruption of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse/neglect.
Karen Dallas and Teresa Greene of Hardin Park Elementary, for “Links to Literacy.” This $632 grant will be used to purchase materials to implement the daily 5 literacy program in a kindergarten classroom. The program will provide opportunities for students to read independently, read to each other, listen to reading, work with words and practice writing.
Will Derrick of Valle Crucis Elementary, for “Robotics.” This $1,500 grant will be used to purchase the materials needed to allow students to build robots and compete in an annual competition at ASU in the spring.
Jamie Dale of Parkway Elementary, for “It’s Alive!” This $1,200 grant will be used to make science come to life for the first graders at Parkway. The students will have the materials to allow them to become real scientists as they learn and investigate science through hands-on experiences!
Laura King and Joelle Poore of Cranberry Middle School, for “Reading…In Math Class?” This $922 grant will allow students to have access to digital mathematical “bridge” books on topics such as the pythagoream theorem, functions, 3D figures, etc. These books “hook” students into difficult mathematical concepts using relevant, rich stories.
Calah Fortune of Avery County High, for “STEM Green Art Lab” This $1,000 grant will be used to create a STEM (science, technology, engineering & math) Green Art Lab. This lab will allow students to practice sustainable art-making while learning about renewable energy, recycling, consumption, and waste management.
Blue Ridge Electric received 83 applications for the 2012-2013 school year from schools in its service area of Caldwell, Watauga, Ashe, Alleghany, Wilkes and Avery Counties. Funds totaling $19,296 were awarded to 19 schools which benefited many area students and communities. Blue Ridge Electric is celebrating its 19th year of offering Bright Ideas grants as part of its support and commitment to education. To date, Blue Ridge Electric has awarded more than $343,000 and provided direct funding assistance that has had an impact on over 93,000 local students. Since the inception of Bright Ideas grants, North Carolina electric cooperatives have provided more than $7.9 million for 7,700 classroom projects impacting over 1.4 million students in North Carolina.
