This month, local electric cooperatives across North Carolina are awarding Bright Ideas education grants to exceptional K-12 educators with innovative, hands-on learning projects that go beyond traditional curriculum to create an engaging learning environment for their students. From surprise school visits to phone calls, teachers all over the state are receiving the exciting news that their project will come to life.
Carteret-Craven Electric Cooperative is one of several cooperatives visiting schools to surprise their grant recipients, awarding 38 teachers in Carteret and Havelock counties more than $26,000 in Bright Ideas education grants that will benefit over 7,500 students in the area.
“Educators who win Bright Ideas grants are going above and beyond for their students,” said Melissa Glenn, communications specialist at CCEC. “The innovative and creative learning initiatives developed by our area’s teachers are impressive, and we are proud to help facilitate these projects.”
Beyond surprise school visits, co-ops are hosting both virtual and in-person events to recognize teachers. EnergyUnited, which is awarding $45,000 this year, invited their 46 grant recipients to attend one of three virtual award ceremonies celebrating creativity in the classroom and the impact of this year’s grants.
North Carolina’s 26 electric cooperatives have sponsored Bright Ideas grants since 1994, and collectively, awarded more than $13.6 million, supporting 12,922 projects and benefitting well over 2.7 million students across the state. The grants are one way that electric cooperatives are fulfilling their vision to build a brighter future for members and local communities.
Interested teachers can learn more at www.ncbrightideas.com or contact their sponsoring co-op. To stay up to date with the Bright Ideas program, follow us on Facebook @NCBrightIdeas or search using #NCBrightIdeas.