Raleigh, N.C. —The year isn’t over but the Bright Ideas education grant program, sponsored by North Carolina’s Touchstone Energy Cooperatives, has already established two major records.

• In November, the program will award $530,000 in grants to North Carolina classroom teachers, the largest single year of disbursement in the program’s 11 years. Since its inception, Bright Ideas has awarded more than $4 million in grant monies to the state’s educators.
• A new application record has been set. More than 1,700 classroom teachers submitted applications this year, the most in the program’s history.

Since 1994, the Bright Ideas Grant program has strived to improve education in North Carolina by financing classroom-based projects that may not otherwise be funded.

In recognition of the hard work of teachers and the extra effort invested by applying for a Bright Ideas grant, Gov. Michael F. Easley has proclaimed November Bright Ideas Month.  During Bright Ideas Month, the achievement of grant winners across the state will be recognized at special award luncheons in Charlotte, Raleigh and Greenville. Other Bright Ideas events during the month include local luncheons and dinners, surprise check presentations and a special school assembly award presentation by team members of the Carolina Panthers.

As a demonstration of appreciation for creative and dedicated teachers, 30 Bright Ideas winners will be honored during an on-court halftime recognition program at the North Carolina State—Manhattan University Jaspers men’s basketball program on December 5.

The Bright Ideas Education Grant program is another example of the electric cooperatives’ commitment to community. North Carolina’s electric cooperatives serve 2.5 million people in 93 of the state’s 100 counties.