EnergyUnited awarded 29 Bright Ideas grants totaling $35,088 to teachers in November and December. The grants were awarded to teachers in EnergyUnited’s 19-county service area for special projects that will enhance instruction in their classrooms.
“Classroom teachers are the heart and soul of our education system,” said H. Wayne Wilkins, Chief Executive Officer. “We are committed to helping them do the best possible job and challenge the students in their classes to be the very best they can be. Through the Bright Ideas program, EnergyUnited makes funds available for special classroom projects that create excitement among students and enhance learning. It’s a joy for us at EnergyUnited to play a part in providing quality education for students within our service area.” Since the program was created, EnergyUnited has made more than $467,000 in grants.
Bright Ideas grant awards can be as much as $2,000 each. Teachers in grades K-12 were eligible to apply. Volunteers, including educators, community leaders and representatives of the cooperatives, screen proposals from teachers and make selections.

The Bright Ideas program is a statewide initiative of the 26 electric cooperatives in North Carolina. Created in 1994, the program has collectively awarded more than $5.9 million in grant money to North Carolina teachers to sponsor 4,000 projects teaching more than 800,000 students. EnergyUnited individually has made 459 grants totaling $467,486 to teachers for innovative classroom instruction projects.

EnergyUnited will begin accepting grant applications for the 2009 program in May. To apply, go to www.ncbrightideas.com in May. EnergyUnited will only accept online applications.

Davidson County
Marilyn Wright, Lexington Middle – “Beyond My Neighborhood” Teresa Tabat, So. Lexington/ Development Wing – “Hydroponics – growing with the future”
Claudia Riffe Kates, No. Davidson Middle – “Bringing the Curriculum Together Through the Creation of Art”
Cathy Shoaf Berrier, Ledford Sr. High – Macroinvertebrates: bioindicators of water” Brenda Willis, Tyro Middle – “Cross Curriculum Landscaping”

Mecklenburg County
Cathy DuPre, Oaklawn Elementary – “People Like Me – Character Education”
Gayle Tennent, J. M. Morehead – “Weathering Heights”
LaShanda Foust, Midwood High – Grown Green”
Sharon Culler, W. Mecklenburg High – “Hawks Holiday House”

Guilford County
Nicole Penn, Kiser Middle – “Cultivating the Engineering Mind”
Meg Anderson, Monticello-Brown Summit – “Music Composing Technology”
Ryan Harwood, Mendenhall Middle – “The Edu-cache-onal Experience”

Forsyth County
Bonnie Alexander, Southwest Elementary – “Tug, Tote and Toil: Machines-R-Us”
Kelli Doby, No. Forsyth High – “Anatomy in Clay”
Sandra Shumaker Wells, Reynolds High – “No Weigh!”
Mary Ann Jones, Moore Elementary – “Flipping Out About Moore”
Brent Atkinson, Jefferson Middle – “Recycling for Our Future”
Mitzi Talbert, E. Forsyth Middle – “Inquiring Minds Wan to Do”

Iredell County
Corrine Rupp, No. Iredell High – “Long-Arm Quilting for Fun and Profit”
Stephanie Heintz Wood, No. Iredell High – “Expanding Holocaust Education”

Davie County Angela Williams, North Davie Middle – “Amusement Math” April Naylor, Cooleemee Elementary – “Instrument Palooza” Stokes County Donna Petree, Germanton Elementary – “Germanton School Green House”

Alexander County
Crystal B. Hoke, Alexander Central High – “Stepping Out: Life Skills Opportunities for ACHS Students with Disabilities”
Dell Davis, Alexander Central High – “Project Linus”
Jean Dalton, Alexander Central High – “Light Nite”
Jeremy Aten, Ellendale Elementary – “Digital Yearbook”

Rockingham County
Susan Watkins, Douglass Elementary – “Flipping for Fractions”
Lynn Knight, Rockingham Co. High – “Biodiesel Porcessor”

In an effort to educate children about electrical safety, EnergyUnited developed a free electrical safety demonstration. Schoolteachers or principals may call EnergyUnited to arrange the presentation.

Our employees participate in school Career Day events, informing students about the education and job skills required to become an electric cooperative employee, such as a lineman, engineer, dispatcher, accountant, or one of the many other positions available.

EnergyUnited employees present free programs and demonstrations to schools on a variety of topics ranging from cooperative methods of business, electrical safety, energy conservation, among others. Give your students a learning experience that is truly exceptional by calling EnergyUnited at 1-800-522-3793.