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Caldwell County: Teachers Win Bright Ideas Grants from Blue Ridge Energy: Celebrating 30 Years!
Now in its 30th year of helping teachers provide creative learning projects for students, Blue Ridge Energy is awarding $8,158 in Bright Ideas grants to eight local Caldwell classrooms.
Bright Ideas is an academic grants program sponsored annually by Blue Ridge Energy. Bright Ideas grants help further traditional academic learning by funding innovative educational projects beyond available school funding.
Blue Ridge Energy has awarded over $649,000 in Bright Ideas classroom grants, impacting over 146,000 local students and teachers. In celebration of its 30th year of Bright Ideas, the cooperative is funding winning grants totaling $30,000 to 30 classrooms this year in Caldwell, Watauga, Ashe, Alleghany, and Wilkes counties.
Caldwell County grant-winning teachers are:
Julie C. Overby of Dudley Shoals Elementary for “3D Printer.” The $807 grant will purchase a 3D printer to help 5th-grade students learn about the systems of the human body. Students will create 3D models of the organs to enrich learning.
Bryan Keith Speagle of South Caldwell High for “South Caldwell Body Farm.” The $1,000 grant will expand the existing “body farm.” More than 200 students will explore different microclimates, insects, and environmental factors that affect a crime scene.
Jonathan Haas of South Caldwell High for “The Modern Graphing Calculator for Today’s Modern Students.” The $900 grant will equip students with a modern handheld calculator with an interface better suited for today’s students.
Maggie Hall of South Caldwell High for “Voices Unlocked: Technology Enhancing Nonverbal Communication.” The $1,000 grant will purchase tablets so nonverbal students can accurately communicate their thoughts, needs, and feelings.
Carrie Holland of Gamewell Middle for “Gamewell Greenhouse.” The $1,200 grant will establish a working greenhouse for students to gain hands-on experience growing plants.
Kami Sanderlin of Valmead Elementary for “Inspiring Curiosity for our Future Scientists.” The $1,095 grant will give students hands-on learning opportunities within North Carolina's science curriculum.
Chad Davis of Gateway School for “Mowbotics.” The $1,250 grant will purchase a robotic lawn mower to show students how to integrate robotics and computer science.
Rylie Plaster of Horizons Elementary for “Gotta Keep Moving.”
The $906 grant will benefit approximately 50 students in grades K-5 by incorporating flexible seating and sensory-based items to help students better manage their behaviors.
“Blue Ridge Energy is proud to be in our 30th year of providing Bright Ideas grants to support our schools and teachers in building brighter futures for our communities,” said Tasha Rountree, director of community relations and economic development for Blue Ridge Energy. “I’m proud that Blue Ridge can help by funding creative classroom projects that bring innovative learning experiences to our students.”
Blue Ridge Energy is part of several North Carolina electric cooperatives that provide Bright Ideas grants. Together, they have provided over $16 million for over 14,700 classroom projects, impacting over 3.65 million students in North Carolina.
Blue Ridge Energy is a member-owned electric cooperative serving some 80,000 members in Caldwell, Watauga, Ashe, Caldwell, Avery, Alexander, and Caldwell counties. To learn more about the Bright Ideas grants program, visit www.BlueRidgeEnergy.com or contact your local Blue Ridge Energy office.
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