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Wilkes County: Teachers Win Bright Ideas Grants from Blue Ridge Energy: Celebrating 30 Years!
(l-r): Lance Murphy, Sparta Elementary Assistant Principal; Tasha Rountree, Blue Ridge Energy Director of Community Relations and Economic Development; Brandi Hawkins, Bright Ideas Winner; John Evans, Wilkes District and Operations Manager; Missey Weaver, Wilkes County Schools Superintendent
(l-r): Lance Murphy, Sparta Elementary Assistant Principal; John Evans, Wilkes District and Operations Manager; Kristina Wyatt, Bright Ideas Winner; Tasha Rountree, Blue Ridge Energy Director of Community Relations and Economic Development; Missey Weaver, Wilkes County Schools Superintendent
Now in its 30th year of helping teachers provide creative learning projects for students, Blue Ridge Energy is awarding $2,309 in Bright Ideas grants to two local Wilkes 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.
Wilkes County grant-winning teachers are:
Kelly N. Pipes of Wilkes Early College High School for “The Great High School Cooking Show!” The $1,005 grant will purchase sustainable kitchen equipment and supplies and help students benefit by beginning their adult lives with the ability to plan meals and cook for themselves.
Lauren Oravsky of Wilkesboro Elementary for “‘Only One You’ Painted Rock-River Installation.” The $1,304 grant will purchase art supplies for students to create unique, painted rocks that will become part of a group art installation at the school.
“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, Wilkes, Avery, Alexander, and Wilkes 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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