Blue Ridge Energy Awards $8,380 in Bright Ideas Grants to Local Watauga Classrooms
Blue Ridge Energy Awards $8,380 in Bright Ideas Grants to Local Watauga Classrooms
In its 30th year of supporting teachers and students with creative learning projects, Blue Ridge Energy has announced the recipients of this year’s Bright Ideas grants in Watauga County. A total of $8,380 will be awarded to eleven classrooms, helping to fund innovative educational projects that go beyond traditional school funding.
The Bright Ideas grants program, sponsored annually by Blue Ridge Energy, aims to enhance academic learning by supporting unique and creative projects in the classroom. Over the years, Blue Ridge Energy has awarded more than $649,000 in Bright Ideas grants, benefiting over 146,000 local students and teachers. To mark the 30th anniversary of the program, the cooperative is awarding a total of $30,000 to 30 classrooms across Caldwell, Watauga, Ashe, Alleghany, and Wilkes counties this year.
Among the grant-winning teachers in Watauga County are Kevin Shaw of Watauga High School, Allyson McFalls of Blowing Rock School, Jenny Phillips of Parkway School, Terry Gunnell-Beck of Hardin Park School, Shelly Warnick of Hardin Park School, Connie Peeler of Hardin Park School, Beth Dishman of Hardin Park School, Monica Parsons of Hardin Park School, Lindsey Postlethwait of Valle Crucis School, Elisa Lovejoy of Valle Crucis School, and Misty Prichard of Green Valley School.
The grants cover a wide range of projects, from exploring atoms and ions to introducing students to the art of critical observation and inquiry, as well as incorporating robotics, podcasting, and 3D printing into the curriculum. The grants also support initiatives like understanding the life cycle of chicks, introducing students to pickleball, promoting healthy eating habits, and more.
Tasha Rountree, director of community relations and economic development for Blue Ridge Energy, expressed pride in the program’s impact on schools and communities, stating, “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. 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 a network of North Carolina electric cooperatives that provide Bright Ideas grants, collectively contributing over $16 million to support over 14,700 classroom projects and impacting over 3.65 million students in the state.
To learn more about the Bright Ideas grants program and Blue Ridge Energy’s initiatives, visit www.BlueRidgeEnergy.com or contact your local Blue Ridge Energy office.
