Halifax EMC awards more than $7,000 to local teachers during 30th anniversary of Bright Ideas education grant program

Posted: December 9, 2024 at 10:59 am

Halifax EMC has awarded $7,063 in Bright Ideas education grants to six local teachers to fund creative, engaging projects for their classroom. More than 386 students at schools in our local community will benefit from the support of their local co-op. These special classroom projects focus on reading, science, outdoor classrooms and more.

“Halifax EMC believes that investing in education is an investment in the future of our community,” said Julia Allsbrook, director of member services and community engagement. “The Bright Ideas Education Grants empower local teachers to bring innovative and impactful projects to life, sparking curiosity and creativity in the classroom. By supporting our educators, we’re ensuring that students have access to enriching opportunities that inspire lifelong learning.”

This year’s local Bright Ideas grant winners are:

Melinda Rogerson, Littleton Academy, “Down to Earth: Laying the Groundwork for Future Scientist”
Diane Colin, Littleton Academy, “Happy Jammin’ Around the World”
Cameron Callahan, Vaughan Elementary, “Calm Classrooms”
Raleigh Tant, Littleton Academy, “Project Reading Buddies”
Haley Curley, Littleton Academy, “Establishing an Innovative Outdoor Classroom at Littleton Academy”
Kelly Allen, Littleton Academy, “BOOK-O-LYMPICS

Since the Bright Ideas grant program began 30 years ago, Halifax EMC has contributed more than $207,000 to local teachers. Grants are awarded for projects in all subject areas, such as music, art, history, reading, science, math and more. Bright Ideas grants support local teachers with creative ideas to increase innovation, expand learning opportunities and enhance student success in K-12 classrooms.

Halifax EMC is one of 26 electric cooperatives in North Carolina offering Bright Ideas grants to local teachers. Over the past 30 years, North Carolina’s electric cooperatives collectively have awarded nearly $16 million in Bright Ideas funding for 14,700 projects, benefitting more than 3.65 million students.

The Bright Ideas grant program is part of Halifax EMC’s ongoing commitment to building a brighter future through support of education.

Bright Ideas grant applications are accepted by Halifax EMC each year from April through mid-September, and winning proposals are selected in a competitive evaluation process by a panel of judges. The application process will reopen for interested teachers in April 2025.

To learn more about the Bright Ideas education grant program, visit www.ncbrightideas.com.