Teachers win Bright Ideas grants from Blue Ridge Energy

Nov. 22—Engaging hands-on learning projects will be offered in five Caldwell County classrooms following the recent Blue Ridge Energy Bright Ideas grants that were provided to local educators.

The $7,926 in Bright Ideas grants were recently presented to local educators during a special luncheon celebration that honored the winning teachers and their schools, said Renee Walker, director of public relations for Blue Ridge Energy.

Bright Ideas is an academic grants program sponsored by Blue Ridge Energy each year. Bright Ideas grants help further traditional academic learning by funding innovative scholastic projects that go beyond available school funding, Walker said.

To date, Blue Ridge Energy has awarded more than $619,000 in Bright Ideas classroom grants impacting more than 114,000 local students and teachers. This year, the cooperative is funding winning grants totaling $25,578 to 21 classrooms in Caldwell, Watauga, Ashe, Alleghany, Wilkes and Avery counties.

In Caldwell County, five teachers were recognized for their programs, which resulted in Bright Ideas grants.

Kami Sanderlin of Valmead Elementary received a $1,895 grant that will go toward the purchase of a small planetarium for the Counting Stars program that will allow students to be able to view a night sky simulation and have a whole experience of stargazing, which aligns with the classroom curriculum.

Janice Harris of Davenport Elementary received a $1,998 grant for the Arts Funding program that will introduce students to handmade pottery and a new opportunity to create original art using air-dry clay.

Kim Harding of Dudley Shoals Elementary received a $1,860 grant for the On a Quest for Knowledge program. The grant will go toward the purchase of Oculus Quest goggles to allow students to build background experiences in a virtual reality setting.

Abby Hudgens of Granite Falls Elementary received a $675 grant for the Digital Listening Library program. The grant will help with the creation of an engaging and interactive learning experience for English as a Second Language students to enhance listening skills and promote reading comprehension.

David Brotherton of Hudson Middle received a $1,498 grant for A New (Virtual) Reality program. This grant will go toward an update of software for virtual reality headsets. Students can immerse themselves in virtual job shadowing, virtual dissections and virtual explorations of body systems and learn about healthcare issues in other parts of the world.

"Blue Ridge Energy supports our schools and teachers to build brighter futures for our communities," said Tasha Rountree, director of community relations 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 providing Bright Ideas grants. Together, they have provided more than $15 million for over 14,200 classroom projects impacting over 2.5 million students in North Carolina.

Blue Ridge Energy is a member-owned electric cooperative serving some 78,000 members in Caldwell, Watauga, Ashe, Alleghany, 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.