Central Electric awards grants to teachers for 'Bright Ideas

Nov 26 2019 | by James Taylor

Central Electric recently awarded $15,000 in Bright Ideas education grants to 13 teachers to fund engaging classroom learning projects. More than 2,700 students at local schools will participate in Bright Ideas projects funded by Central Electric this year.

“Our Bright Ideas grant recipients are making a real difference for students,” said Eddie Oldham, Central Electric CEO & General Manager. “Teachers have so many innovative ideas to engage students in learning, and we’re excited each year to support pioneering initiatives and creativity in the classroom through our Bright Ideas grant program. Central Electric is committed to the communities we serve, and we believe there is hardly a better investment than in the education of our youth and future leaders.”

Central Electric is one of 26 member-owned electric cooperatives in the state offering Bright Ideas grants to local educators. North Carolina’s Touchstone Energy cooperatives awarded teachers statewide close to $600,000 in Bright Ideas education grants.

Since 1994, North Carolina’s electric cooperatives collectively have awarded more than $11.5 million to Tar Heel teachers. The Bright Ideas program has reached well over 2.2 million North Carolina students and sponsored more than 11,000 projects in all subjects including math, reading, science and technology, history, music and the arts.

Bright Ideas grant applications are collected each year 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 2020. To find out more information about the Bright Ideas grant program, visit CEMCPower.com or NCBrightIdeas.com.