Blue Ridge Electric Awards Alleghany Educators Grants for Innovative Teaching Projects
For Immediate Release
Contact: Renee Whitener, Director of Corporate Communications, Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation, (828) 758-2383 ext. 3213; Pager:1-800-471-1323; or E-mail: Renee Whitener
Sparta, North Carolina (November 21, 2002) –
The Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation “prize patrol” surprised four local educators today with Bright Ideas grants totaling over $2,500 to benefit local students.
Joe Ward, operations manager, and Grey Scheer, community relations director, visited several Alleghany County schools to present the Bright Ideas grants along with balloons and yard signs to display at the winning schools.
Bright Ideas grants help further traditional academic learning by providing financial support for innovative scholastic projects that go beyond available school funds. Bright Ideas is an academic grants program sponsored by Blue Ridge Electric in conjunction with the North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation and its 26 other member electric cooperatives.
Winners of the grants are:
- Pamela J. Braley, of Glade Creek Elementary, for “The Unspoiled Province” to benefit 90 students. The grant totaled $966.
- Judy Talley and Frankye Edwards, of Glade Creek Elementary, for “United States Quilt” to benefit 30 students. The grant was for $400.
- Patti Cox, of Piney Creek Elementary, for “Character Quest” to benefit 125 students. The grant was for $600.
- Missey R. Weaver, of Sparta Elementary, for “Spatial Sense Photos” to benefit 75 students. The grant totaled $570.
Each September, Blue Ridge Electric seeks applications from
area educators and principals serving grades K-12 in public schools. Grants are awarded in amounts from $100 to a maximum of $2,000. For the 2002-2003 school year, Blue Ridge Electric received sixty-two Bright Ideas grants from schools in its service territory in Caldwell, Watauga, Ashe, Alleghany, Avery and Wilkes counties. Over $17,000 in funds is being awarded in November to 19 teachers and schools to directly benefit thousands of area students. This is the ninth year Blue Ridge Electric has offered Bright Ideas grants as part of its support for local education. To date, the cooperative has awarded $158,000 and provided direct funding assistance that has impacted nearly 50,000 students.
To learn more about the Bright Ideas grants program, visit Blue Ridge Electric’s web site at www.BlueRidgeEMC.com.
