Bright Ideas Grants Awarded to Local Educators by Blue Ridge Electric

Sparta, North Carolina (November 23, 2009) – As part of its commitment to local education, Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation presented Bright Ideas grants totaling more than $3,500 to four educator teams during a luncheon ceremony at the cooperative’s district office.

Bright Ideas is an academic grants program sponsored by Blue Ridge Electric in conjunction with North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation and its 26 other member electric cooperatives. Bright Ideas grants help further traditional academic learning by funding innovative scholastic projects that go beyond available school funding.
Alleghany County grant winners are:

Jeff Tutterow and Tony Southern, of Alleghany High School, for “Biodiesel Processor.” This grant of $1,500 will benefit 200 high school students who will make a biodiesel processor to convert used vegetable oil into diesel fuel. This will introduce the students to an environmentally friendly solution and fuel alternative.

Angie Strode, of Sparta Elementary School, for “CSI Sparta” to benefit 67 students. This grant of $1,640 will help students learn the actual science behind crime solving and being part of a forensics team, involving them in fingerprinting, blood analysis, and even lie detection to solve the crime mystery.

Melissa Weaver, of Sparta Elementary School, for “Real Life Geometry” to benefit more than 50 students. This grant of $550 will benefit students in fourth and fifth grades learn to identify angles, polygons, symmetrical and congruent figures using photographs of real world objects. Reading and class discussions about the photos will enhance the process of geometric modeling and comprehension.

For the 2009-2010 school year, Blue Ridge Electric received ninety-one Bright Ideas grant applications from schools in its service territory in Caldwell, Watauga, Ashe, Alleghany, Avery and Wilkes County. Funds totaling $18,852 are being awarded to 20 classrooms and teachers to benefit thousands of area students, teachers, schools, and communities. Blue Ridge Electric is celebrating its 16th year of offering Bright Ideas grants as part of our support and commitment to education. To date, Blue Ridge Electric has awarded over $286,000 and provided direct funding assistance that has impacted over 80,000 students. Blue Ridge Electric is part of several North Carolina electric cooperatives providing Bright Ideas grants. Together, these entities have provided over 7 million dollars for North Carolina teachers and students.

To learn more about the Bright Ideas grants program, visit Blue Ridge Electric’s web site at www.BlueRidgeEMC.com or contact your local Blue Ridge Electric office.