Blue Ridge Electric Awards Local Educators Grants For Innovative Teaching Projects
For Immediate Release
Contact: Renee R. Whitener, Director of Corporate Communications, Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation, Phone: (828) 758-2383; Pager: 1-800-471-1323; E-mail: Renee Whitener
Sparta, North Carolina (November 7, 2001) – Local educators were recently honored by Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation during “prize patrol” visits to award the cooperative’s annual Bright Ideas grants.
North Carolina’s electric cooperatives and their statewide organization, North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation, sponsor the Bright Ideas Grant Program. The grants, which have surpassed $2 million for projects across the state, underwrite innovative, supplemental academic projects not covered in regular school budgets.
Bright Ideas grants totaling $1,580 were given this week to three different Alleghany County educators.
Winners of the grants are:
- Donna Link, of Alleghany High, for “Viscous Adventure” to benefit 150 students. The grant totaled $500.
- Dana Russell, of Sparta Elementary, for “Math & Science in 2nd Grade: A Hands On Approach” to benefit 70 students. The grant was for $580.
- Sandra Busic, of Sparta Elementary, for “Debating Delegates” to benefit 40 students. The grant was for $500.
Bright Ideas is an annual academic grants program sponsored by Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation in conjunction with the North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation and it’s 26 other member electric cooperatives. Bright Ideas grants help further traditional academic learning by funding scholastic projects that go beyond available school funding. Each September, Blue Ridge Electric seeks applications from area educators and principals serving grades K-12
in public schools. Grant awards are from $100 to a maximum of $2,000.
For the 2001-2002 school year, Blue Ridge Electric received eighty-one Bright Ideas grants from Caldwell, Watauga, Ashe, Alleghany, Avery and Wilkes Counties. A total of $18,000 in funds has been awarded to 25 teachers to directly benefit over 5,200 students. This is the eighth year Blue Ridge Electric has sponsored Bright Ideas.
To learn more about the Bright Ideas grants program, visit Blue Ridge Electric’s web site at www.blueridgeemc.com.
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