Communications Manager Nicole Arnold poses with Physical Education teacher Lance Barber and his students at West End Elementary.

Randolph Electric Membership Corporation recently honored educators by awarding $14,000 in Bright Ideas grants to twelve local teachers. More than 2,100 students at schools in Randolph, Moore, Montgomery and Chatham counties will benefit from these grants. The grant funds will support classroom projects in the subjects of science, art, physical education and more.

Principal Brian Hill (left) poses with English students and William Villano at Uwharrie Ridge 6–12.

“Randolph EMC is committed to our core value of caring for our communities. One way we accomplish that is by investing in education,” said Communications and Public Affairs Manager Nicole Arnold. “We commend these educators for striving to make learning fun and engaging for students.”

“Thank you for this amazing opportunity to equip our students with life long skills,” said Lance Barber, physical education instructor and grant recipient from West End Elementary in Moore County. “Randolph Electric is definitely making a difference in schools by providing opportunities that typically would not be present.”

Randolph EMC is one of 26 electric cooperatives in North Carolina offering Bright Ideas grants to local teachers. Grants are awarded for projects in all subject areas, such as music, art, history, reading, science, math and more. Bright Ideas grants support local teachers with creative ideas to increase innovation, expand learning opportunities and enhance student success in K–12 classrooms.

Since 1994, North Carolina’s electric cooperatives collectively have awarded more than $14 million in Bright Ideas funding for over 13,500 projects supporting teachers and benefitting more than 2.5 million students. Over the past 28 years, Randolph Electric has invested just under $300,000 in grants within its five-county service area.

Stephanie Harvell and her students at Montgomery Central High School showcase Stephanie's award and her certificate.

The Bright Ideas grant program is part of REMC’s ongoing commitment to building a brighter future through support of education. REMC accepts Bright Ideas grant applications each year from April through mid-September. The application process will reopen for interested teachers in April 2023.

Winners included the following:

Randolph County

William Villano of Uwharrie Ridge 6–12 in Trinity won $1,000 for his project, Escape Room Kits. Students in middle and high school English classes will review concepts before exams by playing an immersive, narrative game in which they must solve puzzles to escape from a room.

Laura Leonard of Wheatmore High School in Trinity won $1,345 for her project, Flexible Seating for Special Education Students. The goal of the seating is to provide a learning environment in which students can concentrate on their lessons without hindrances.

Julia Cox of Charles McCrary Elementary in Asheboro won $685 for the project, Tchoukball. Students in third, fourth and fifth grade will benefit from learning this sport, which reinforces hand-eye coordination and teamwork in a safe setting.

Tyler Bidwell of Guy B. Teachey Elementary in Asheboro won $1,480 for his project, Spectrum Sensory Room. Children with autism spectrum disorder or behavioral disorders will have a safe place to self soothe or engage in occupational therapy.

Kymberlie Hare of Montgomery County Early College poses with her students.

Lori Hoover of Uwharrie Charter Academy in Asheboro won $1,000 for her project, Virtual Health Science. The technology purchased with the grant will allow high school students to further their understanding of human anatomy in preparation for college science courses.

Moore County

Lance Barber of West End Elementary in West End won $600 for his project, Stop, Drop and Roll: Fire Safety Training.  Physical education students from kindergarten through fifth grade will learn the proper technique to reduce injuries and avoid tragedy in the case of a fire emergency.

Wayne Manning of Westmoore Elementary in Seagrove won $1,510 for his project, STEAM Animation and Ceramics. Manning’s students will learn engineering processes as well as ratios and fractions while firing clay and making their own pottery.

Christina Speiser of Moore County Connect! Virtual Academy won $645 for her project, Virtually Awesome. High school students will use new apps to create their own books, magazines and newspapers and share these among each other.

Destiny Garner of Page Street Elementary (left) poses with her students, Principal Jon LaChance, and Teacher Assistant Crystal Mullinix (right).

Montgomery County

Destiny Garner of Page Street Elementary in Troy won $1,990 to equip an Autism Sensory Room. The goal of the safe space is to help these students experience more successful school days.

Kymberlie Hare of Montgomery County Early College in Troy won $395 for her project, Popcorn Box. High school math students will discuss how companies maximize revenue through product packaging, which relies on underlying math concepts.

Stephanie Harvell of Montgomery Central High School in Troy won $1,400 for her project, Timberwolf Green House. Students in the exceptional child program will learn how to budget, shop, plan and care for a garden they create in their greenhouse.

Chatham County

Eric Patin of Chatham Central High School in Bear Creek won $1,950 to purchase subscriptions to an online, interactive learning simulation platform. High school students in all science classes will benefit from the platform which allows experimentation not possible to reproduce in a traditional laboratory setting.