Recently, Union Power honored 16 teachers with Bright Ideas grants in our five-county service area. The grants will impact nearly 8,700 students and benefit all subjects and grade levels.
Since 1994, North Carolina’s electric cooperatives have dedicated their interest to improving education in North Carolina. The Bright Ideas grant program has expanded over the past two decades, encouraging teachers to share their bright ideas that will be meaningful and engage students in furthering their education.
Vice President of Communications & Marketing Carrie Stroud said, “With the Bright Ideas program, teachers truly show how incredible and creative they are through their applications. It is an honor that the North Carolina electric cooperatives including Union Power can support our local teachers and strengthen our communities.”
Beginning April 1, 2023, teachers are encouraged to to apply.
2022–2023 Bright Ideas Winners |
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| Teacher | School | County | Grant Name | Awarded |
| Carina Brossy | Arborbrook Christian Academy | Union | All the World's a Stage | $1,768 |
| Shelly Vetter | Badin Elementary | Stanly | Beat Your Heart Out! | $1,412 |
| Carrie Morgan | Harold E. Winkler Middle | Cabarrus | Job Training for Students with Disabilities | $1,412 |
| Heather Shulman | Hickory Ridge Elementary | Cabarrus | Adventure Awaits | $1,390 |
| Abbie Hess | Independence High | Mecklenburg | Apothecary Art Garden | $2,000 |
| Deidre Mallow | Independence High | Mecklenburg | Culinary Cravings Greenhouse | $1,995 |
| Darleen Morris | Parkwood High | Union | Every'body' Needs Some'body' | $667 |
| Shelley Gordon | Parkwood High | Union | Spike into Learning! with LEGO Education SPIKE | $448 |
| Adam Haas | Rocky River Elementary | Union | Adaptive Coding Collaborators | $2,000 |
| Elizabeth Benstead | Rocky River Elementary | Cabarrus | Rocky River Philanthropists | $948 |
| Amy Erb | Stallings Elementary | Union | Zooming into STEAM | $1,233 |
| Nadene Tracy | Union Academy High | Union | Forces in the Real World | $775 |
| Jeff Starnes | Union Academy High | Union | Together, we endeavor to keep a weather eye! | $552 |
| Callie Thigpen | West Stanly Middle | Stanly | Triple C (Colts’ Chicken Coop) | $958 |
| Mary Barbee | West Stanly Middle | Stanly | Colt News - Vlogging & Videos | $860 |
| Lacy McIntyre | Wingate Elementary | Union | Hydroponics System | $1,867 |
How it works
Bright Ideas grant applications can be submitted each year, and winning proposals are selected by a panel of judges through a competitive evaluation process. Visit Union Power Cooperative's website to learn more about Bright Ideas.
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