Local Educators Awarded Bright Ideas Education Grants

Pee Dee Electric surprises local K-12 educators who won Bright Ideas Education Grants for the 2025-2026 school year. These grants are awarded annually to innovative educators to fund hands-on learning projects that would otherwise go unfunded.

Pee Dee Electric awarded over $15,800 in grant funding to local K-12 educators to support nine innovative projects that will positively impact students in Anson, Richmond, Scotland and Stanly counties. These grants bring creative projects to life inside classrooms and expand learning opportunities for local students. Grants are awarded for projects in all subject areas, including music, art, history, reading, science, math and more.

Since 1994, Pee Dee Electric has contributed more than $355,000 for over 200 projects enhancing the educational experience for local students. Statewide, North Carolina’s 26 electric cooperatives have collectively awarded nearly $16 million for more than 14,700 projects benefiting 3.65 million students.

This year’s Bright Ideas grant winners are:

Casey Smith Barfield

Laurel Hill Elementary
Growing Futures: A Student-Led School Garden

Dr. Danielle Blount

Anson AXIS
Career Room

Shannon Braswell

Cordova Middle
Aiming for Success

Kristy Ratliff Davis

Wadesboro Elementary
Glow Away Germs!

Jennifer Hamilton

South Stanly Middle

The Learning Corral: Strong Minds-Strong Readers-A Space to Belong

Meredith Howell

South Stanly High
Voices of Memory:
A Youth Tribute to the Holocaust

Tammy L. Locklear

Washington Street Elementary
The Giving Locker

Kelly Campbell Wheeler

Laurel Hill Elementary
SmART Spaces!

Kristin Owens White

South Stanly Middle
Toolboxes for Successful Science

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Join us in congratulating this year’s grant winners by following Pee Dee Electric on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn. You can also learn more about the Bright Ideas education grant program.

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