Mondee Tilley | The News

Greg Puckett, general manager at Surry-Yadkin Electric Membership Corporation, left, and Erica Johnson, public information specialist for SYEMC, pose with the recipients of this year’s Bright Ideas awards on Thursday. They are, back row, from left, Greg Nelson, Jennifer Collins, Kelsi Hobson, Melissa Simpson, Stephanie Bode, Sarah Johnson, Paul Clark and Robert Maxwell, engineer of operations at SYEMC; and, front row, Brittany Guy, Katy Willis, Shirley-Nunn George and Christy Menear.

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DOBSON — Teachers were honored Thursday for their efforts in creating projects in order to help kids learn in a more effective ways.

Surry-Yadkin Electric Membership Corporation honored the teachers with a luncheon and awarded 11 grants totalling $6,250 in Bright Ideas education grants.

The Bright Ideas grant program, sponsored by North Carolina’s electric cooperatives, strives to improve education in North Carolina classrooms by awarding grants to teachers for innovative, classroom-based projects in grades K-12 that would not otherwise be funded.

Since this program began in 1994, the Bright Ideas program has awarded more than $7.1 million in grant money to North Carolina’s teachers to sponsor almost 6,500 projects teaching more than 800,000 students.

Jennifer Collins of Franklin Elementary School was awarded $675 for her project that will foster parent involvement with their children by sending home backpacks filled with activities and books.

Stephanie Bode with Dobson Elementary School was awarded $820 for her project to fund iPads and a weather station at the school.

Shirley N. George with Francisco Elementary School in Stokes County was awarded $425 for her project. She read the names of the kids in her class that were signed on a thank you note.

Jamie Mosley with Gentry Middle School was awarded $700. Greg Nelson accepted the award on her behalf. He said the money from the grant helps them purchase kits and paint for the annual pinewood derby race in which the school hosts to not only teach the kids about science while they are having fun, but to help the school raise money to send disabled or sick children to the Victory Junction Gang Camp. He said students at the school have raised $20,000 toward that goal over the past five years.

Brittany Guy of Meadowview Middle School was awarded $800 to help her teach math and make it “not so boring.” With her grant money she plans to purchase tablets on which the kids will study architecture.

Christy Menear of North Stokes High School was awarded $360 for her project that will help her students, who are older, learn life skills on iPads. Her program will help her students learn things like how to make a grocery list and how much to tip in a restaurant.

Sarah Johnson of Rockford Elementary School was awarded $300 for her project called “Feel the Burn” that will introduce learning through technology.

Melissa Simpson of Rockford Elementary School was awarded $300 for her project that will introduce her students to the pottery of North Carolina. She said the students will each end up making face jugs.

Kelsi Hobson of West Stokes High School was awarded $300 to help her students learn about music.

Paul Clark of the Yadkin Success Academy was awarded $800 for his project to create a greenhouse at the school that will help students learn about using the sun’s energy.

Katy Willis with C.B. Eller Elementary School was awarded $515 for her project that will provide students with a retelling center where the kids can listen to stories with a partner.

“We’re thrilled to award these dedicated educators with Bright Ideas grants,” said Erica Johnson, public information specialist with Surry-Yadkin EMC. “Their creative projects will no doubt help students reach their full potential and spark a high interest in learning for years to come.”

Statewide, the electric co-ops are expected to award more than $620,000 in Bright Ideas grant funding to educators this school year.

“Surry-Yadkin EMC is committed to bettering the communities we serve and we believe there is no better way than through the education of our youth,” Johnson said.

Reach Mondee Tilley at mtilley@heartlandpublications.com or at 719with1930.