STATESVILLE — EnergyUnited recently announced the grant winners for the 2024 Bright Ideas program, which includes three Rowan County and Kannapolis educators.

The cooperative offered the funds in an effort to support innovative classroom projects that aim to inspire and engage students, fostering learning and encouraging creativity in the classroom, according to a press release from EnergyUnited. The cooperative awarded a total of $48,000 to 44 teachers across its service area, a group which includes teachers from China Grove Middle School, Corriher-Lipe Middle School and North Kannapolis Elementary School.

Winning projects supported by the cooperative include hands-on STEM activities, as well as artistic and interdisciplinary learning experiences. Winners from Rowan County included:

• Brittany Banks from North Kannapolis Elementary School received $660.
• Amanda Pembroke from China Grove Middle School received $500.
• Kelly S. Youngo from Corriher-Lipe Middle School received $1,700.

The Bright Ideas program, which has been a cornerstone of EnergyUnited’s work in education, provides grants to K-12 teachers to implement creative and impactful projects. This year marks the 30-year anniversary of the program.

“EnergyUnited is proud to continue its long-standing support of local educators and their students,” said LaQuisha Parks, vice president of energy services and corporate communications at EnergyUnited. “The Bright Ideas program is an important resource for EnergyUnited to help foster innovation in our schools, and we are excited to support these forward-thinking projects.” 

The 2024 grants will support projects in 35 schools, benefiting 15,000 students in communities served by EnergyUnited. From interactive science experiments to literacy programs, these projects will provide students with learning opportunities that go beyond the traditional classroom setting. 

Since its inception, the Bright Ideas program has awarded nearly $16 million in grants, impacting more than 3.65 million students and helping teachers bring their ideas to life. Each year, teachers are invited to submit proposals for funding, with the most creative and impactful ideas selected by a panel of volunteer judges. 

The 2024 grant recipients represent a diverse range of schools and grade levels, reflecting work by the cooperative to support a wide range of education and innovation opportunities in the communities it is present in.