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Alleghany Teachers Win Bright Ideas Grants from Blue Ridge Energy
Now in its 31st year of helping teachers provide creative learning projects for students, Blue Ridge Energy is awarding $4,110 in Bright Ideas grants to four local Alleghany classrooms.
Bright Ideas is an academic grants program sponsored annually by Blue Ridge Energy. Bright Ideas grants help further traditional academic learning by funding innovative educational projects beyond available school funding.
Blue Ridge Energy has awarded over $674,000 in Bright Ideas classroom grants, impacting over 150,000 local students and teachers. This year, the cooperative is funding winning grants totaling over $25,000 to 27 classrooms in Caldwell, Watauga, Ashe, Alleghany, and Wilkes counties.
Alleghany County grant-winning teachers are:
- Cindy Lyon of Alleghany High School for Operation: LIFE - the $500 grant will be used to purchase virtual reality (VR) headsets, enabling an engaging and adaptable learning experience that supports students of all abilities, including those with disabilities, by improving reading skills and meeting diverse learning needs. The goal of this project is to meet students in their reading development and help them build strong literacy skills that will benefit them not just in school, but throughout their lives. By immersing students in interactive reading environments, VR can help struggling readers stay focused, practice at their own pace, and gain confidence.
- Jody Carpenter of Alleghany High School for Driving Student Success: Equipping Tomorrow’s Automotive Technicians with Cutting-Edge Diagnostic - the $1,500 grant will be used to purchase the PicoScope 4 - Channel Automotive Oscilloscope Kit. The kit offers state-of-the-art diagnostic capabilities, enabling students to visualize and analyze vehicle electrical signals in real-time. Integrating this technology into classrooms ensures students graduate with industry-relevant skills that employers value.
- Kayla Carpenter of Alleghany High School for PowerUp: Alleghany's Strength Expansion Initiative - the $910 grant will be used to purchase additional weight training equipment for the growing Physical Fitness program. Building on the success of a previous Bright Ideas Grant, there has been a significant increase in student enrollment and remarkable improvements in strength and engagement. The additional purchase of an Olympic barbell, a set of weight plates, and storage equipment will ensure all students have equal access to high-quality training tools. This investment will continue to support growth and ensure that the program remains inclusive, effective, and impactful.
- Tonya Richardson of Glade Creek Elementary School for Whispering Pines Nook- the $1,200 grant will be used to create a safe multi-functional outdoor learning area by transforming an unused grassy nook into a classroom space with seating, vegetation, and flexible features. Grant funds will support the purchase of a gazebo, benches, a raised bed, seeding materials, and an outdoor projector. This new natural learning space will allow teachers to extend instruction beyond the traditional classroom, offering students the emotional and stress-reducing benefits of learning in nature.
“Blue Ridge Energy is proud to be in our 31st year of providing Bright Ideas grants to support our schools and teachers in building brighter futures for our communities,” said Tasha Rountree, director of community relations and economic development for Blue Ridge Energy. “I’m proud that Blue Ridge can help by funding creative classroom projects that bring innovative learning experiences to our students.”
Blue Ridge Energy is part of several North Carolina electric cooperatives that provide Bright Ideas grants. Together, they have provided over $16.5 million for over 15,400 classroom projects, impacting over 3.8 million students in North Carolina.
Blue Ridge Energy is a member-owned electric cooperative serving some 80,000 members in Caldwell, Watauga, Ashe, Caldwell, Avery, Alexander, and Caldwell counties. To learn more about the Bright Ideas grants program, visit www.BlueRidgeEnergy.com or contact your local Blue Ridge Energy office.