Special to Iredell Free News

EnergyUnited has awarded more than $42,000 in Bright Ideas education grants to 45 teachers to fund innovative classroom projects. Students at schools in Alexander, Catawba, Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Guilford, Iredell, Mecklenburg and Rowan counties will participate in Bright Ideas projects funded by EnergyUnited this year.

“Educators who win Bright Ideas grants are going above and beyond for their students,” said Maureen Moore, communications manager of EnergyUnited. “We’re excited to support their innovative and creative learning initiatives through the Bright Ideas program each year.”

2019 Bright Ideas education grants from EnergyUnited will be used to fund units on: robotics, renewable energy, technology, multicultural music and much more! EnergyUnited recognized winners throughout the month by at two regional luncheons in Statesville and Lexington and arranged special surprise visits for winning teachers in its Lake Norman Region.

“We were incredibly honored to recognize each of our winners at our two regional luncheons and during our Lake Norman surprise visits,” Moore said.

Since the Bright Ideas grant program began in 1994, EnergyUnited has contributed more than $800,000 to local teachers.

EnergyUnited is one of 26 member-owned electric cooperatives in the state offering Bright Ideas grants to local educators. During the month of November, North Carolina’s electric cooperatives awarded teachers statewide close to $600,000 in Bright Ideas education grants.

Bright Ideas grant applications are collected each year from April through mid-September, and winning proposals are selected in a competitive evaluation process by a panel of judges. The application process will reopen for interested teachers in April 2020. To find out more information about the Bright Ideas grant program, visit www.energyunited.com/bright-ideas-program.

The Bright Ideas program is just one example of the electric cooperatives’ commitment to community. In addition to supporting local communities, North Carolina’s 26 electric cooperatives power the lives of more than 2.5 million people in 93 of the state’s 100 counties.

About EnergyUnited

EnergyUnited Electric Membership Corporation (EMC) is the largest electric cooperative in North Carolina serving more than 130,000 metering points. Headquartered in Statesville, EnergyUnited provides electric service in portions of nineteen counties in west central North Carolina which include Alexander, Cabarrus, Caldwell, Catawba, Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Gaston, Guilford, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Montgomery, Randolph, Rockingham, Rowan, Stokes, Wilkes and Yadkin. EnergyUnited Propane provides products and services to more than 24,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in 100 counties across Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina. Visit EnergyUnited online at www.energyunited.com to learn more about our electric and propane businesses.