Coastal Electric Cooperative and its foundation awarded 16 grants totaling over $22,000 Wednesday and Thursday to teachers in Bryan, Liberty and McIntosh counties. The winning teachers were caught by surprise when Bright Ideas Prize Patrol members came to their classrooms to present them with giant balloon bouquets, gifts and checks.
Earlier this year, teachers were invited to apply online through the Coastal Electric Cooperative website for grants of up to $2,000 each. The Bright Ideas program was designed to encourage teachers to develop creative, innovative programs that otherwise might not be funded through school systems. A panel of independent judges reviews and scores the applications.
The Liberty County winners are:
• Marcia Graham of First Presbyterian Christian Academy, who won $1,929.25 for her project, “The President’s Challenge.”
• Ruby Roberts and John Kirkland of Waldo Pafford Elementary School, who won $1,934.05 for their project, “Robot Creation Station.”
• Pamela Scott of the Liberty College and Career Academy, who won $1,995 for her project, “Perfecting Soft Job Skills.”
• Paula Sauls of the Liberty College and Career Academy, who won $1,978 for her project, “Learning Anatomy the Hands on Way.”
• Natasha Medford of Lewis Frasier Middle School, who won $1,435.50 for her project where sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade students build and test underwater ROV kits in a pool and record their data.
• Felicia Monfort of Frank Long Elementary School, who won $1,226.37 for her project, “Math Hotel.”
• Joy McCook and Pamela Donald of Bradwell Institute, who won $1,516.73 for their project, “Inflatable Spaces in the Classroom.”
• Sarah Trawick of Joseph Martin Elementary School, who won $1,270 for her project, “From Egg to Chick or Duckling.”
• Cristina Dover of Midway Middle School, who won $454.98 for her project, “iSee, iRead More!”
• Jessica Cook of Liberty Elementary School, who won $207.75 for her project, “Investigating Life Cycles.”
Since the program’s inception in 2002, more than $200,000 has been awarded to local teachers. The grants give teachers the power to put their creative-teaching ideas into action. Applications are accepted from teachers instructing students in grades K-12.
Bright Ideas is funded by donations from the cooperative’s members who participate in Operation Round Up. That program lets members round up their electric bills to the nearest whole dollar. The change is turned over to the Coastal Electric Cooperative Foundation to assist with food, health, shelter, safety and educational needs in the community.
Coastal Electric Cooperative is a customer-owned power supplier serving 17,000 members in Bryan, Liberty, Long and McIntosh counties. The co-op is headquartered in Midway.