Local teachers receive funding
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on December 17, 2014 1:46 PM
Thirty-one teachers in Wayne County received Bright Ideas education grants recently from the N.C. Electric Membership Corporation and Tri-County EMC.
This is the 20th anniversary of the grant program, introduced in 1994. Since then, more than $9.1 million has been awarded for over 8,800 projects.
More than $185,000 in grant funds from six Touchstone Energy cooperatives were awarded this year to 140 educators in 22 counties.
NCEMC presented grants to two educators in Wayne County, Mabel Lamprea of Dillard Middle and Lori Batten of Greenwood Middle, both two-time Bright Ideas recipients.
Ms. Batten was awarded $1,500 to engage students and foster deeper understanding of concepts using comic-style books in the "Comic Con with Science and Social Studies" projects. Ms. Lamprea received a $1,342 grant for the "Money Brains" project to teach students good financial habits and practice concepts in budgeting, earning, spending and investing.
Tri-County presented checks to educators in Wayne, Lenoir and Duplin counties in varying amounts, from $332 to $1,000. A total of $62,740 was distributed. Since 1994, Tri-County has funded 1,363 grants, totaling more than $1.3 million.
"We're thrilled to award these dedicated educators with Bright Ideas grants," said Mike Davis, general manager of Tri-County EMC.
Wayne County winners and the amount of the grant each received include:
Brogden Primary School: Rema Alawar, $996; Demetria McCreary, $897; Sharon Schofill, $998; and Beth Smith, $836.
Carver Elementary: Ann Atwood, $705.
Charles B. Aycock High: Steven Thorne, $1,000.
Dillard Middle: Mabel Lamprea, $1,342
Eastern Wayne Elementary: Sheila Rollins, $686.
Fremont Elementary: Tammy Derksen, $990; Kasey Ezzell, $600; Camille Frederick, $924; Shalaunda Smith, $345; and Joy Vinson, $967.
Greenwood Middle: Lori Batten, $1,500.
Norwayne Middle: Emily Paul, $769.
Grantham School: Jeff Bradley, $998; Leigh Davis, $730; Rebecca Jones, $893; and Jenny Coley Sasser, $874.
Tommy's Road Elementary: Marcy Wurtele, $562.
Wayne Country Day School: Dona Briggs, $1,000; Dena Creger, $991; David Flowers, $960; Cathie Hooks, $1,000; Jessica Ladd, $372; Chad Lewis, $1,000; Dawn McDonald, $1,000; Claudia Pinto, $998; Tara Skinner, $950; Meghan Teel, $1,000; and Connie Whaley, 987.