REMC provides grants for school projects

ASHEBORO — Six teachers from schools within Randolph County were recognized with “Bright Ideas” grants through the Randolph Electric Membership Corporation.

In total, 15 teachers were selected from Chatham, Randolph, Montgomery and Moore counties. The grant funds will support classroom projects in the subjects of science, art, physical education and more, according to REMC information.

The selections in Randolph County were:

** Theresa Lynch of Uwharrie Charter Academy Middle School won $2,000 for an Osobots for Vocabulary Enrichment project. This project is a hands-on project designed to introduce sixth-grade students to the fundamentals of coding and robotics through the use of Osobots to enrich vocabulary learning.

** Deborah Wainwright of Southwestern Randolph Middle School won $375 for a SWRM Stream Keepers project. This project aims to identify and collect data on the main sources, types, and consequences of freshwater pollution.

** Kelsey Overton of Farmer Elementary School won $1,118 for a project called Merge Cube. This project engages students in exploring interactive 3D models that connect to both fiction and nonfiction texts, helping them deepen their understanding of story settings, character traits, and informational content.

** Crystal Simpson of Farmer Elementary School won $1,033 for a science lab project. This project aims to enhance science education at the elementary level by providing essential materials and equipment to support a hands-on, inquiry-based science lab.

** Brian Smith of Faith Christian School won $280 for Flowing Forward. In this project, students will read “A Long Walk to Water” by Linda Sue Park while exploring engineering solutions that make contaminated water safe to drink. Students will design and build a simple water filtration system.

** Lori-Beth Russell of Uwharrie Charter Academy’s high school won $1,000 for a Threads of Tomorrow project, which will fund a new sewing program. The class will be designed to give students a hands-on learning experience that blends creativity, problem-solving and practical life skills.

REMC is one of 26 electric cooperatives in North Carolina offering “Bright Ideas” grants to local teachers.

REMC accepts “Bright Ideas” grant applications each year from April through mid-September. The application process will reopen for interested teachers in April.