To:

Members, Board of Education

From:

Maurice O. Green, Superintendent
Nora Carr, Chief of Staff

Date:

December 3, 2010

RE:

Energy United Bright Ideas Award Recognition

At its December 7, 2010 meeting, the Board of Education will recognize Energy United for its contribution to our schools and students through the annual Bright Ideas Awards.

Energy United has a strong focus on education and supports many programs aimed at benefiting students and classroom teachers. According to Chief Executive Officer H. Wayne Wilkins, “Classroom teachers are the heart and soul of our education system," We are committed to helping them do the best possible job and challenge the students in their classes to be the very best they can be.”

Through the Bright Ideas program, Energy United makes funds available for special classroom projects that create excitement among students and enhance learning. Bright Ideas grant awards can be as much as $2,000 each. This year, six Guilford County Schools’ projects were awarded grants totaling $8,204. These projects will affect more than 1400 students across the district.

The Bright Ideas program is a statewide initiative of the 26 electric cooperatives in North Carolina. Created in 1994, the program has collectively awarded more than $7 million in grant money to North Carolina teachers to sponsor 4,000 projects teaching more than 1 million students. Energy United individually has made 485 grants totaling $505,613 to teachers for innovative classroom instruction projects.