Teacher Adam Haas from Rocky River Elementary in Union County applied and was awarded $2,000 for his project, Engineering Critical Thinking Skills.

On April 1, Union Power will kick off the 2022/2023 Bright Ideas grant scholarship program and begin accepting applications with the potential to award up to $2,000 per project. All K-12 teachers are encouraged to apply with creative ideas to be incorporated as reusable classroom projects.

Applications will be accepted through Sept. 15. As an added incentive to apply early, educators who submit their applications by Aug. 15 will be entered into a drawing to receive a Visa gift card.

Since 1994, Union Power Cooperative and other North Carolina electric cooperatives have partnered with K-12 teachers statewide to provide Bright Ideas grants for unique classroom projects that would not otherwise be funded. Teacher Adam Haas, pictured right, from Rocky River Elementary in Union County applied and was awarded $2,000 for his project, Engineering Critical Thinking Skills.

Over the program’s history, more than 2.8-plus million students across North Carolina have benefited from nearly 13,536 Bright Ideas-funded projects totaling more than $14.3 million.

The Bright Ideas grant program is part of our continued commitment to building a brighter future for the people, businesses, and communities we serve. In addition to ensuring reliable, affordable, and sustainable power, this vision emphasizes the importance of innovation and ongoing community support.