CHEC has awarded $3,675 in grant funding to local K-12 educators in support of four innovative projects that will positively impact students on Hatteras Island. These grants bring creative projects to life inside classrooms and expand learning opportunities for local students. Grants are awarded for projects in all subject areas, including music, art, history, reading, science, math and more.

This year’s Bright Ideas grant winners are:

• Tami Harsh, STEM teacher at Cape Hatteras Elementary School (CHES)

Building Critical Things One Ladder at a Time

This Jacob’s Ladder reading comprehension program teaches skills including sequencing, identifying cause and effect and categorizing through advanced science and math curriculum that extends beyond the usual classroom experiences. This project will benefit 39 ‘gifted learner’ students at CHES.

• Kristin Gray, instructional technology facilitator at CHES

The Children Who Harnessed the Wind

All students at CHES will read The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind for the annual school-wide book this year. This project builds comprehensive STEM curriculum that correlates to the book. This project will benefit 261 students at CHES.

• Evan Ferguson, media coordinator at Cape Hatteras Secondary School (CHSS)

Student Wellness and Stress Reduction Initiative

The grant will be used to purchase supplies for Mindfulness Movements classes which teaches students techniques to combat stress and anxiety, including breathing, mindfulness, yoga movement and creative play. This project will benefit all students at CHSS.

• Ian Folb, leisure activities specialist at Dare County Parks and Recreation

Fessenden LEGO Club

 The grant will help start this hands-on program to engage local youth ages 8 – 12 years old with creative exploration, collaborative problem-solving and STEM-based learning challenges. The project will open opportunities to host both public and home school students.

Since 1994, North Carolina’s 26 electric cooperatives have collectively awarded more than $16.5 million in grants, supporting nearly 15,400 projects and benefiting close to four million students statewide.

To learn more about the Bright Ideas education grant program, visit www.ncbrightideas.com.