Edgecombe-Martin County EMC is proud to announce the winners of this year’s Bright Ideas education grants, funding 16 innovative classroom projects across 11 schools in Edgecombe, Nash, Pitt, and Martin counties. These creative projects will reach over [insert number] students, giving them hands-on opportunities to explore, invent, and learn.
The Bright Ideas program empowers local teachers to bring unique ideas to life—projects that go beyond traditional classroom activities. From designing podcasts and prototypes to exploring ecosystems and engineering, this year’s recipients are sparking curiosity and encouraging students to think creatively.
2025 Bright Ideas Grant Recipients
James Guy Jr. – Ready, Set, Launch! Desktop Catapult Challenge, Edgecombe Early College
Brittany White – Living Bottles: Building Aquatic Ecosystems with Vernier Sensors, Edgecombe Early College
Ashley Davis – Chain Reaction Expo: A Rube Goldberg Design Challenge, Edgecombe Early College
Kimberly Long – Tiny House Math: Blueprints to Bottom Lines, Edgecombe Early College
Emma Rogers – Echoes of Edgecombe: Local History Podcast Lab, Edgecombe Early College
Morgan Hardison – Bridging the Literacy Gap – Meeting the Needs of Our Struggling Readers, North East Carolina Prep
Thea Mills – Use It Up, Wear It Out, Make It Do, or Do Without, South West High School
Phillip Lampron – Engineering Our Dragons, South Edgecombe Middle School
Kayla Norville – Bins of Potential: A Bright Future Powered by STEM, GW Carver Elementary
Cliff Hudson – From Dirt to Delight, South Creek Middle School
Kaleigh Jones – From Play to Prototype: Developing Thinkers with Indi, Bethel Elementary School
Tammy Hedgepeth – Young Engineers and Coders Transforming the World!, Princeville Montessori
Omar Nedal – Math in Motion: Real-World Applications Through Interactive Learning, North Edgecombe High School
Delmonika Vick – Financial Literacy Lab – Dollars & Sense in Action, North Edgecombe High School
William Fien – Beyond the Classroom Walls, Martin County High School
Tiffany Fowler – From Traits to Tots: Visualizing Heredity Through Mr. Potato Head, Edge Academy of Health Sciences
These projects cover a wide range of subjects, including STEM, literacy, history, and financial education, reflecting the creativity and dedication of teachers in our region.
As one of 26 electric cooperatives in North Carolina offering Bright Ideas grants, Edgecombe-Martin County EMC is proud to continue supporting educators who inspire learning and innovation. Since the program began 30 years ago, North Carolina’s electric cooperatives have awarded nearly $16 million, supporting more than 14,700 projects and positively impacting over 3.65 million students statewide.
Teachers are encouraged to apply for next year’s Bright Ideas grants between April and mid-September. Proposals are competitively reviewed, and selected projects bring lasting benefits to students and communities.
To see the impact of Bright Ideas grants in your area, visit www.ncbrightideas.com
or follow Edgecombe-Martin County EMC on Facebook and Instagram.
Monica Speight