Area students are the winners with Bright Ideas teacher grants

Palmetto Electric Cooperative and Palmetto Electric Trust recently awarded $40,365 in Bright Ideas grants to 50 deserving teachers in southern Beaufort, Hampton and Jasper counties.

Earlier this year, teachers submitted proposals for innovative classroom projects. A total of 82 grant applications were received.

“Throughout the COVID pandemic, we know that teachers have worked tirelessly, often thinking outside the box, to ensure their students continue learning successfully,” said Berl Davis, president and CEO of Palmetto Electric Cooperative. “We are excited to award 50 grants to benefit students in our three-county service area.”

Checks, gifts and signs reading “A Bright Ideas Grant Winner Teaches Here,” will be delivered to each winning school.

Area winners:

BEAUFORT COUNTY • Bluffton Elementary School & Early Childhood Center—$350, Laura VanHorn. • Bluffton Middle School—$240, Deborah Birkett; $1,000, Heidi McAllister. • Cross Schools—$795, Lindsay Bowerman; $910, Heather Brougham-Cook; $625, Pam Donahue; $500, Karen Penale; $1,000, Dr. Nancy Ungvarsky. • Heritage Academy—$800, David Fuka; $300, Janice Magnin. • Hilton Head Christian Academy—$1,000, Amy Inglis. • Hilton Head Island High School—$1,000, Tarken Best; $1,000, Matthew Pheiffer; $1,000, Corinne Spisz; $750, Robert Stine; $1,000, John Wyatt. • Hilton Head Island IB Elementary School—$470, Jill Fernandez; $400, Terri Foy; $650, Katie Hawkins; $250, John Slaughter. • Hilton Head Island School for the Creative Arts—$990, Jennifer Friend-Kerr. • Hilton Head Preparatory School—$1,000, Laura Campbell; $525, Louise Goodman. • May River Montessori—$1,000, Sari Kandel. • Okatie Elementary School—$800, Amanda Altman. • Sea Pines Montessori School—$1,000, Kathy Midkiff. • St. Francis Catholic School—$430, Kelley Burke. • St. Gregory the Great Catholic School—$1,000, Christina Cleveland.

HAMPTON COUNTY • Ben Hazel Primary School—$1,000, Stephanie Carroll. • Patrick Henry Academy—$370, Sarah Padget. • Varnville Elementary School—$750, Kelyne Buxton; $930, Amanda Padgett; $890, Robin Taylor.

JASPER COUNTY • Hardeeville-Ridgeland Middle School—$750, Antoinette Chunn; $875, Christina Randall. • Polaris Tech Charter School—$670, Kimberly Mickle. • Ridgeland Elementary School—$750, Jeffrey Abanto. • Royal Live Oaks Academy of the Arts and Sciences Charter School—$1,000, Bethanne Barner; $1,000, Anne Brown; $995, Craig Cameron; $1,000, Gregg Dixon; $1,000, Amber Gallant; $1,000, Kadene Headley; $1,000, Ced’Rica Johnson; $1,000, Yonna Porter; $900, Romeo Ranera. • Thomas Heyward Academy—$1,000, Alfred Boni; $1,000, Aly Cavoto; $700, Ben Herod; $1,000, Kandice Hewlett.

The Bright Ideas program was created in 2004 to benefit local teachers in grades K-12. Many teachers develop innovative classroom projects but lack the funds to implement them. These grants give teachers the money required to put their innovative classroom projects into action. Since the program’s inception, area teachers have received over $640,000 in grants. Palmetto Electric Trust is supported by funds from Operation Round Up, a program in which the Cooperative’s members round their electric bill up to the nearest whole dollar. The program is a true example of how small change…changes lives. For more information on the Bright Ideas grant program, contact Palmetto Electric Cooperative at (843) 208-5551 or visit palmetto.coop ###

About Palmetto Electric Cooperative, Inc.

Palmetto Electric Cooperative is a not-for-profit electrical distribution utility that is owned by the members it serves. The Cooperative serves over 75,000 consumers in southern Beaufort, Jasper and Hampton counties. Palmetto Electric’s mission is to provide diversified, innovative energy and related services to its members consistent with sound business practices, while always acting in a community-building leadership role. For more information, visit palmetto.coop or call 843- 208-5551. Palmetto Electric is also a member of Touchstone Energy, which is a national alliance of local, consumer-owned electric cooperatives providing high standards of service to customers large and small. More than 692 Touchstone Energy cooperatives in 46 states are delivering energy and energy solutions to approximately 40 million customers every day. Touchstone Energy cooperatives serve their members with integrity, accountability, innovation and a longstanding commitment to communities.