Bright Ideas Grants
Teachers, send in your Bright Ideas!
Teachers work tirelessly to prepare students for the future, and many teachers have innovative ideas for exceptional classroom experiences. Unfortunately, funding for these projects isn't always available. YEC and our Operation Round Up Trust are proud to offer a grant to one teacher in each public school district and one teacher in a private or charter school in our service territory to help make a Bright Idea a reality.
YEC Members & Community, Nominate a Teacher!
As most of us know, funding isn’t always available for teachers to purchase the classroom materials and supplies needed to put their innovative ideas to work. As part of our Bright Ideas Program, YEC and our Operation Round Up Trust are proud to partner to fulfill the wishlists of local educators. We invite community members to nominate outstanding teachers and help us identify those in need.
The 2026 application and nomination deadline was Friday, September 4, 2026.
Check back in June 2027 for the 2027 application and invitation to nominate a teacher.
Annual Deadline Details
Applications and nominations for Bright Ideas Grants and Wishlist Fulfillment are accepted beginning in June and end with a September deadline. Check back each year for exact dates.
2025 Bright Ideas Grants & Wish Lists
This year, YEC awarded 13 Bright Ideas grants from a record 41 applications, along with 71 $200 classroom wish list gift cards—a total of $25,000 going to teachers.
Please join us in celebrating these outstanding Bright Ideas recipients!
Clover School District
Bright Ideas Grant Winners
Wishlist Fulfillment recipients
- Christopher Powers, Academies of Clover
- Melissa Jackson, Bethany Elementary
- Jennifer Robinson, Bethany Elementary
- Jennings Quinn, Bethany Elementary
- Logan Hines, Bethel Elementary
- Jennifer Thomas, Bethel Elementary
- Charlene Cathcart, Clover High School
- Olivia Praga, Clover High School
- Shannon Neumann, Clover Middle School
- Katie Millen, Larne Elementary
- McKenzie Grooms, Larne Elementary
- Karla Sanders, Larne Elementary
Fort Mill School District
Bright Ideas Grant Winners
Wishlist Fulfillment recipients
- Elizabeth Parra, Catawba Ridge High School
- Kalaylah Hazelton, Catawba Ridge High School
- Nancy Gearhart, Fort Mill Elementary
- Susanne Mercado, Fort Mill Elementary
- Jessica Tracy, Fort Mill Elementary
- Ricky Christian Sims, Gold Hill Middle School
- Christie Reynolds, Nation Ford High School
- Maddie Andrews, River Trail Elementary
- Krista Kasprzak, River Trail Elementary
- Neely Trull, River Trail Elementary
- Stephanie Ellis, Sugar Creek Elementary
- Taylor Messer, Fort Mill Middle School
Rock Hill School District
Bright Ideas Grant Winners
Wishlist Fulfillment recipients
- Amanda Rowe, Castle Heights Middle School
- Bethany Haney, Ebenezer Avenue Elementary
- Dina Grant, Ebenezer Avenue Elementary
- La’ Porschia Davis, Ebinport Elementary
- Elise Sookram, Ebinport Elementary
- Breonna McMoore, Old Pointe Elementary
- Nadja Canty, Oakdale Elementary
- Emily Studebaker, Oakdale Elementary
- Jason Sutton, Sullivan Middle School
Charter School
Bright Ideas Grant Winner
Lancaster School District
Wishlist Fulfillment recipient
- Kelsey Carter, Buford High School
York School District
Bright Ideas Grant Winners
Wishlist Fulfillment recipients
- Alexandria Jamison, Cotton Belt Elementary
- Ashleigh Erb, Cotton Belt Elementary
- Jessica Palermo, Cotton Belt Elementary
- Mikayla Barnhart, Cotton Belt Elementary
- Rita Woodley, Cotton Belt Elementary
- Scottee Horne, Cotton Belt Elementary
- Sherry Whitesides, Cotton Belt Elementary
- Kayla Blackwell, Hickory Grove Sharon Elementary
- Mary Ashley Gilfillan, Hickory Grove Sharon Elementary
- Jaime Caveny, Hickory Grove Sharon Elementary
- Kimberly Taylor, Hickory Grove Sharon Elementary
- Sarah Clemence, Hickory Grove Sharon Elementary
- Kim Howe, Hickory Grove Sharon Elementary
- Hayle Whitesides, Harold C Johnson Elementary
- Maxi Shiflet, Harold C Johnson Elementary
- Wendy Nyberg, Harold C Johnson Elementary
- Jacquelyn Noto, Hunter Street Elementary
- Lisa Adams, Hunter Street Elementary
- Karrie Sheridan, Jefferson Elementary
- Brittany Neal, Jefferson Elementary
- Laura William, Jefferson Elementary
- Kathrine Greenway, York Comprehensive High School
- Melina Burkell, York Comprehensive High School
- Jessica Russell, York Comprehensive High School
- Beth Bridges, York Intermediate
- Tonya Jenkins, York Intermediate
- Kary Ison, York Intermediate
- Kristin Slaughter, York Intermediate
- Tierney Norris, York Intermediate
- Anna Adams, York Middle School
- Madison Bryant, York Middle School
- Mary Gump, York Middle School
Funding to accomplish these beneficial projects is often a problem, which is why York Electric Cooperative and our Operation Round Up® Trust Board are working together to provide the Bright Ideas Grant Program. All kindergarten through 12th-grade teachers at public schools in York, Clover, Lancaster, Rock Hill and Fort Mill school districts, and K-12 teachers at private schools in YEC's service territory are eligible to apply for a grant to fund an innovative program to implement in their classroom. Each public school district and one private school will be awarded one grant of up to $1,000.