YEC awards grants to local teachers for their bright ideas
York Electric Cooperative was proud to award a total of $14,500 to support projects submitted by 17 teachers from Clover, Fort Mill, Rock Hill and York in 2022. Teachers were awarded up to $1,000 to implement innovative learning techniques in their classrooms through the Bright Ideas Grant Program funded by York Electric and our member-funded Operation Round Up Trust.
A committee consisting of three Operation Round Up board members, one winner from last year’s Bright Ideas program, Dr. Anne R. Witte, and two York Electric Cooperative employees reviewed the teacher applications. Grants were awarded to projects that will create new ways to make learning fun and memorable for students.
Help us celebrate their bright ideas and commitment to our students by congratulating them on a job well done!
Grants are available to all kindergarten through 12th-grade teachers in York Electric’s service territory. If you are a local teacher interested in applying for the Bright Ideas Grant Opportunity for the 2023/2024 school year, the online application will be open beginning July 10, 2023.
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Sarah Nivens, Cotton Belt Elementary School, York
Project: “Robotics Kits for STEAM Club.”
“I want to give my students various experiences while they are young so that they see what kinds of things they can do out in the ‘real world.’ I want my students to find STEAM topics interesting and fun. The goal of these robots is for my students to learn to build and code their robot to move in a specific way.”
Photo credit: Erin Powell
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Michelle Young, Bethel Elementary School, Clover
Project: “Springs of Learning.” Project will provide 5th-grade students ongoing STEAM learning support.
“Our goals are to implement STEAM-based learning to strengthen inquiry and collaboration across grade levels. We also want to integrate multiple grade level standards including design solutions, data analysis and testing.”
Photo credit: Erin Powell
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Taylor McSwain, Hickory Grove Sharon Elementary School, York
Project: “HGSES Fitness Club”
“The #1 goal of the Fitness Club is to create healthy habits for my students. I want these students to get into the routine of exercising each day in hopes they will continue those habits later in life. Other goals for this club are to help students become healthier right now, and to become better athletes.”
Photo credit: Emma Anne Mobley
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Stacey Hunter, and her team, Verla Mayfield-Benjamin (left) and Lori Patrick, Rawlinson Road Middle School, Rock Hill.
Project: “Sensory Support” for 6th to 8th grade students in the Autistic Program.
“My goal teaching those with autism is to help them develop and learn sensory strategies and how to process sensory information. Some students might be sensitive to sensory inputs and find it difficult to stay calm and focused. Others might need more sensory inputs to understand the sensation. My overall goal is for them to become independent and learn how to self-advocate for themselves on what they need.”
Photo credit: Stacey Hunter
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Scott Boyd, Clover High School, Clover
Project: “Smoke and Fog Machine”
“This will help prepare students interested in Fire Science prepare for their state testing and give them first-hand experience in what it is like to be in a hazardous environment.”
Photo credit: Erin Powell
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Ashleigh Erb, York Intermediate School, York
Project: “Amazing Me…in 3D,” supporting STEM learning for special education students in 5th and 6th grade.
“I would like to give these students an opportunity to learn and take advantage of rapidly changing technology. More often than not, this population of students does not have access to opportunities to engage with higher-level thinking outside the classroom and even in the classroom because resources are very limited given school budgets. I would like to give these special pens as an accessible means to explore and learn how 3D technologies work and impact our daily lives.”
Photo credit: Erin Powell
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Jessica Hardy, Kings Town Elementary School, Fort Mill
Project: “First Tee Golf Unit,” supporting social emotional learning from kindergarten to 5th grade. Hardy supports her project through research that shows how the game of golf provides “life skills that coincide with the sport.”
“Implementing golf into our physical education curriculum brings exposure to the game and the skills involved that many students might not get to experience otherwise. The First Tee curriculum centers around the game of golf but also brings social and emotional learning into each lesson. Life-long skills and character behaviors are also taught in each lesson such as respect, responsibility, and confidence. We look forward to teaching golf to our Kings Town Elementary students.”
Photo credit: Erin Powell
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Vickie McCorkle, Hickory Grove Sharon Elementary School, York
Project: “Note Reading Can Be Fun.” Introduces students from kindergarten to 6th grade to music.
“Most students look forward to making music in many ways. I plan to offer as many hands-on experiences to my students as possible. After students learn the basics of note reading, it is important that they use a variety of instruments to apply what they have learned. A good foundation in music is so important and helping students to understand ‘why” they are learning this skill is sometimes challenging. In the future, I hope that my students will be able to share what they have learned with our school and community.”
Photo credit: Erin Powell
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Tracy Mitchell, Griggs Road Elementary School, Clover
Project: “Innovative Creativity with Legos.” Project will create a makerspace in the school’s media center.
“In this space, students will learn through inquiry-based play that focuses on literacy and content curriculum. This will provide equal access and opportunities for all students by providing the needed materials for projects inspired through mentor texts. Students are often hesitant to take risks while learning at school because of fear of failure and the possibility of receiving a poor grade. A makerspace area provides students with the opportunity to be risk-takers in their education. A place to think outside the box without fear of failure that results in a negative impact on their grades.”
Photo credit: Erin Powell
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Angela Carpenter, Clover Middle School, Clover
Project: “Blue Eagle School Tools”
“Given the appropriate support, students with significant disabilities will develop academic and social skills related to a work environment. Students will gain the background knowledge and skills to move forward to gainful employment in the community after leaving the school setting.”
Photo credit: Erin Powell
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Molly Byrum, Jefferson Elementary School, York
Project: “Classroom Transformations”
“Transforming classrooms into an engaging environment for students will help students have an enjoyable experience at school with learning that is fun and memorable.”
Photo credit: Erin Powell
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DeEtte Mann, York Intermediate School, York
Project: “Sensational Science STEAM Stations.” Project will impact more than 350 5th-grade students.
“My goal for this project is to have students gain a deeper understanding of science concepts through hands-on learning opportunities, engage students in fun, interactive activities and inspire students to think creatively. By using these stations as a means of assessment, our goal is to have a higher percentage of students understand and have future interest in the content.”
Photo credit: Erin Powell
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Michelle Hubbard, Clover Middle School, Clover
Project: “Today’s Weather—Live from Clover Middle School.” Students in 6th grade will learn about weather first-hand with an installed weather station at their school.
“Installing a weather station at our middle school, as well as using other hands-on weather tools, will help our students be able to learn across several subject matters including Science, Language Arts and Math. Students will be able to access the information and take readings from our weather station to use to track changes and predict the weather, with a year-end goal to calculate our area’s average climate.”
Photo credit: Erin Powell
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Susan Rodriguez, York One Academy, York
Project: “Coding for Middle School Students”
“The goal of coding for students is to help them to think critically, reason systemically, and work collaboratively. Coding also encourages creativity. The creativity developed allows them to create optimal programs and is a pathway to possessing many other entrepreneurial skills. Even if students do not pursue coding as a career, they will enter their chosen careers with the ability to create efficient processes, solve complex problems logically and work effectively in teams.”
Photo credit: Erin Powell
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Rita Woodley, Cotton Belt Elementary School, York
Project: “Bringing Science to Life.” Project will help 3rd-grade students as they learn science and social studies.
“My project goals are for students to have more hands-on experiences with our new science standards. Tying our learning to real-world situations shows the purpose behind learning in school. Lastly, this project will help build social and teamwork skills, and promote independent learning.”
Photo credit: Erin Powell
Highlighting young talent, learning with art
Thinking creatively is an important part of learning communication skills, expression and strategizing for the best outcome. At York Electric, we’re proud to support education and the bright futures of our youngest members. Show us your creativity, best design and brightest colors to help YEC celebrate our community and share the cooperative difference.
Visit yorkelectric.net/learn-with-art or scan the code to learn more about each competition and the prizes. All entries are due by Friday, April 7, 2023.
Lineworkers Gear Up for Safety Coloring Contest for ages 6–7
This will be our 10th year sharing the importance of electrical safety with our youngest members through our coloring contest. Judged by our Lineworkers’ Rodeo Team, the winner receives $50!
Co-op Magnet Design Challenge for ages 11–14
One of the 7 Cooperative Principals is Concern for Community, which is why empowering and improving the communities we serve remains a top of mind at YEC. Illustrate a bumper magnet that showcases this important message for a chance to win $100 and have your design on YEC’s fleet for one year.
Cooperative Principles Art Competition for ages 15–18
Build your resume while helping your co-op showcase the cooperative difference. Using any medium of your choosing, create a work of art that communicates one of the 7 Cooperative Principles and have your work displayed at our main office for an entire year. The winner will be recognized in our magazine and win a $300 cash prize.
YEC is proud to recognize these outstanding teachers. Learn what inspires them!
Each district will have one winner, receiving up to $1,000 to accomplish an innovative classroom program or project that improves the learning experience for students. All grade levels are eligible to apply.