Lumbee River EMC is proud to continue its commitment to education by awarding more than $53,000 in Bright Ideas education grants to 34 local teachers across Hoke, Robeson, Scotland, Cumberland, and Moore counties. These grants will help fund creative, hands-on classroom projects that bring learning to life for students of all ages.

From art and music to science and math, Bright Ideas grants empower teachers to think outside the box and inspire curiosity in their students. Each project is designed to make learning more engaging while helping students develop skills that will serve them far beyond the classroom.

Lumbee River EMC is one of 26 electric cooperatives in North Carolina participating in the Bright Ideas program. Since its start more than three decades ago, the program has distributed over $16.5 million in funding statewide, supporting nearly 15,400 innovative projects and benefiting close to four million students.

Teachers interested in applying for a Bright Ideas grant will have another opportunity when the application process reopens in April 2026. Projects are reviewed and selected through a competitive evaluation process each fall.

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

Teachers who received grants this year can find their photos from the event here: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/frp4kwozwks6m1cz3no88/AI5kIB0lMP_iuKw8K0Xga8k?rlkey=4xrl7dh8mg7qb3pmwl4nqzk70&e=1&st=y9kzq728&dl=0