Coweta-Fayette EMC Awards over $30,000 to Local Schools
Pictured above are some of the 2025 Bright Ideas Grant winners (Top Left, Clockwise) Jillian McDonnell of Arnall Middle School; Michele Eubanks, Arbor Springs Elementary; Claire Hilton, East Coweta High School; and Ceil Harper, Westside School.
From Coweta-Fayette EMC Press Release
Area students now have the opportunity to take on hands-on projects such as incubating and hatching chicken eggs, producing student podcasts, exploring with virtual reality headsets and publishing competitive literary magazines as part of the 2025 Bright Ideas Grant Program, funded by Operation Round Up.
After receiving 53 applications, a panel of educators awarded $30,770 in Bright Ideas Grants to support 27 innovative classroom projects in Coweta County, Fayette County and Heard County Schools.
Employees from the cooperative personally surprised each winner, presenting them with their award, a grant check and appreciation for their creativity and dedication to shaping the future of local students.
“This is such an amazing program, and we are so appreciative,” said Lindsay Boyle, principal of Kedron Elementary School.
The Bright Ideas Grant Program is designed to help teachers bring creative, hands-on learning opportunities to their classrooms—projects that may not otherwise be funded through traditional school budgets. The program is open to Pre-K through 12th grade educators across all subject areas within Coweta Fayette EMC’s service area.
To date, the Bright Ideas Grant Program has awarded more than $606,000 to local educators, thanks to funding provided by the Operation Round Up Trust. This program is made possible through the generosity of cooperative members who voluntarily “round up” their monthly electric bills to the nearest dollar. The spare change goes directly to the Trust, a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening our communities and helping our neighbors. Help support our local educators by signing up here: https://utility.org/operation-round-up-signup/
Applications for the 2026 Bright Ideas Grants will open in May 2026.
Congratulations to the following 2025 Bright Ideas Grant Coweta County winners:
Coweta County
- Arbor Springs Elementary: Michele Eubanks
- Arnall Middle: Jillian McDonnell
- Arnco-Sargent Elementary: Katherine Brown and Rebecca Gore
- Blake Bass Middle: Lisa Holland
- Central Christian: Kimberly Jones
- East Coweta High: Claire Hilton
- East Coweta Middle: Blaire Thrasher
- Evans Middle: Courtney Ledford and Stephanie Skinner
- Glanton Elementary: Amanda Scogin and Virginia McCurdy
- Lee Middle: Charles Davenport
- Newnan High: Carrie DeBilzan
- Welch Elementary: Briana Booker
- Westside School: Ceil Harper, Stacy Davis and Myronda Jenkins
