Big Ideas, Big Surprises: CFEMC Awards Bright Ideas Grants to 24 Local Recipients

Tears of joy, excited jumps and moments of complete disbelief filled classrooms across Coweta-Fayette EMC’s service territory as EMC employees surprised 24 Bright Ideas Grant recipients with the news they had won funding for their innovative classroom projects.

This year, CFEMC awarded $30,871 through the Bright Ideas Grant Program, which receives funding from Operation Round Up, to help local educators turn creative ideas into meaningful learning experiences for their students.

CFEMC employees visited schools throughout the service territory to personally surprise the winning educators in their classrooms. Some cheered, some cried and others could hardly find the words to express their excitement. Each reaction reminded us just how much these opportunities mean to the teachers who work every day to inspire the next generation.

“Thank you so much to the amazing members who round up,” said Flat Rock Middle School Principal Monica Reckley. “Because of you and your generosity, our school is able to make our robotic dreams a reality.”

From building electric generation diagrams with LEGOs to creating learning environments where students can build everyday life skills like cooking and laundry, this year’s winning projects will give students new opportunities to explore, create and learn through hands-on experiences that extend beyond traditional classroom instruction.

Through the Bright Ideas Grant Program, CFEMC supports Pre-K through 12^th grade educators across all subject areas within its service territory. The grants help teachers bring innovative projects to life that traditional school budgets might not otherwise cover.

CFEMC members who voluntarily participate in Operation Round Up make these grants possible. By rounding their monthly bills up to the nearest dollar, members turn their spare change into meaningful investments in their local communities.

Each grant represents more than funding for classroom supplies or equipment. It’s an investment in our schools, our educators and, most importantly, the children who will shape the future of our communities.

“Seeing the excitement on these teachers’ faces is one of the best parts of what we do,” said Jenna Addison, CFEMC Community Relations Coordinator. “None of this would be possible without our Operation Round Up members. Their willingness to give just a few cents each month allows us to invest in our schools and the future of our communities.”

CFEMC congratulates this year’s Bright Ideas Grant recipients and thanks our members who make these opportunities possible. Through their continued generosity, educators can now turn bright ideas into brighter futures for students throughout our communities.

Click to learn more about Operation Round Up or sign up to participate.

Congratulations to the following 2026 Bright Ideas Grant recipients: