(posted on October 29, 2008)

Horry Telephone Cooperative (HTC) and Horry Electric Cooperative (HEC) joined forces once again during National Cooperative Month and awarded nearly $8,000 in grants to eight Horry County schools.  HTC and HEC launched the Bright Ideas program in January 2007 with the hopes of providing funding for innovative classroom-based education projects.  Bright Ideas grants are intended to fund projects outside normal public school funding parameters and can be made available to all disciplines in grades K-12 in Horry County.

Award winners are:

• Megan Acre, a special education teacher at Kingston Elementary School, received $1,000 to purchase a Smartboard to enhance instruction for special needs students;
• Charles Devine, a teacher at Conway High School, received $950 to purchase LanDesk computer software to monitor student achievement;
• Mary Figura, curriculum specialist for Socastee Elementary School, received $995 to purchase materials and technology to create and maintain instructional literacy center stations;
• Lori Gorman, a teacher at North Myrtle Beach Middle School, received $1,000 to purchase video equipment and create standards-based educational videos;
• Martha Hutchinson, curriculum specialist at Green Sea Floyds Elementary School, received $1,000 to purchase a Smartboard for interactive technology that will accommodate different learning styles;
• Cathy Nelson, a teacher at Conway Middle School, received $1,000 for a Techstravaganza event to be hosted by the school;
• Shannon Prince, a music teacher at Pee Dee Elementary School, received $1,000 to purchase a Smartboard to enhance her music classroom; and
• Ann Reinisch, a teacher at Forestbrook Middle School, received $1,000 to purchase Fly Pens to help students with language translation needs. 

For more information about the Bright Ideas grant program or other educational programs for local schools, contact Nicole Hyman, HTC senior marketing coordinator, at 369-8498 or Toni Gore, HEC marketing and public relations assistant, at 369-6359. 

	Pee Dee Elementary School: (from left to right) Nicole Hyman, HTC; Shannon Prince, PDES Music teacher; Cheryl Banks, PDES principal; and Toni Gore, HEC
	Conway High School: (from left to right) Nicole Hyman, HTC; Charles Devine, CHS teacher; and Toni Gore, HEC
	Kingston Elementary School: (from left to right) Nicole Hyman, HTC; Michelle Thompson, KES media specialist; Megan Acre, KES teacher; and Toni Gore, HEC
	Conway Middle School: (from left to right) Nicole Hyman, HTC; Cathy Nelson, CMS teacher; Amy Porter, CMS teacher; and Toni Gore, HEC
	Forestbrook Middle School: (from left to right) Nicole Hyman, HTC; Ann Reinisch, FMS teacher; and Toni Gore, HEC
	Socastee Elementary School: (from left to right) Nicole Hyman, HTC; Judy Bratcher, SES principal; and Toni Gore, HEC
	North Myrtle Beach Middle School: (from left to right) Nicole Hyman, HTC; Lori Gorman, NMBMS teacher; and Toni Gore, HEC
	Green Sea Floyds Elementary School: (from left to right) Nicole Hyman, HTC; Shirley Huggins, GSFES principal; Bebe Harrelson, GSFES assistant principal; Trella Collins; GSFES teacher; and Toni Gore, HEC