Columbia Educators and Students Shine Bright with Innovative Grants and Awards

Columbia Teachers Shine with Bright Ideas Grants!

In Columbia, it’s always exciting to hear about amazing programs that support our educators and empower our students. This year, Mid-Carolina Electric Cooperative (MCEC) spread a little extra cheer with their annual Bright Ideas program. This program offers grants to teachers who come up with really cool and innovative projects for their classrooms. And boy, did they deliver!

School District Five Gets an Impressive Boost

This year, School District Five received a whopping nearly $6,500 in grants, and the recipients are already buzzing with ideas! Teachers from various schools are ready to make their mark with exciting projects. Let’s take a closer look at who is getting the greenlight:

• Craig Andrysczyk from Oak Pointe Elementary School is all set to ignite young minds with his project, 21st Century Engineering for Elementary Learners.
• Jaime Chason at Dutch Fork High School is crafting a creativity-driven course with Reborn Art.
• Dr. Paul Duggan from Leaphart Elementary School will lead his enthusiastic fourth graders in the Featherheads STEAM Club.
• Through Outdoor Air Quality, Grace Fields aims to get high schoolers thinking about the fresh air that surrounds them at Dutch Fork High School.
• Dr. Cherisha Floyd is spearheading the First Generation College Student Initiative at Irmo High School, giving much-needed support to those taking their first steps into higher education.
• Heather Studer plans to transform the way students collaborate in math at Chapin Middle School with her project Collaborating in the Math Classroom.
• Finally, Carl Tilson at Dutch Fork High School is diving deep into sustainability with his project on Culturing Marine Algae for Bioremediation Research.

Students’ Spirit Recognized

And it’s not just teachers getting recognition—students are stepping up big time too! At Spring Hill High School, Mary Ellen Morrison and Bella Qian were awarded the Len Rodger’s Spirit Award from Good Days Effective Compassion. Why? Because these two innovative students kicked off the Fighting Chronic Illness Together Campaign, which designed and sold awesome t-shirts, hoodies, and bracelets to raise funds for people struggling with chronic illness. Their passion for helping others elevates our community spirit!

Magnet Fair: A Must-Visit Event!

Heads up, families! If you’re interested in learning about the fantastic programs available in Lexington-Richland School District Five, mark your calendars for the first Magnet Fair happening here in Columbia! It’s on Thursday, November 21, 5:30–7 p.m. at Irmo High School International School for the Arts. This is a golden opportunity to explore all the options available for grades 6 to 12, so get ready to gather some valuable info!

Coca-Cola Scholar Semifinalist!

In other exciting news, our very own Gabrielle Goodwin, a senior at Spring Hill High School, has been named a semifinalist for the prestigious 2025 Coca-Cola Scholars Program. She’s moving one step closer to possibly earning a sweet $20,000 college scholarship. Way to go, Gabrielle! We can’t wait to see where this journey takes you!

Guitar Students Hit a High Note

On a musical note, a talented group of twenty guitar students from Dreher High School has come together for a special project with the Virtual Guitar Orchestra and Augustine Strings. They recently recorded a spectacular performance of The Sun by Ronald Pearl, which was released on YouTube on November 6. What a fantastic way to showcase their talents and connect with the musical community!

Arts Magnet School Awarded Grant

Last but certainly not least, let’s give a big shoutout to Nursery Road Elementary School – Arts Magnet (NRES-AM) for receiving a generous $12,400 Distinguished Arts Program grant for their Excellence in Arts project from the South Carolina Department of Education. This funding will go a long way in nurturing the creative sparkle within young artists.

As we can see, the future looks bright in Columbia. With teachers eager to innovate, students rising to the occasion, and community support all around, there’s no doubt that Columbia’s educational landscape is buzzing with energy!