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Classroom Grants Winners Announced

Community News
Teachers in MEC’s service area were awarded $200 grants at a celebratory luncheon on April 22, 2025. In attendance were MEC Board Directors Debbie Johnson, Rich Tempelman, and Tracy Weisz (far right.) Photo by Heather Foreman/MEC

Mohave Electric Cooperative (MEC) awarded 18 $200 classroom grants to educators for financial assistance in making classroom learning more engaging.

34 applicants competed for the 18 available grants. A team at MEC evaluated the projects submitted by educators, basing their grading on creativity, following application instructions, classroom integration, as well as benefits and financial need to students. Classroom Grants are funded by assigned capital credits at no cost to the cooperative or its members.

“Every year, teachers throughout the MEC service area submit creative project ideas, and we look forward to the new ways educators will implement these programs into the classroom,” said Heather Foreman, Public Affairs Coordinator. “It’s difficult to choose only 18 winners, with so many inspiring projects.”

Project ideas ranged from a glow-in-the-dark day, hydropower generators, financial literacy, to Lego robotics competition, and sensory integration for learning centers. Nikole Cortez, a 4th-grade educator at Young Scholars Academy, earned the top score for her outstanding project, Owl Pellet Dissection. “The students love the hands-on learning and the dissecting part. But they especially love finding the big skulls and other bones and shaping them back together to try to figure out what animal the owl ate. That is definitely their favorite part. It’s an experience they will never forget,” Cortez stated.

The 18 selected educators represent 10 schools where their various K-12 programs will be implemented. The schools are Bullhead City Middle School, Desert Light Christian Academy, Desert Star Academy, Fort Mojave Elementary School, Mohave Accelerated Learning Center, Mohave High School, River Valley High School, Sunrise Elementary School, Topock Elementary School, and Young Scholars Academy.

Congratulations to educators: Peggy Bare, Jo-Ann Batulan, Veronica Bustejer, Michael Cassera, Judy Chesla, Nikole Cortez, Donald Gadd, Amber Gaudry, Megan Lindemanis, Alyssa McKown, Jorden Ostrowski, Samantha Penfold, Shannon Rockwood, Terisa Smeets, Aubry Sterk, Juliza Tiu, Jennifer Turner, and David Trinidad.

We would like to thank all educators who applied and appreciate their efforts in making learning fun and effective for our youth.