School EmPOWERment Grants
Walton EMC offers educational grants to schools and classroom teachers for a myriad of uses that further instructional programs. Any public school located within Walton EMC’s service territory is eligible to apply. Private schools can apply as well if they are served by Walton EMC electric service. Watch for a mailing to your school with details.
2025-2026 Walton EMC School EmPOWERment Grant Photo Gallery
FAST FACTS
Total Distribution: $296,908
Number of grants: 57
Schools receiving grants: 49
Total awarded since 2016: $3,331,792
Source of money: Unclaimed refunds
EmPOWERing education
Walton EMC awards nearly $300,000 to area teachers
Books to barns, playground equipment to pollinator projects, math to music — educators plan to use Walton EMC School EmPOWERment educational grants in a variety of ways to push the limits of learning. Co-op representatives visited area public and private schools this week to present checks totaling nearly $300,000. The grants will fund 57 creative, engaging projects benefitting some 25,000 students in kindergarten through 12th grade.
Investing in education and the students who represent the future of communities throughout the co-op’s service area is among the ways Walton EMC demonstrates its commitment to the community, said CEO Ron Marshall.
“We’re proud to continue supporting local education in our communities, knowing that these investments help shape the next generation of learners and leaders,” he said.
Teachers receiving this year’s grants submitted applications last fall. Winning proposals were selected in a competitive evaluation process by a panel of judges.
This year’s grant recipients are reimagining teaching with lesson plans and hands-on projects that foster a love of learning, said Walton EMC’s Jennifer Broun, community and youth representative.
“These educators have a creativity and commitment for student success that shines through in the innovative projects they bring to life,” she said.
Since the School EmPOWERment grant program began a decade ago, nearly $3.5 million has gone to school systems across Walton EMC’s 10 counties. The money comes from unclaimed co-op refunds and is authorized by Georgia law. No grant money comes from members’ power bills.
Teachers can begin applying for 2026-27 School EmPOWERment grants in October.
2025-26 School EmPOWERment Grant Winners
School |
Educator |
Project |
Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alton C. Crews Middle | Shaynna Aponte | Findability Nonfiction Project | $6,860 |
| Anderson-Livsey Elementary | Debbie May | Books that Spark: Igniting Curiosity in Every Child | $10,693 |
| Arts & Innovation Magnet | Julie Wood | Courtyard Stage for Creative Expression | $1,036 |
| Atha Road Elementary | Lauren Burroughs | Mystery Science | $2,099 |
| Athens Academy | Lori Neves | Hands-On STEM: Building Tomorrow’s Scientists through Biotechnology | $7,447 |
| Barrow Arts & Sciences | Katie Conrad | The FORGE – Student Learning Center and Tutoring Hub | $11,462 |
| Bay Creek Elementary | Angela Madden | Science Tools for Every Student | $1,907 |
| Bay Creek Middle | R. Clark, L. Retchko | Building Independence: ASD Community Skills & Cooking Club | $7,215 |
| Carver Middle | Melanie Diaz | ROAR for Success Initiative | $5,100 |
| Centerville Elementary | Julie Burnett | Finch Robots | $3,064 |
| Craig Elementary | Amberly Johnson | From Imagination to Reality – AI Powered Storytelling and 3D Printing in the Classroom | $2,500 |
| Dove Creek Elementary | A. Rivera, A. Gatrel | Designing the Future: Standards-Based STEM through 3D Modeling | $4,128 |
| Dove Creek Middle | Graham Brooks | World Book Encyclopedia 2026 for our Learning Commons | $1,457 |
| George Walton Academy | Anna Williams | Storytime STEM: Integrating Reading into the STEM Classroom | $3,000 |
| Grace Snell Middle | Lauren Dauge | Piece by Piece | $690 |
| Harmony Elementary | Shannon Seawright | Decoding Harmony: Unlocking K-1 Readers | $6,720 |
| Head Elementary | Shann Griffith | I Feel the Need…the Need to Read! | $3,000 |
| High Shoals Elementary | Janie Prieto | Classroom Cooking Cart | $1,500 |
| High Shoals Elementary | Haley Harvell | Super FLEXING Our Social Skills | $259 |
| Jordan Middle | Stacey Edison-Bryson | STEMulating Robotics | $5,301 |
| Lilburn Elementary | Jeff Dumler | Pedometer Set for Physical Education and Extracurricular Running Programs | $2,716 |
| Loganville Elementary | Billie Jo Diehl | Designing Access: Inclusive Playground | $26,715 |
| Loganville Middle | Jessica Brogdon | The Sensory Sanctuary | $4,262 |
| Loganville Middle | Jennifer Nelson | Kindle the Fires of Reading with Kindle Book Clubs | $2,560 |
| Malcom Bridge Elementary | Julie Payne | MBES Eagle Readers: Building a Culture of Literacy and Community | $5,845 |
| Malcom Bridge Elementary | Susan Smith | AMPLIFY: Adaptive Music Pathways for Learners in Inclusive Fields | $2,000 |
| Malcom Bridge Middle | Wesley York | Middle School Band Timpani | $8,167 |
| Monroe Area High | Jay Dunn | “Rising to New Levels!” | $12,700 |
| Monroe Elementary | Wendy Harrison | Special Education is SPECIAL! | $6,000 |
| Monroe Elementary | Mary Hewatt | Light Up Our Learning! | $1,398 |
| Morgan County Elementary | Lisa Harris | Building Thinking Classrooms | $1,900 |
| Morgan County Middle | Karisa Seymour | Instrument Purchase for the MCMS Band Program | $5,500 |
| Mountain Park Elementary | Debbie Freeman | Redefining Intervention: Tech-Enhanced, Multisensory Math & Reading Intervention | $5,439 |
| Mountain Park Elementary | Christa Kirksey | Three-Dimensional Printing as a PBIS Reward | $2,000 |
| Mountain Park Elementary | Katie Bevins | The Nature Knowledge Knook | $450 |
| North Oconee High | Tim Griffeth | Agricultural Barn Electrical and Insulation Improvements | $5,000 |
| North Oconee High | Cathi Warren | The Art Garden Workspace | $4,723 |
| Norton Elementary | Laura Girard | Innovation Lab Robotics iPads | $12,449 |
| Oconee County Elementary | Michelle Jones | Beyond the Basics: Expanding Student Opportunities | $5,715 |
| Pharr Elementary | Sarah Powell | For the Love of the Library | $2,000 |
| Rocky Branch Elementary | Christina Crowe | Book Vending Machine – Read it. Keep it. Make it Yours. | $8,315 |
| Sharon Elementary | Beth Morgan | Decode and Discover Readers | $6,250 |
| Shiloh Middle | Candice Mathews | Unplug & Play: Screen-Free Fun | $750 |
| Snellville Middle | Lake Bedoya | Stop Motion Story Telling: Igniting Creativity in the Digital Age | $8,335 |
| Social Circle High | Cecily Gunter | Animal Science in Action: Creating a Hands-On Advantage for Workforce Success | $5,535 |
| Sola Fide Academy | Jeremiah Schmiege | Tech for a New Math Classroom | $4,199 |
| Starling Elementary | DeVonya Prather | Interactive English Language Arts Learning Stations for Grades 3-5 | $1,971 |
| Stephenson Middle | Andrea Carter | Full STEAM Ahead: Coding and Robotics with Sphero RVR | $4,449 |
| Trip Elementary | Jennifer Hicks | Books, Books and More Books | $4,500 |
| Victory Baptist | Esther Birge | Elementary Playground Equipment | $9,500 |
| W J Cooper Elementary | Melissa Barth | Outdoor Learning Classroom | $3,500 |
| Walker Park Elementary | Paula Bargfrede | Eagle’s Nest Sensory Room @ The Park | $6,000 |
| Walnut Grove Elementary | K. Cliatt, M. Stolarik | Partners for Pollinators | $5,878 |
| Whit Davis Elementary | Lauren Knowlton | Coding Robots for Creative Learning Connections | $9,710 |
| Youth Elementary | Christina Juergens | Pollinating Hope for the Future | $4,769 |
| Youth Middle | Krissy Jones | Nearpod Flocabulary Program | $6,270 |
| Youth Middle | Tammy Privette | Empowering Young Minds: Independent Reading Initiative | $4,000 |
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