EmPOWERing education

Students at Youth Elementary School are creating a pollinator habitat to support food production. At North Oconee High School, agriculture students will learn animal husbandry skills in an improved barn. STEM studies that include robotics will help Jordan Middle School students prepare for a technology-driven future.

These are only three of the 57 creative, engaging classroom projects that are pushing the limits of learning with a 2025–26 Walton EMC School EmPOWERment educational grant.

Co-op representatives visited area public and private schools in late February to present checks for this year’s grants totaling nearly $300,000. The current grants pushed Walton EMC’s all-time grant funding to more than $3.3 million. Funneling money into classrooms is one of the ways Walton EMC demonstrates its commitment to the community, said CEO Ron Marshall.

“We’re proud to continue supporting local education, 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 committee.

This year’s grant recipients are reimagining teaching with lesson plans and hands-on projects that foster a love of learning, said Jennifer Broun, Walton EMC’s 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.

See a complete list of 2025–26 School EmPOWERment grant recipients and their projects.