Millbridge teacher wins Bright Ideas grant
MONROE — More than 1,750 students will benefit from the Bright Ideas grants awarded by Union Power Cooperative during surprise visits to classrooms in November.
This year, Millbridge Elementary School teacher Lynda Hunter won $1,932 for her project, “Elementary Engineers.”
Union Power Cooperative granted $20,000 this year to area teachers for their “bright ideas.”
The Bright Ideas grant program, sponsored by North Carolina’s electric cooperatives, strives to improve education in North Carolina classrooms by awarding grants to teachers for innovative, classroom-based projects in grades K-12 that would not otherwise be funded. The Bright Ideas program funds creative teaching ideas to meet the needs of area students.
Union Power Cooperative is a member-owned electric cooperative which provides electric service to more than 66,000 members in Union, Stanly, Mecklenburg, Cabarrus and Rowan counties.

Forest Park wins Energy Star award
KANNAPOLIS — Forest Park Elementary School recently won the Energy Star award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Earning the award means the school is in the top 25 percent of buildings in the nation in terms of its energy efficiency. The school uses 35 percent less energy and generates 35 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions than similar buildings around the country. It also maintains a healthy indoor environment.

Southeast honor roll
The following Southeast Middle School students made all As during the first quarter:
Sixth grade — Garrett Alewine, Caleigh Bostian, Kaitlyn Campbell, Rachael Campbell, Mallory Challis, Zalyn Chawlk, Trexler Cloninger, Dallas Cobb, Kira Cornelius, Alexis Craig, Stephanie Critchley, Hope Crook, Joel Davies, Leah Davies, Emma Dennis, Harrison Doby, Daniel Durham, Kelly Frye, Destiny Gonzales, Olivia Gregory, Trystin Haynes, Brodey Hogan, Crystal Kardys, Morgan Koontz, Caroline Kruger, Chloe Larios, Joshua Lee, Hunter Lund, Heather Mauzy, Hannah McDonnell, Ainsley Moore, Selma Mustafic, Isel Quintero, Kelsie Ritchie, Lisa Roberts, Briana Sealinger, Kiersten Smith, Samantha Stowe, Reagan Taylor, Ernesto Tinajero, Amanda Ward, Jordan Watts, Ada Wong, Lauren Yousey
Seventh grade — Sophie Andrews, Chandler Basinger, Irma Begic, Micah Boovy, Grace Brodie, Katlynn Casey, Jenny Cheng, Nicole Cook, Paige Eagle, Robert Earnhardt, Lindsey Elmore, Jonah Evans, Emma Frost, Jack Gardner, Jamarius Hairston, Dylan Hamel, Tanner Hawkins, Fidel Henriquez, David Hinson, Alexander Ho, Katelyn Hobday, Alexis Honeycutt, Shana Hudson, Kaleb Isenhour, Abby Johnson, Tyler Jones, Jalen Kemp, Tabitha Landy, Alexndra Linder, Rebekah Lippard, Mikaela Maines, Daelynn Moore, Sarah Musselwhite, Tanner Nance, Camryn Nooner, Nolan Palmer, Amanda Patton, Blanca Perez, Thomas Perrell, Cameron Prugh, Ethan Rhodes, Payton Robertson, Bianca Sanchez, Kayleah Scarborough, Garrison Seitz, Maren Shumaker , Lucas Sifford, Julianne Stockwell, Sydney Taylor, Allison Tesh, Justin Thomason, Bree Tucker, McKenzie Upright, Amera Walker, Alexis Witt, Lindsay York, Madison York, Benjamin Zino
Eighth grade — Sandy Alvarez, Rebecca Beaver, Wyatt Bryant, Daniela Cardenas, Jibri Cowan, Julianna Cox, Madelyn Dailey, Jessica Davis, Alexis Deaton, Emilee Eremie, Charles Faulkner, Kaelee Franklin, Jeremy Heard, Justin Hill, Estefany Jimenez-Jacobo, Taylor Koontz, Elijah Long, Austin Love, Keelee Morgan, Brizharion Neely, Tanner O’Neal, Kierra Oles, Kelly Real, Braxton Rogers, Noe Sifuentes, Dequan Simms, Cierra Stubbs, Robert Sullivan, Savannah Williams, Sarah Wong, Kallia Yang, Deven Youker, Elizabeth Yousey

Phi Beta Kappa at UNC inducts local members
Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s oldest and most honored college honorary society, has inducted 130 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill students as new members.
Local inductees include Remi Shay Moore, a senior with psychology and Asian studies majors, daughter of Michael D. Moore and Yasuko Moore of Salisbury.
The recent induction ceremony featured remarks by U.S. Rep. Mel Watt. New members received certificates and Phi Beta Kappa keys, the organization’s symbol.
Phi Beta Kappa membership is open to undergraduates in the college and professional degree programs who meet stringent eligibility requirements.
A student who has completed 75 hours of course work with a GPA of 3.85 or better (on a 4-point scale) is eligible for membership. Also eligible is any student who has completed 105 hours of course work in the liberal arts and sciences with a 3.75 GPA. Grades earned at other universities are not considered. Less than 1 percent of all college students qualify.