months: 742,383 (September: 756,881

Cape Hatteras Electric Cooperative Novemberr 2022, Vol. 53, No. 11 www.chec.coop

Local Educators Receive Bright Ideas Grants

This month, Cape Hatteras Electric Cooperative awarded two Bright Ideas education grants totaling $1,516 to exceptional teachers at the Cape Hatteras Elementary School (CHES). These grants are awarded each year to K-12 educators for innovative projects that enhance student learning.

Congratulations to Jessea Waterfield, for her project “Create, Visualize, and Learn with 3D Pens”. Jessea is a third-grade teacher at CHES. She will use the grant funds to purchase 3D pens and filament that will help her students create, visualize and better understand key concepts during the school year. Students will be able to make tangible models which will aid in their ability to gain a deeper understanding through their learning process. They will create models of different landform features, make representations of plant parts, construct 3D shapes and even design different characters they are reading and writing about.

Congratulations to Beverly Hagy for her winning project, “Classroom Flexible Seating”. Beverly is also a third-grade teacher at CHES. Beverly plans to use her grant funds to incorporate flexible seating in her classroom to offer a safe and comfortable learning environment. Students will have the opportunity to engage in learning in an atmosphere that provides structured activities with flexible options including rocker chairs, floor cushions and portable lap desks.

CHEC is proud to help bring these projects to life, in partnership with North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives, through the Bright Ideas Education Grant program. Since the Bright Ideas program began 23 years ago, more than $10.9 million has been awarded to sponsor 10,400 projects reaching over 2.1 million students across North Carolina.

To learn more about Bright Ideas grants, visit ncbrightideas.com and follow @NCBrightIdeas on Facebook and Twitter.

Grant winners Jessea Waterfield and Beverly Hagy

CHEC Linemen promoted to First Class Journeymen

Silas Hooper and Robbie Easley recently completed the Apprenticeship NC Program and were promoted to First Class Journeymen Linemen. The cooperative’s Lineman Job Training and Safety Program follows the U.S. Department of Labor’s Apprenticeship NC Program through the North Carolina Community College system. Robbie and Silas completed the rigorous program, which requires 8,000 hours of documented on-the-job training and 603 hours of courses taken at Nash Community College.

Congratulations to Silas and Robbie on this significant accomplishment!

CHEC Awards Grant to Hatteras Island Rescue Squad

Commitment to community is one of the seven cooperative principles. In keeping with this principle, CHEC recently awarded a grant to the Hatteras Island Rescue Squad (HIRS) to purchase a Lund University Cardiac Assist System (LUCAS) for the station. This grant for $16,183.03, was made in partnership with North Carolina’s Electric Cooperative’s (NCEC) Community Development Matching Grant Fund.

The LUCAS is an easy-to-use mechanical chest compression device that delivers high-quality and consistent chest compressions to someone in cardiac arrest. The machine prevents strain on first responders and keeps their hands free to help more people.

Since 1980, HIRS has provided rescue and waterrescue services to the residents and visitors of Hatteras Island. The non-profit organization also supports the community by providing safety training including their Rip Current Hazard & Beach Safety course. HIRS has also provided CHEC staff with CPR and first aid training for more than 10 years at no cost.

CHEC is proud to partner with NCEC to support HIRS and invest in this lifesaving equipment that will benefit all of Hatteras Island.

Thank You to Our Members

Thanksgiving and the holiday season are a time to reflect on the things that matter most as families and communities take time to come together and be grateful for what they have. Here at CHEC, we are thankful for the opportunity to serve our members and for the ways you give back to our cooperative and our community.

Through your support, we can carry out our mission to provide safe, reliable, and affordable power. We are also able to empower those around us by investing in programs that enrich education, promote economic development and improve the quality of life on Hatteras Island. From awarding Bright Ideas education grants, to helping those in need through our Operation Round Up fund, we are committed to making a difference in the areas we serve. With your partnership, we also continue to pursue innovative new technologies and energy solutions that build a brighter future for all.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve you, and for all you do to help us carry out our mission of service to our island community.

Wearing pink...

CHEC staff wore pink hats during October in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

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Cape Hatteras Electric Cooperative

PO Box 9, 47109 Light Plant Road, Buxton, NC 27920 Office Hours: 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Phone: 252-995-5616 Toll Free: 800-454-5616

Outage Report: 866-511-9862 Fax: 252-995-4088 chec.coop Board of Directors: Richard A. (Richie) Midgett, president;

John R. Hooper, vice president; Dan G. Oden, Jr., secretary-treasurer; Angela Conner Tawes; Bryan Mattingly;

Tami J. Thompson, Briggs McEwan Susan E. Flythe, executive vice president & general manager Laura Ertle, editor