Powering up: Walton EMC invests in Walton County schools

Electric cooperative donates nearly $106,000 to local classrooms

Students are all smiles as Loganville Elementary School receives a $26,715 Walton EMC School EmPOWERment Grant for “Designing Access: Loganville Elementary School’s Inclusive Playground.” Pictured left to right: Loganville Elementary Principal Carrie Collins, co-op representatives Morgan Barfield, Savannah Chandler, and Sara Beddington, with grant recipient Billie Jo Diehl (center). Contributed photo

MONROE, Ga. — Walton EMC is powering more than lights and heat for local classrooms. Thanks to the electric cooperative’s School EmPOWERment grants, educators at 16 Walton County schools now have additional funding to develop creative, engaging programming for students.

Co-op representatives made visits to schools last week to present checks totaling $105,624. The grants will fund 19 projects meant to push the limits of learning for 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.

The Walton County 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.

Educators at 49 schools across Walton EMC’s 10-county service territory are sharing nearly $300,000 in School EMPOWERment grants this year. Since the grant program began a decade ago, nearly $3.5 million has been invested in local classrooms.

Teachers can begin applying for 2026-27 School EmPOWERment grants in October at waltonemc.com. 

You can view the full list of grant winners, a photo gallery and a recap video from the presentations on our website at waltonemc.com>community>youth programs and scholarships.

Walton County School District 2025-26 School EmPOWERment Grant Winners

SCHOOL EDUCATOR AMOUNT PROJECT

• Atha Road Elementary Lauren Burroughs $2,099 Mystery Science
• Bay Creek Elementary School Angela Madden $1,907 Science Tools for Every Student
• Carver Middle Melanie Diaz $5,100 ROAR for Success Initiative
• George Walton Academy Anna Williams $3,000 Storytime STEM: Integrating
  Reading into the STEM Classroom
• Harmony Elementary Shannon Seawright $6,720 Decoding Harmony: Unlocking
  K-1 Readers
• Loganville Elementary Billie Jo Diehl $26,715 Designing Access: Inclusive
  Playground
• Loganville Middle Jessica Brogdon $4,262 The Sensory Sanctuary
• Loganville Middle Jennifer Nelson $2,560 Kindle the Fires of Reading with
  Kindle Book Clubs
• Monroe Area High Jay Dunn $12,700 Rising to New Levels!
• Monroe Elementary Wendy Harrison $6,000 Special Education is SPECIAL!
• Monroe Elementary Mary Hewatt $1,398 Light Up Our Learning!
• Sharon Elementary Beth Morgan $6,250 Decode and Discover Readers
• Social Circle High Cecily Gunter $5,535 Animal Science in Action:
  Creating a Hands-On Advantage for Workforce Success
• Victory Baptist Esther Birge $9,500 Elementary Playground
  Equipment
• Walker Park Elementary Paula Bargfrede $6,000 Eagle’s Nest Sensory Room @
  The Park
• Walnut Grove Elementary K. Cliatt, M. Stolarik $5,878 Partners for Pollinators
• Youth Elementary Christina Juergens $4,769 Pollinating Hope for the Future
• Youth Middle Krissy Jones $6,270 Nearpod Flocabulary Program
• Youth Middle Tammy Privette $4,000 Empowering Young Minds:
  Independent Reading Initiative

ABOUT WALTON EMC: Walton Electric Membership Corporation (Walton EMC) is a not-for-profit, member-owned electric cooperative providing electricity to 145,000 members in 10 north central Georgia counties. Founded in 1936, the cooperative is nationally recognized for its innovations in providing safe, reliable and affordable energy to the communities it serves. For more information, visit waltonemc.com