The First Flight High School’s Carpentry Program has been awarded a $1,500 Bright Ideas Grant from NC Electric Cooperatives. This grant, part of the cooperative’s long-standing community outreach program, is designed to support innovative classroom projects and help educators bring creative ideas to life.

The Carpentry Program, part of First Flight High School's Career and Technical Education (CTE) department, will use the grant funds to enhance hands-on learning opportunities for students. With this financial support, students will gain access to building materials and project resources that will allow them to develop practical skills in construction.

“Our Carpentry Program is dedicated to preparing students for careers in the skilled trades, and this grant will enhance our ability to provide high-quality, real-world experiences,” said Duke Wallin, Career Development Coordinator at First Flight High School. “The Bright Ideas Grant  will directly benefit our students, giving them hands-on projects like storage shed-building, renovating our new coffee shop space, and our outside culinary grilling lab space.”

All three high schools in Dare County offer carpentry courses that provide students with a comprehensive education in construction techniques, safety practices, and project management through the National Center for Construction Education & Research (NCCER) curriculum modules. Students have the opportunity to visit community-based projects and earn industry-recognized credentials in OSHA and NCCER which in turn prepares them for careers in carpentry, construction management, and other related fields. Brian dePedro, the instructor of the First Flight program, is in his fourth year as a classroom teacher; he comes into the program with over three decades of experience as a licensed tiler here on the Outer Banks. Mr. dePedro found out about the grant from a colleague and applied for it.  He received the announcement on October 20th. "We are very excited for the opportunity to do more with our program with the funds we received from this grant," said Brian dePedro.  "The kids don't always know where funding comes from, but will appreciate being able to do a few extra projects this year."

The Bright Ideas Grant program, which is funded by the NC Electric Cooperatives, has supported over 14,721 projects and 3.65 million students across North Carolina since its inception. The program encourages innovative approaches to education, providing teachers with the resources they need to make learning more engaging and impactful. First Flight was eligible for the grant because of the proximity to Cape Hatteras Electric, which is part of the 26 Coops that make up the NC Electric Cooperatives.