Egyptian Electric Cooperative is excited to announce that applications for the Touchstone Energy Classroom Empowerment Grants are now open for the 2026-27 school year!
Egyptian Electric Cooperative will award TEN Classroom Empowerment Grants, each valued at $500. This opportunity is open to both public and private K-12 schools within our service territory. These grants empower teachers and administrators to enhance educational opportunities for students through innovative classroom projects. Winning applications will be based on projects that best serve the purpose of improving the learning environment and/or increasing educational resources for students.
Applications must be submitted by Friday, November 6, and the winning projects will be announced no later than Friday, December 4. Further details, including the application form and official rules, can be found here.
To apply, interested educators should:
- Review the official rules and complete the “2026 Classroom Grant Application and Info” form found at the top of this page.
- Submit the one-page application and a type-written request (no more than three pages) by Friday, November 6.
Applications are not limited to public schools, but public schools within our footprint are Carbondale, Carterville, Chester, Coulterville, DeSoto, DuQuoin, Elverado, Marissa, Murphysboro, Pinckneyville, Red Bud, Sparta, Steeleville, and Trico.
Applications may be submitted:
- By email to rcroxell@eeca.coop (in one pdf document)
- By mail to Egyptian Electric Cooperative, 1732 Finney Road, Murphysboro, IL 62966
- By fax to (888) 554-8181, Attn: Roni Croxell
- Or dropped off at our office drive-thru or outdoor dropbox.
Applicants and schools are eligible to apply every year, even if the applicant has been a previous recipient. Please note, that the school or district does NOT have to receive electric service from Egyptian Electric Cooperative to qualify.
To learn more about past winning projects and future application opportunities, please see below.
2025-26 Classroom Empowerment Grant Winners
After careful consideration, the following ten educators and their projects were selected as the 2025-26 recipients:
- April Bartnick, Murphysboro Middle School – Exploring Solar Energy
Grant funds will support science lessons on solar energy by providing materials for students to build hands-on projects, such as solar ovens and miniature solar-powered cars. - Bonnie Forby, General John A. Logan Elementary, Murphysboro – Buzzing Toward Success
Funding will provide multi-sensory and fine motor resources for kindergarten students, helping them develop foundational literacy and pre-writing skills through engaging, hands-on activities. - Daniel Judd, Saint Andrew School, Murphysboro – Robotics for Critical Thinking
Funding will purchase LEGO Spike kits to help students build confidence in critical thinking and problem-solving through hands-on engineering projects. - Jenny Dorris, Carterville High School – Real Worlds: Virtual Reality Storytelling in Film, Literature, & Drama
Grant funding will provide a virtual reality headset, allowing students to create and explore immersive worlds connected to their lessons. - Jessica Carsrud, Giant City School, Carbondale – Engineering in Action
Funding will support the ‘Engineering in Action’ program, where K–8 students explore physics and engineering concepts through hands-on KEVA Plank projects, including building bridges and marble roller coasters. - Karen Henderson, Tri County Special Education, Du Quoin – Nourish and Learn
Funding will provide new equipment and cooking ingredients to refresh the culinary classroom, creating a modern, fully functional space for hands-on cooking practice. - Larry West, Saint Bruno Catholic School, Pinckneyville – Mr. Bones
Grant funding will purchase a life-size human skeleton model, giving students hands-on, interactive experiences to better understand the human body and enhance science learning. - Lori Lossos, Red Bud Elementary School – Expansion of Playaway Audiobook Collection
The project will expand the Playaway audiobook collection at Red Bud Elementary, giving all students—especially struggling readers—instant access to literature to promote literacy and make reading more enjoyable. - Nina Maether, Saint Andrew School, Murphysboro – GreenStalk Vertical Garden
Funding will purchase a GreenStalk vertical gardening system, providing students with hands-on experience growing plants, enhancing the Life Science curriculum, and supplying fresh ingredients for the cafeteria. - Stacie Dunihoo, Saint Bruno Catholic School, Pinckneyville – Light Table
Funding will purchase a light table and accessories for the preschool classroom, offering students hands-on, engaging learning experiences that develop fine motor, pre-writing, problem-solving, and language skills while fostering creativity and collaboration.
EECA is honored to support these initiatives and reinforce our commitment to the communities we serve. As a not-for-profit electric utility, we prioritize investing in the future of southern Illinois by equipping tomorrow’s leaders with the resources and skills they need to thrive. These grants are awarded annually, so if you know a school or teacher who might benefit, encourage them to apply each year!