ROBESON COUNTY — FOCUS Broadband has announced the 2025 recipients of its Smart Connections Grant Program. This year, three Robeson County educators received funding for creative and impactful classroom projects that will benefit students across the county.
These grants will provide resources for programs in STEM, creating opportunities for students to engage in hands-on learning, explore new technologies, and develop critical skills for the future.
“We are proud to support these outstanding educators whose creativity and dedication are shaping the future of their students,” said Janice Gore, FOCUS Broadband Board Liaison for the 2025 Grant Committee. “These innovative projects bring learning to life and inspire students to think big, work together, and explore new possibilities.”
This year’s Robeson County recipients include:
Peterson Elementary School
• 30 and Me – This $1,056.70 grant will help art educator Tapanga Bullard purchase 30 Merge Cubes, enabling students to interact with virtual 3D models and develop a deeper understanding of abstract concepts through augmented reality.
• Hands on Fractions – Grant funds in the amount of $2,150 will help educator Katelyn Combs purchase Hands-On Fraction Tiles, which will offer a tangible, visual way to better understand fractions, decimals and percentages.
Magnolia Elementary School
• Trojan Botz – Through the Trojan-Botz program, funded by a $2,438.62 grant, students in Chrystal McDonald's class will enhance critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork skills by building, designing and programming robots.
The grants are part of FOCUS Broadband’s long-standing investment in education across southeastern North Carolina. Since 2006, FOCUS Broadband has awarded more than $1.16 million in grant funding to support innovative classroom projects across the region.
The application window for the 2026 Community Connections and Smart Connections Grant Programs will open in December 2025. Educators and nonprofit organizations are encouraged to apply by visiting www.focusbroadband.com/givingback.
About FOCUS Broadband
FOCUS Broadband is a member-owned cooperative providing a multitude of communications services, including telephone, business services, wireless, broadband internet, and home security, in eastern North Carolina. FOCUS Broadband is the largest communications cooperative in North Carolina and one of the largest in the country. For more information, visit www.FOCUSBroadband.com.