Georgia Power announced the selection of 42 new teachers from across the state to receive one of the company's annual $1,000 New Teacher Assistance Grants. Since the program's inception in 2004, the company has awarded a total of $445,000 in individual grants to more than 400 new teachers from communities across the state. The grants provide the state's newest teachers with funds to purchase classroom supplies and start their teaching careers.

"Georgia's students are our future workforce and are learning the skills they need to be successful every day in the classroom," said Anne Kaiser, vice president of community and economic development for Georgia Power. "Supporting high quality public education starts with supporting the educators on the front lines and the grants are one way that we can show new teachers that their work is appreciated."

Georgia public colleges and universities that have schools of education submitted the final nominations. To be eligible for a grant, candidates must be in the top 25 percent of their class, be a first-year teacher employed by a public school in Georgia and demonstrate a high aptitude for teaching.

The recipients vary from pre-K to elementary, middle and high school teachers. Teachers are encouraged to use the funds to purchase school items such as books, educational CDs or DVDs, computers, projectors, or other supplies to enhance their classrooms and student's learning experience.

2017 New Teacher Assistant Grant recipients include:

Central Georgia

• Zachary Ralph Griffin, Macon (Bibb County School District)

• Meagan Kaylee Pittman, Perry (Houston County School District)

Coastal Georgia

• Raven Davis, Savannah (Savannah-Chatham County Schools)

• Donnie Jones, Savannah (Savannah-Chatham County Schools)

• Nicole Williams Harris, Savannah (Savannah-Chatham County Schools)

• Carly Elizabeth Chevalier, Metter (Candler County School District)

• Sarah Herrin, Jesup (Wayne County School District)

• Ashley Marie Galloway, Nahunta (Brantley County School District)

• Kevin Judy, Swainsboro (Emanuel County Schools)

East Georgia

• Tara Swinson, Augusta (Richmond County School District)

• Keenan Jackson, Thomson (McDuffie County Schools)

• Taylor Thompson, Evans (Columbia County School System)

• John Goldberg, Evans (Columbia County School System)

Metro Atlanta

• Maria L. Soto, Suwanee (Gwinnett County Public Schools)

• Randal James Taylor, Suwanee (Gwinnett County Public Schools)

• Esmeralda Trevino, Suwanee (Gwinnett County Public Schools)

• Todd Schuggerow, Cumming (Forsyth County Schools)

• Meria Carstarphen, Atlanta (Atlanta Public Schools)

• Alexander Petch, Newnan (Coweta County Schools)

• Jasmine Hill, Atlanta (Atlanta Public Schools)

• Robert Brown, Jonesboro (Clayton County Public Schools)

• Anslee Duff, Jonesboro (Clayton County Public Schools)

• Michael Claudius, Jonesboro (Clayton County Public Schools)

• David Handley, Douglas (Coffee County Schools)

• Michael Benjamin, Conyers (Rockdale County Schools)

• Chikima Brantley, McDonough (Henry County Schools)

• Maci Shearouse, McDonough (Henry County Schools)

• Darryl Baynes, Stone Mountain (DeKalb County School District)

Northeast Georgia

• Chrishandra Coletha Perkins, Greensboro (Greene County School District)

• J. Seth Warner, Winder (Barrow County School District)

• Darby Smith Bozeman, Winder (Barrow County Schools)

• Chelsea Freihaut, Athens (Clarke County School District)

Northwest Georgia

• Daniel Merritt, Lafayette (Walker County School District)

• Ernestina Gonzales, Chatsworth (Murray County School District)

• Marla Williams, Carrollton (Carroll County)

South Region

• Keidra Nicole Green, Cordele (Crisp County School District)

• Joseph Wiggins, Thomasville (Thomas County School District)

• Raylee Clack Etheridge, Leesburg (Lee County School District)

• Chatabious Thomas, Albany (Dougherty County School District)

• Kelly Gordon, Valdosta (Lowndes County Schools)

West Georgia

• Shelby Merriweather, Columbus (Muscogee County School District)

• Corey Reed, Barnesville (Lamar County School District)