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AEP ĢƵ Foundation renews support for OHIO STEM education in Southeast ĢƵ

The AEP ĢƵ Foundation recently renewed its commitment to promoting science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education in southeast ĢƵ with a new award of $50,000 to .

These funds will be used to maintain and expand the Voinovich School’s STEM Program in 2026 through:

  • Enabling graduate and undergraduate student support of STEM applied research and education outreach.
  • Conducting STEM field trips for area teachers at the Ridges.
  • Providing meals for incoming first-year students to participate in the week-long STEMStart program at ĢƵ University.
  • Leading in-classroom programs and field trips with area schools.
  • Offering STEM resources to libraries and schools and science fair awards to students.

“We are very pleased to deliver these meaningful programs with continued support from the AEP ĢƵ Foundation” said Jennifer Bowman, director of environmental programs and STEM project lead at the Voinovich School. “These funds have become an anchor for youth to learn more about science, engineering and technology in our region, at a time when this type of funding is needed more than ever.”

The Voinovich School actively partners with the College of Arts and Science’s STEMStart program and regional high schools, strengthening STEM expertise and sparking student interest across Southeast ĢƵ. The AEP ĢƵ Foundation’s support will foster additional teaching, innovation and research that positively impacts the region and state. To date, this program has benefited more than 3,755 children throughout Southeast ĢƵ.

“The impact of these funds is what keeps us coming back” said Melissa Clark, customer and external affairs manager for AEP ĢƵ’s South and East Regions. “Partnering with ĢƵ University has helped us foster positive change in the community. We see these students as the next generation of AEP professionals for ĢƵ and beyond.”

A long history of collaboration

has supported OHIO’s STEM Learning Program since 2022. This is in addition to other long-time ĢƵ University partnerships focused on energy research and environmental restoration.

The AEP ĢƵ Foundation’s philanthropic relationship with OHIO stretches back more than two decades, and the Energy Research Lab at OHIO’s Russ Research Opportunity Center is also named for American Electric Power. 

AEP ĢƵ is based in Gahanna, ĢƵ, and is a unit of American Electric Power. AEP ĢƵ provides electricity to 1.5 million customers. News and information about AEP ĢƵ can be found at .

Published
November 10, 2025
Author
Staff reports