American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP) awarded $200,000 in grants to 101 FIRST Robotics teams this year to support STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education and careers. Throughout AEP’s service territory, the company has contributed more than $2.5 million to encourage an estimated 23,000 students’ interest and participation in FIRST Robotics since 1996.

FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) seeks to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders by engaging them in mentor-based, robotics-centered activities and competitions that build STEM skills, inspire innovation and foster self-confidence, communication and leadership.

FIRST Robotics includes the Junior FIRST LEGO League for grades K-4, FIRST LEGO League for grades 4-8, FIRST Tech Challenge for grades 7-12 and FIRST Robotics Competition for grades 9-12. All teams are led by educators, coaches and/or mentors who volunteer to engage students in researching and solving a diverse range of problems using robotics. This year, nearly three dozen AEP employees from nine states volunteered for some aspect of FIRST Robotics.

New this year, AEP joined the Edison Electric Institute (EEI), the Center for Energy Workforce Development (CEWD) and 11 other energy companies to sponsor FIRST and promote a new STEM career awareness program for middle and high school students. This year’s sponsorship provided funding at competitions for “robot doctor” stations, which help teams with fees to transition to a new technology platform and offer team grants.

AEP employees play an important role in the economic viability of communities served by the company. Whether through jobs and wages, taxes and corporate philanthropy, or volunteer hours and economic development efforts, AEP seeks to build strong communities and support education initiatives, such as FIRST, to help develop the next generation workforce.

American Electric Power is one of the largest electric utilities in the United States, delivering electricity and custom energy solutions to nearly 5.4 million customers in 11 states. AEP owns the nation's largest electricity transmission system, a more than 40,000-mile network that includes more 765-kilovolt extra-high voltage transmission lines than all other U.S. transmission systems combined. AEP also operates 224,000 miles of distribution lines. AEP ranks among the nation's largest generators of electricity, owning approximately 31,000 megawatts of generating capacity in the U.S. AEP also supplies 3,200 megawatts of renewable energy to customers. AEP's utility units operate as AEP Ohio, AEP Texas, Appalachian Power (in Virginia and West Virginia), AEP Appalachian Power (in Tennessee), Indiana Michigan Power, Kentucky Power, Public Service Company of Oklahoma, and Southwestern Electric Power Company (in Arkansas, Louisiana and east Texas). AEP's headquarters are in Columbus, Ohio.

AEP - American Electric Power

AEP - American Electric Power

American Electric Power, based in Columbus, Ohio, is focused on building a smarter energy infrastructure and delivering new technologies and custom energy solutions to our customers. AEP’s more than 17,000 employees operate and maintain the nation’s largest electricity transmission system and more than 219,000 miles of distribution lines to efficiently deliver safe, reliable power to nearly 5.4 million regulated customers in 11 states. AEP also is one of the nation’s largest electricity producers with approximately 32,000 megawatts of diverse generating capacity, including 4,300 megawatts of renewable energy. AEP’s family of companies includes utilities AEP Ohio, AEP Texas, Appalachian Power (in Virginia and West Virginia), AEP Appalachian Power (in Tennessee), Indiana Michigan Power, Kentucky Power, Public Service Company of Oklahoma, and Southwestern Electric Power Company (in Arkansas, Louisiana and east Texas). AEP also owns AEP Energy, AEP Energy Partners, AEP OnSite Partners and AEP Renewables, which provide innovative competitive energy solutions nationwide.

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