AEP Announces 2016 Educational Award Winners

Forty-two sons and daughters of employees throughout the AEP System have been named recipients of 2016 AEP Educational Awards.

Each of the winning scholars will receive $7,000 over a three-year period: $2,500 for the freshman year in college, $2,500 for the sophomore year and $2,000 for the junior year.

A total of 230 students throughout the AEP System applied for the 42 available scholarships, which were open to employees’ children who are seniors in high school and plan to enter college this fall.

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Winners were selected by two independent scholastic judges based on each student’s class rank, grade point average, test scores, recommendations, autobiographical presentation, special qualities or talents, leadership abilities, extracurricular activities and citizenship.

AEP has given 1,909 educational awards totaling nearly $8.5 million since the program began in 1955 with a single $500 award. If a student receives a full scholarship to the institution of choice, he or she will give up the AEP award and an alternate will be selected.

This year’s winners are:

Muneeb Ata, son of Muhammad Ata and Tasleem Kouser. Muhammad is an electrical engineer senior for AEP Transmission Station Engineering in Tulsa Oklahoma. Muneeb is a senior at Jenks Public School in Jenks, Oklahoma.

Jack Baird, son of Mike and Linda Baird. Mike is an assistant controller at AEP Headquarters in Columbus, Ohio. Jack is a senior at St. Francis DeSales High School in Columbus.

Rachael Beller, daughter of Rob and Angel Beller. Rob is director of day ahead RTO operations in Regulated Commercial Operations in Columbus, Ohio. Rachael is a senior at Pickerington High School Central in Pickerington, Ohio.

Jenell Betts, daughter of James and Jenifer Betts. James is a CC plant supervisor at Dresden Plant in Dresden, Ohio. Jenell is a senior at Marietta High School in Marietta, Ohio.

Josh Binion, son of Scott Binion. Scott is a senior IT support specialist for the ITSM Tier 2 Depot in Columbus, Ohio. Josh is a senior at Westland High School in Galloway, Ohio.

Derek Bohl, son of Randy and Tina Bohl. Randy is a senior planner at the Gavin Power Plant in Cheshire, Ohio. Derek is a senior at Fort Frye High School in Beverly, Ohio.

Ben Coffey, son of Don and Katy Coffey. Don is manager of Telecom Enterprise Operations at AEP Headquarters in Columbus, Ohio. Ben is a senior at Westerville South High School in Westerville, Ohio.

Bryar Cox, son of Andy and Lori Cox. Andy is an equipment operator in operations at Conesville Generating Station in Conesville, Ohio.  Bryar is a senior at River View High School in Warsaw, Ohio.

Hinun Crespin, son of Aaron and Michelle Crespin. Aaron is a project manager for AEP in Roanoke, Virginia. Hinun is a senior at Hidden Valley High School in Roanoke.

Elena Curia, daughter of Sam and Linda Curia. Sam is an HR manager supporting the Transmission organization in Gahanna, Ohio. Elena is a senior at Olentangy Orange High School in Lewis Center, Ohio.

Zachary Fausnaugh, son of Scott and Brandi Fausnaugh. Scott is an IT network consultant principal at AEP Headquarters in Columbus, Ohio. Zachary is a senior at Circleville High School in Circleville, Ohio.

Matthew Feggeler, son of Steve and Linn Feggeler. Steve is a region forestry lead for Appalachian Power Company in Christiansburg, Virginia. Matthew is a senior at Christiansburg High School in Christiansburg.

Samuel Forshey, son of Matt and Phyllis Forshey. Matt is manager of projects and services for the Real Estate and Workplace Services group at AEP Headquarters in Columbus, Ohio. Samuel is a senior at Pickerington High School Central in Pickerington, Ohio.

Jared Gary, son of Robert and Deborah Gary. Robert is a line mechanic A at the Rogers Distribution Service Center in Rogers, Ark. Jared is a senior at Har-Ber High School in Springdale, Ark.

McKenzie Granata, daughter of Mike and Sandra Granata. Mike is the Director Safety and Health at AEP Headquarters in Columbus, Ohio. McKenzie is a senior at Sissonville High School in Sissonville, West Virginia.

Kelsey Hackerott, daughter of John and Judie Hackerott. John is a regulatory analyst principal and Judie is director of Business Operations Support, both for Public Service Company of Oklahoma. Kelsey is a senior at Charles Page High School in Sand Springs, Oklahoma.

Diana Haemer, daughter of Budd and Leslie Haemer. Budd is a senior counsel in the Legal Department at Cook Nuclear Plant in Bridgman, Michigan. Diana is a senior at Hayfield Secondary School in Fairfax County, Virginia.

Christopher Johnson, son of Chuck and Lauri Johnson. Chuck is an FGD system owner at the John E. Amos Plant in Winfield, West Virginia. Christopher is a senior at Point Pleasant Junior/Senior High School in Point Pleasant, West Virginia.

Elsie Jorgensen, daughter of Tim and Paula Jorgensen. Tim is a radiation protection supervisor at the Cook Nuclear Plant in Bridgman, Michigan. Elsie is a senior at Eau Claire High School in Eau Claire, Michigan.

Brianna Killingsworth, daughter of Kevin and Marlene Killingsworth. Kevin is a principal engineer and data analytics for Transmission Asset Renewal Planning in Gahanna Ohio. Brianna is a senior at Pickerington North High School in Pickerington Ohio.

Lindsay Klenzman, daughter of Christopher and Anissa Klenzman. Christopher is an IT systems analyst at AEP Headquarters in Columbus, Ohio. Lindsay is a senior at Pickerington High School North in Pickerington, Ohio.

Emily Knowles, daughter of Robert and Cynthia Knowles. Robert is the manager of customer service for AEP Texas in Corpus Christi, Texas. Emily is a senior at Flour Bluff High School in Corpus Christi.

Katerina Laios, daughter of Takis and Beverly Laios. Takis is a manager in the Transmission Asset Strategy & Policy group at AEP Headquarters in Columbus, Ohio. Beverly is a principal engineer in the Advanced Transmission Studies & Technologies group in Gahanna, Ohio. Rina is a senior at Thomas Worthington High School in Worthington, Ohio.

Caroline Leadmon, daughter of Michael and Stacey Leadmon. Michael is a regional engineering services manager located at the John Amos Plant in Winfield, W.Va. Caroline is a senior at Hurricane High School in Hurricane, W.Va.

Zachary Lucio, son of Sandra and Daniel Lucio. Daniel is a customer service representative at the Pharr North Service Center in Pharr, Texas. Zachary is a senior at James Nikki Rowe High School in McAllen, Texas.

Malisse Lummus, daughter of Russell and Suzanne Lummus. Russell is a service technician at the Midtown Service Center in Corpus Christi, Texas. Malisse is a senior at Calallen High School in Corpus Christi.

Connor Ma, son of Shiyue Shan. Shiyue is a principal engineer of Instrumentation and Control Engineering at AEP Headquarters in Columbus, Ohio. Connor is a senior at Upper Arlington High School in Upper Arlington, Ohio.

Emma Mamula, daughter of Eli and Eileen Mamula. Eli is a process supervisor at the Cardinal Power Plant in Brilliant, Ohio. Emma is a senior at Steubenville High School in Steubenville, Ohio.

Stuart Miller, son of Robin and Jan Miller. Robin is a distribution system planning engineer at Public Service Company of Oklahoma in Lawton, Oklahoma. Stuart is a senior at Eisenhower High School in Lawton.

Julianna Parcel, daughter of Sean and Tammy Parcel.  Sean is the manager of the Cybersecurity Intelligence and Response Center at AEP Headquarters in Columbus, Ohio.  Julianna is a senior at Central Crossing High School in Grove City, Ohio.

Amanda Perez, daughter of Diana and Francisco Perez. Diana is a region environmental coordinator at Texas Central Company in Laredo, Texas. Amanda is a senior at J.W. Nixon High School in Laredo.

Chase Pratt, son of Bill and Barb Pratt. Bill is an IT middleware administrator lead at AEP Headquarters in Columbus, Ohio. Chase is a senior at Pickerington High School Central in Pickerington, Ohio.

Hayley Robinette, daughter of Kevin and Emily Robinette. Kevin is a technician senior for Appalachian Power Company in Kingsport, Tennessee. Hayley is a senior at Sullivan Central High School in Blountville, Tennessee.

Camryn Sanders, daughter of Pam and Eddie Sanders. Pam is a Customer Service Representative for Public Service Company of Oklahoma in McAlester, Oklahoma. Camryn is a home school high school senior and college sophomore at Eastern Oklahoma State College in Wilburton, Oklahoma.

Shelby Senger, daughter of Scott and Amanda Senger. Scott is a performance management analyst principal for Transmission in Fort Wayne, Ind. Shelby is a senior at Concordia Lutheran High School in Fort Wayne, Ind.

Wayne Stegner, son of Brent and Margaret Stegner. Brent is the manager of distribution technical skills, Human Performance & Work Procedure Optimization for Distribution Services at AEP Headquarters in Columbus, Ohio. Wayne is a senior at Gahanna Lincoln High School in Gahanna, Ohio.

Jonah Stuber, son of Sean and Christie Stuber. Sean is a database administrator at AEP Headquarters in Columbus, Ohio. Jonah is a senior at Bexley High School in Bexley, Ohio.

Luke Sturtz, son of Rob and Kristi Sturtz. Rob is the distribution dispatch manager for Indiana Michigan Power in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Luke is a senior at Churubusco High School in Churubusco, Indiana.

Noah VanGemeren, son of John and Amy VanGemeren. John is a reactor operator at the Cook Nuclear Plant in Bridgman, Michigan. Noah is a senior at Michigan City High School in Michigan City, Indiana.

Mary Wheeler, daughter of John and Aleesha Wheeler. John is a reactor operator at Cook Nuclear Plant in Bridgman, Michigan. Mary is a senior at Bridgman High School in Bridgman.

Cassidy Whiteus, daughter of Cory and Kendra Whiteus. Cory is an equipment operator at the Conesville Plant in Conesville, Ohio. Cassidy is a senior at River View High School in Warsaw, Ohio.

Ye (Nancy) Zhang, daughter of Weidong Zhang and Jingyun Ye. Weidong is a principal P&C engineer for Protection and Control Engineering Transmission in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Nancy is a senior at Jenks High School in Jenks, Oklahoma.

* Meagan Hendricks, daughter of Kevin and Rhonda Hendricks, won an AEP Educational Award but received a full scholarship to Texas A&M Commerce and gave up the AEP award. Kevin is an operator at Welsh Power Plant (SWEPCO) in Pittsburg, Texas. Meagan is a senior at Chapel Hill High School in Mt. Pleasant, Texas.