AEP Increases Number, Amount of Educational Awards

AEP cares about the safety, health and well-being of its employees and their families. The trustees of the American Electric Power System Educational Trust Fund have extended that caring further by increasing both the number and amount of the AEP Educational Awards for 2016-2017 (payable in 2017).

The number of recipients will increase from 42 to 44, and each winning scholar will receive $8,000 spread over a three-year period: $3,000 for the freshman year in college, $2,500 for the sophomore year and $2,500 for the junior year. For the past 10 years, winning scholars have each received $7,000 spread over three years.

Program materials are currently being updated and the 2016-2017 program will launch in September. Since its formation by AEP in 1955, the Trust has funded 1,909 educational awards totaling nearly $8.5 million. Winners of the 2016-2017 awards will be 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. 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.

The awards are designed to identify and honor talented high school students, as well as to help offset the cost of higher education. The program is open to children of AEP employees who are seniors in high school and plan to pursue a four-year degree at an accredited college or university.