Home » Kentucky Power awards AEP Foundation grant to assist schools, teachers

Kentucky Power awards AEP Foundation grant to assist schools, teachers

Eastern Kentucky teachers participating in the Kentucky National Energy Education Development (NEED) project join NEED director Karen Reagor as Kentucky Power’s Amanda Clark presents the group a $40,400 grant. The grant from the American Electric Power Foundation will fund teacher training in energy.

ASHLAND, Ky. — Kentucky Power on Tuesday presented a $40,400 American Electric Power Foundation grant to the Kentucky National Energy Education Development (NEED) project. The grant was awarded during a NEED workshop for area teachers.

Since 1980, NEED has worked with thousands of partners across the country to design energy education programs that fit their needs. The Kentucky NEED project supports K-12 energy education and provides workshops for teachers, grade-appropriate curriculum materials and kits for energy activities in the classroom. NEED also assists schools in forming student energy teams that study how energy is used in schools and implements programs to help reduce energy consumption.

“Kentucky Power has been supporting the NEED program in Kentucky for over 10 years,” said Karen Reagor, state director of the Kentucky NEED project. “The support from Kentucky Power and the AEP Foundation will enable us to continue providing energy education curriculum and hands-on kits for schools in the 20-county Kentucky Power service region. Teachers will receive training and resources that support academic standards on the topic of energy. Students will be provided opportunities to become energy leaders in their schools and communities.  We appreciate the support and look forward to continuing our relationship with Kentucky Power and AEP.”

Kentucky Power President Brett Mattison said funding projects like NEED is one way Kentucky Power can support the communities it serves as a partner for progress in eastern Kentucky.

“Kentucky Power and the AEP Foundation support improving lives through education,” Mattison said. “By helping teachers, we are helping students and investing in our communities and the future of eastern Kentucky.”

Tuesday’s workshop in Ashland is one of two being funded with the grant. A second workshop is scheduled for Nov. 12 at the Kentucky Valley Educational Cooperative in Hazard.

The AEP Foundation is funded by AEP and its utility operating units, including Kentucky Power. The Foundation focuses on improving lives through education in science, technology, engineering, math and the environment and by meeting basic needs for emergency shelter, affordable housing and the elimination of hunger. Kentucky Power, with headquarters in Ashland, provides service to approximately 165,000 customers in 20 eastern Kentucky counties. It is part of the American Electric Power system, one of the largest electric providers in the U.S., serving about 54 million regulated customers in 11 states, including Kentucky.