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The American Electric Power (AEP) Foundation has generously made a $500,000 gift to Louisiana Tech University and its College of Engineering and Science in support of their campaign to construct a new Integrated Engineering and Science Education building adjacent from Bogard Hall.

The building will provide the College of Engineering and Science with an additional 60,000 square feet of classroom, laboratory, meeting and faculty office space.  The AEP Foundation gift will also support student recruiting efforts throughout northwest Louisiana and east Texas.

“The support we receive from our corporate partners and the opportunities they provide are critical to our success as an institution,” said Louisiana Tech University President Les Guice.  “We are grateful for the investment the AEP Foundation has made in Louisiana Tech and the education of our engineering and science students.  They are not only contributing to our Integrated Engineering and Science Education building campaign, they are also providing important resources that will help Louisiana Tech attract top notch students and graduate future industry leaders.”

“The AEP Foundation is pleased to provide this gift to Louisiana Tech to help enhance the academic facilities for students as they pursue degrees in science, engineering and technology,” said Nicholas K. Akins, AEP chairman, president and chief executive officer, and chairman of the AEP Foundation. “As a former student in engineering at Louisiana Tech, I am very proud of the continued emphasis of the university to provide a quality education to the employees and leaders of tomorrow.”

Dr. Stan Napper, vice president for research and development at Louisiana Tech, says the university’s partnership with both AEP and the AEP Foundation is crucial for future economic development.

“Louisiana Tech has had a long partnership with AEP and SWEPCO, and this generous gift will enable the university to prepare more engineers for the power industry and many other high demand industries for our state and region.”

“We are very grateful for AEP Foundation’s support for this new building,” said Dr. Hisham Hegab, interim dean of Louisiana Tech’s College of Engineering and Science.  “It is a crucial component to our plans to prepare the best engineers and scientists to meet the growing economic needs of our state.  The facility will enable us to expand our hands-on, project-driven approach to teaching and attract even more high quality students to our programs.

“The College will continue to work on this building campaign, needing a few more gifts to attain the goal of $7.5 million raised in private funds, but the AEP Foundation’s gift is so important to the overall success of the campaign.”

The AEP Foundation, based out of Columbus, Ohio, is funded by parent company AEP (NYSE:AEP) and its utility operating units, including Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO), which provides electricity to more than 530,000 customers in Louisiana, Arkansas and Texas.  The Foundation provides a permanent, ongoing resource for charitable initiatives involving higher dollar values and multi-year commitments in the communities served by AEP and initiatives outside of AEP’s 11-state service area.

The Foundation focuses many of its activities on improving lives through education from early childhood through higher education in the areas of science, technology, engineering, math and the environment and by meeting basic needs for emergency shelter, affordable housing and the elimination of hunger.  Other Foundation support may be offered to protect the environment, support healthcare and safety, and enrich life through art, music and cultural heritage.

To learn more about the AEP Foundation and Louisiana Tech’s Integrated Engineering and Science Education Building Campaign, visit http://aep.com/community and http://coes.latech.edu/building/index.php.
Written by Catherine Fraser – cfraser@latech.edu