AEP Ohio Foundation renews support for OHIO STEM education in Southeast Ohio

The AEP Ohio Foundation recently renewed its commitment to promoting science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education in southeast Ohio with a new award of $50,000 to Ohio University’s Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service.

These funds will be used to maintain and expand the Voinovich School’s STEM Program in 2026 through:

• Enabling graduate and undergraduate student support of STEM applied research and education outreach.
• Conducting STEM field trips for area teachers at the Ridges.
• Providing meals for incoming first-year students to participate in the week-long STEMStart program at Ohio University.
• Leading in-classroom programs and field trips with area schools.
• Offering STEM resources to libraries and schools and science fair awards to students.

“We are very pleased to deliver these meaningful programs with continued support from the AEP Ohio Foundation” said Jennifer Bowman, director of environmental programs and STEM project lead at the Voinovich School. “These funds have become an anchor for youth to learn more about science, engineering and technology in our region, at a time when this type of funding is needed more than ever.”

The Voinovich School actively partners with the College of Arts and Science’s STEMStart program and regional high schools, strengthening STEM expertise and sparking student interest across Southeast Ohio. The AEP Ohio Foundation’s support will foster additional teaching, innovation and research that positively impacts the region and state. To date, this program has benefited more than 3,755 children throughout Southeast Ohio.

“The impact of these funds is what keeps us coming back” said Melissa Clark, customer and external affairs manager for AEP Ohio’s South and East Regions. “Partnering with Ohio University has helped us foster positive change in the community. We see these students as the next generation of AEP professionals for Ohio and beyond.”

A long history of collaboration

The AEP Ohio Foundation has supported OHIO’s STEM Learning Program since 2022. This is in addition to other long-time Ohio University partnerships focused on energy research and environmental restoration.

The AEP Ohio Foundation’s philanthropic relationship with OHIO stretches back more than two decades, and the Energy Research Lab at OHIO’s Russ Research Opportunity Center is also named for American Electric Power. 

AEP Ohio is based in Gahanna, Ohio, and is a unit of American Electric Power. AEP Ohio provides electricity to 1.5 million customers. News and information about AEP Ohio can be found at AEPOhio.com.