SHREVEPORT, La., March 14, 2005 – AEP Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO) will award $20,012 to Caddo Parish schools Tuesday, March 15, 2005, during the regular scheduled school board meeting. Superintendent Ollie Tyler will accept the check, which represents 43 AEP Teacher Vision Grants to Caddo Parish educators. These grants provide funding for projects that will benefit about 7,500 elementary, middle and high school students. Some examples of the selected projects include Growing, Growing, Gone – A Study of Life Cycles; Magnets: The Laws of Attraction; and Science Court: Electric Current.
            “Improving educational opportunities is a high priority for SWEPCO,” says Betsy Warren, external affairs coordinator in Shreveport. “We are proud to provide funding to local teachers for such creative and innovative projects.”
            Teachers in Pre-K through 12^th grade who live or teach in SWEPCO’s service area can apply for a vision grant, which must include an itemized budget of expected expenses ranging from $100-$500. “Any project with an academic focus and a goal to improve student achievement is considered,” adds Warren. SWEPCO has a special interest in science, mathematics, technology, electrical safety, energy and the environment. Call Betsy Warren at SWEPCO for more information at 673-3134, or log on to AEP.com and click on “About Us,” then “Community Involvement” and “Teacher Vision Grants” for an electronic application. The next deadline for grants is April 22, 2005.
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