COLUMBUS, Ohio, May 4, 2001 - American Electric Power (NYSE:AEP) has awarded educational scholarships to 34 graduating high school students who plan to enter college in the fall.

A total of 333 children of AEP employees applied for the scholarships. Each of the winning scholars of the 2001 AEP Educational Awards will receive $6,000 over a three-year period:

• $2,500 for the freshman year in college
• $2,000 for the sophomore year
• $1,500 for the junior year

Winners were selected by two independent scholastic judges based on each student´s class rank, GPA, SAT scores, recommendations, autobiographical presentation, special qualities or talents, leadership abilities, extracurricular activities and citizenship.

AEP has granted 1,311 educational awards totaling nearly $4.6 million since the program began in 1955.

This year’s awards recipients:

• Jennifer Ash, daughter of Donald Ash, Information Technology support specialist I, IT Field Services, Groveport, Ohio. She is a senior at Lancaster High School and plans to enter a pre-medicine program.

• Brian Barker, son of Ted Barker, equipment operator, Tanners Creek Plant, Lawrenceburg, Ind. He is a senior at East Central High School and plans to pursue a degree in mathematics, chemistry or computer science.

• Brian Barritt, son of Bruce Barritt, maintenance superintendent, Central Ohio Coal Co., Cumberland, Ohio. He is a senior at West Muskingum High School and plans to study computer engineering.

• Melissa Berny, daughter of Billy Berny, manager - demand-side management compliance, Abilene, Texas. She is a senior at Wylie High School and plans to pursue a degree in nutrition with a minor in health education at Texas A&M University.

• Maria Bocanegra, daughter of Rene Bocanegra, technician specialist senior, Southern Transmission Region, Roanoke, Va. She is a senior at James River High School and plans to pursue a law degree.

• Laura Brandner, daughter of James Brandner, manager-distribution systems, Fort Wayne Region, Elkhart, Ind. A senior at Penn High School, she plans to study chemical engineering, biochemistry, chemistry or zoology.

• Scott Brothers, son of Jeffrey Brothers, maintenance mechanic, Regional Service Organization-Mitchell Plant, Moundsville, W.Va. He is a senior at Central Catholic High School with career aspirations in chemistry or medicine.

• Rebecca Campbell, daughter of Greg Campbell, director of financial services, Columbus. She is a senior at Dublin Scioto High School and plans to pursue a degree in business management.

• Cosme “Eric” Garza Jr., son of Cosme Garza Sr., building maintenance, Bayview, Texas. A senior at Port Isabel High School, he plans to major in electrical engineering and business management at Rice University.

• Adrienne Gerken, daughter of Jeff Gerken, technology consultant I, Columbus. The Columbus School for Girls senior will attend Harvard University and plans to study biology.

• John Derek Griner, son of John David Griner, auto mechanic II, Lawton Garage, Lawton, Okla. He is a senior at MacArthur High School and plans to pursue a degree in music education at Oklahoma University.

• Rahul Karamchandani, son of Ramesh Karamchandani, quality assurance auditor, Cook Nuclear Plant, Bridgman, Mich. A senior at Lakeshore Senior High School, he plans to study engineering or medicine at the University of Michigan.

• Nicole Lee, daughter of Kelvin Lee, meter reader, Roanoke Region, Pulaski, Va. The Radford High School senior plans to major in biology and pursue a pre-medicine program.

• Jeffrey McManus, son of John McManus, manager-environmental strategy and planning, Columbus. He is a senior at Grandview Heights High School and is considering studying biology.

• Bradley Mellen, son of Dale Mellen, Information Technology account manager, Columbus. A senior at Hilliard Davidson High School, he plans to study music and computer science.

• Andrea Mullen, daughter of William Mullen, station mechanic A, Steubenville Service Center, Steubenville, Ohio. She is a senior at Edison Local High School and may pursue a degree in chemical engineering.

• Allison Perry, daughter of James Perry, labor relations manager, Roanoke Region, Roanoke, Va. She is a senior at William Byrd High School and plans to study communications at Washington and Lee University.

• Michelle Poore, daughter of Michael Poore, transmission and distribution dispatcher III, Roanoke Region, Roanoke, Va. The senior at Pulaski County High School plans to major in biology or biochemistry at Sweet Briar College in Sweet Briar, Va.

• Adrian Prince, son of Kenneth Prince, senior engineering technician, Canton Region, Canton, Ohio. He is a senior at Buckeye Central High School and plans to pursue a Doctor of Pharmacy at Ohio Northern University.

• Rebecca Raabe, daughter of Paul Raabe, customer service account manager, Uvalde, Texas. She is a senior at Calallen High School and plans to study civil engineering.

• Justin Rose, son of Edward Rose, environmental technician senior, Cook Nuclear Plant. The senior at Dowagiac Union High School plans to study biochemistry at Hope College in Holland, Mich.

• Alexander Santiago, son of Jose Santiago, senior customer solutions representative, Corpus Christi, Texas. The Gregory Portland High School senior plans to attend Texas A&M-Kingsville University and obtain a degree in mechanical engineering.

• Cameron Sims, son of Jimmy Sims, service technician, Sonora, Texas. He is a senior at Sonora High School and plans to study electrical engineering and business administration at Texas A&M University in College Station.

• Stewart Skloss, son of Ernest Skloss, electrical, instrument and control technician, Bates Power Station, Mission, Texas. The senior at Sharyland High School plans to study mechanical or agricultural engineering.

• Lauren Stull, daughter of Charles Stull, supervisor-distribution systems, Roanoke, Va. She is a senior at Craig County High School and plans to pursue a degree in biology or biochemistry.

• Ryann Thacker, daughter of Steven Thacker, maintenance mechanic, Gavin Plant, Cheshire, Ohio. The South Gallia High School senior plans to major in business or pharmacy.

• Trisha Tucker, daughter of Terry Tucker, civil engineering laboratory specialist, Dolan Labs, Groveport, Ohio. She is a senior at Circleville High School and plans to study chemistry and pre-medicine.

• Suma Tumuluri, daughter of Prasad Tumuluri, senior engineer, Cook Nuclear Plant. She is a senior at Worthington Kilbourne High School and plans to study mechanical or industrial engineering at the University of Michigan.

• William Tuten, son of Scott Tuten, senior coordinator, AEP Pro Serv. The Fort Frye High School (Beverly, Ohio) senior plans to study chemistry or enter a pre-optometry program.

• Anna VanToai, daughter of Norman VanToai, retired staff engineer. She is a senior at New Albany (Ohio) High School and plans to study life sciences, mathematics and psychology.

• Erin Wiegand, daughter of Jeffrey Wiegand, team leader, Glen Lyn Plant, Glen Lyn, Va. She is a senior at Giles High School and plans to study psychology or international studies.

• Tricia Williams, daughter of Michael Williams, control technician senior, Conesville Plant, Conesville, Ohio. A senior at Coshocton High School, she plans to pursue a science-related degree.

• Wilce “Damion” Williams, son of Wilce W. Williams, supervisor-general accounting/electric, Tulsa, Okla. He is a senior at Booker T. Washington High School and plans to major in electrical or chemical engineering.

• Julia Wright, daughter of David Wright, maintenance superintendent, Flint Creek Plant, Gentry, Ark. The Siloam Springs (Ark.) High School senior plans to study business at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater.

American Electric Power is a multinational energy company based in Columbus, Ohio. AEP owns and operates more than 38,000 megawatts of generating capacity, making it one of America’s largest generators of electricity. The company is also a leading wholesale energy marketer and trader, ranking second in the U.S. in electricity volume. AEP provides retail electricity to more than 7 million customers worldwide and has more than $45 billion in assets, primarily in the U.S. with holdings in select international markets. Wholly owned subsidiaries are involved in power engineering and construction services, energy management and telecommunications.