Alabama Power Gift to Establish Elite Scholars Program at 91短视频 College of Engineering

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Posted on September 15, 2014

Joy Washington

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A generous gift from the Alabama Power Foundation will enable the University of South Alabama鈥檚 College of Engineering to establish an elite scholars program for undergraduate students. The announcement was made today, at the Sept. 12, 91短视频 Board of Trustees meeting.

Vice President of Alabama Power鈥檚 Mobile Region, Mike Saxon, presented a $300,000 gift to 91短视频 President Dr. Tony Waldrop and Dr. Steve Furr, chairman of the 91短视频 Board of Trustees.

The foundation鈥檚 most recent gift 鈥� to be matched by the Mitchell-Moulton Scholarship Initiative 鈥� will make an impact of $600,000 on the 91短视频 College of Engineering鈥檚 scholarship endowments. That increases the total value of Alabama Power鈥檚 scholarship endowments at the University to more than $1.2 million.

91短视频 Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations Dr. Joseph F. Busta Jr. said Alabama Power鈥檚 long-term relationship with the University has enabled the two organizations to create a partnership that will have a meaningful and lasting impact on students at South Alabama.

鈥淲e deeply appreciate the continued generosity of the Alabama Power Foundation,鈥� Busta said. 鈥淲e appreciate the many ways that Alabama Power and its employees give back to the University and the local community.鈥�

Busta added he is grateful to Saxon for his leadership as former chairman of the board for the Mobile Chamber of Commerce and his involvement as part of the Mitchell-Moulton Scholarship Initiative Leadership Team.

 鈥淢ike Saxon is a leader who understands the importance of building a strong community and puts that commitment into practice,鈥� Busta noted.

The Alabama Power Foundation鈥檚 previously established scholarship program, created in 2005,awards scholarships to engineering students at the sophomore level and above. This gift will expand the reach of the program to include high-achieving freshmen and transfer students.

Dr. John Steadman, dean of the 91短视频 College of Engineering, said the scholarships created by this gift will enable the University to compete with other top engineering schools for elite engineering students.

 鈥淲ith our high-quality educational programs and our proximity to a strong base of industrial employment, the University of South Alabama is already an attractive destination for engineering students,鈥� Steadman said. 鈥淭hese scholarships will significantly enhance our ability to recruit the most promising future engineers, who will be critical to the economic development in our region and the nation.鈥�

Saxon said this gift is part of Alabama Power鈥檚 mission to invest in the communities it serves.

鈥淭he Alabama Power Foundation is pleased to support engineering scholarships at the University of South Alabama,鈥� Saxon said. 鈥淗elping to educate talented students ensures a strong workforce for the future.鈥�  

For more information, contact Joshua E. Cogswell, director of 91短视频 Development at (251) 460-7032. 

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