TULSA, Okla. (Aug. 15, 2023) – Eighteen FFA chapters across Oklahoma will receive a total of more than $36,000 in American Electric Power Foundation FFA STEM After-School Grants this year. The AEP Foundation is the charitable arm of American Electric Power, parent company of Tulsa-based electric provider, Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO).

Everything from hydroponics to metallurgy to drone technology – a broad range of agriculture studies – will be funded by the grants.

Grants ranging from $325 to $2,500, will be awarded to FFA chapters in Antlers, Arapaho, Blair, Boswell, Burns Flats-Dill City, Caney Valley (Ramona), Carnegie, Elgin, Fletcher, Haileyville, Hinton, Locust Grove, Okmulgee, Oologah, Quinton, Red Oak, Soper and Stigler. The grants will be presented at five regional FFA Chapter Officer Leadership Training (COLT) conferences sponsored by PSO, which begin Aug. 29 in McAlester.

“PSO is excited to fund hands-on STEM activities in Oklahoma schools,” said PSO Vice President of External Affairs Tiffini Jackson. “These are the kinds of skills that keep students interested in science while building fulfilling futures.”

Since 2018, the AEP Foundation and PSO have awarded grants now totaling more than $209,000 to FFA chapters to fund a wide range of programs and activities that are helping advance agricultural education, foster innovation and inspire success.  In 2020, the AEP Foundation announced a $200,000 grant to fund the program through the 2024-2025 school year.

The unique grant program reflects the strong alignment between PSO, AEP Foundation and the Oklahoma FFA Foundation in providing students the opportunity to learn and grow in STEM-related fields.

“After-school STEM grants mean Oklahoma children will learn valuable skills and important concepts,” said Jacey Fye, Oklahoma FFA Foundation executive director.  “PSO and the AEP Foundation have a long record of supporting FFA and STEM education, and we thank them for their continued efforts.”