The University of Arkansas has received a $1 million gift that is aimed at supporting research opportunities, outreach and facilities for the school’s electrical engineering department.
The American Electric Power (AEP) Foundation made the gift as part of the U of A’s Campaign Arkansas, the capital campaign designed to advance academic opportunity. This foundation is funded by American Electric Power, and its subsidiary Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO). Officials from SWEPCO were on hand to present the gift on Thursday, Feb. 20.
“We are pleased to present this grant to the University of Arkansas’ Electrical Engineering department on behalf of the AEP Foundation,” Malcolm Smoak, SWEPCO president and chief operating officer, said in a statement. “This outreach will inspire students to think and learn about engineering, and then enhance the engineering experience when they get to the University of Arkansas. It’s a great combination of initiatives.”
Funding from the gift is earmarked for three areas: the College of Engineering’s K-12 Scholars Program, the Research Experience for Undergraduates project, and improved laboratory space for the Department of Electrical Engineering.
In total, the K-12 project and the Research Experience for Undergraduates will both receive $300,000, while $400,000 will be used to improve laboratory space.
According to U of A Department of Electrical Engineering head Juan Carlos Balda, the contribution will make a significant impact on the department, enabling its team to move faster on projects such as increased recruitment and facility improvements.
“I am very excited about the opportunities that this gift will open,” Balda said. “Financial resources are always limited, so this gift will enable us to move faster with our ideas in terms of increasing enrollment in our department, recruiting talented undergraduates into our graduate program and having facilities that foster innovation and creativity.”
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