The American Electric Power (AEP) Foundation will partner with Bossier Parish Community College (BPCC) to provide $1.4 million over five years to launch the Credits Count^SM program, benefiting middle and high school students in north Louisiana. BPCC is the second college in the United States to receive funding for this program.

Credits Count^SM, a signature program of AEP Foundation, is a five-year project targeting dual enrollment students with a focus on studies in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The hands-on, year-round activities and services of the Credits Count^SM program are centered on four major components which include:

• STEM Experiences - expanding awareness, at an early age, of possible STEM careers through middle and high school exploration experiences;
• College Course Readiness Assessments - identifying gaps in writing, reading and math that may require tutoring;
• Summer Bridge Programs - providing remediation in English and math and improving skills prior to students enrolling in dual enrollment programs;
• Dual Enrollment in High Schools and at BPCC - allowing students to graduate high school with at least 12 college credits toward an associate degree or job ready certificate.

“We could not be more excited about AEP Foundation's investment in the future of our community,” says BPCC Chancellor Jim Henderson. “STEM fields will drive our economic growth in the 21st Century. Our potential in Northwest Louisiana is limited only by our ability to nurture talent. BPCC has been a leader in the development of engineering and cyber technology programs, and we look forward to partnering with Bossier and Caddo schools to expand our offerings of these and other STEM programs to a new generation of learners.”

BPCC will work with area schools and collaborating partners to introduce middle school students to STEM experiences and engage prepared high school learners for college credit coursework prior to graduation. Credits Count^SM focuses on improving high school graduation rates.

“The AEP Foundation is excited to join with the BPCC Foundation to introduce middle school and high school students to the possibilities of a STEM-related (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) career,” says Venita McCellon-Allen, SWEPCO president and chief operating officer. “Through the AEP Foundation’s Credits Count^SM program, we are changing lives for our young people in both Caddo and Bossier parishes, so they can be a part of a well-educated workforce of the future.”

BPCC will facilitate dual credit enrollment in cooperation with area high schools with a goal of providing participating students, the opportunity to graduate high school with at least 12 college credits toward an associate degree or one year certificate. The program seeks to serve approximately 400 - 500 students each year and is slated to begin in spring 2015.

BPCC Foundation Board President and SWEPCO External Affairs Manager John Hubbard expresses the Foundation’s appreciation of the generous gift. “The AEP Foundation shares the confidence in the faculty and leadership at BPCC,” says Hubbard. “The students can be even more confident that a high quality education is a commitment.”

For more information on this program, contact Stephanie Rogers, Director of Institutional Advancement, at 318-678-6010.

The AEP Foundation is funded by American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP) and its utility operating units, including SWEPCO. The Foundation provides a permanent, ongoing resource for charitable initiatives involving higher dollar values and multi-year commitments in the communities served by AEP and initiatives outside of AEP's 11-state service area. The Foundation's areas of focus include special emphasis on improving lives through education from early childhood through higher education, protecting the environment, providing basic human services in the areas of hunger, housing, health and safety, and enriching life through art, music and cultural heritage. The Foundation is based in Columbus, Ohio.