POWERGRAMS

7 Joslynn Owens, 23, has always been a strong student in mathematics. In high school, she considered a variety of math- related fields as potential career paths, but ultimately, thanks to the encouragement of a teacher, she decided to give engineering a try. Four years later, the senior electrical engineering major from Montgomery is no longer the tentative freshman "giving engineering a try." She is a leader among her classmates and a recipient of an Alabama Power Scholarship, offered annually to the most elite students in the University of South Alabama (USA) College of Engineering. "As I researched engineering, I realized I would have a better future in that field and stuck with it as a major," Owens said. And that – enabling talented students to have brighter futures regardless of their financial means – is what the scholarship is all about, said Mobile Division Vice President Mike Saxon. "The Alabama Power Foundation is pleased to support engineering scholarships at the University of South Alabama," Saxon said. "Helping to educate talented students ensures a strong workforce for the future." Thanks in part to success stories like Owens, and due to matching funds available through the Mitchell-Moulton Scholarship Initiative, the Alabama Power Foundation has renewed its commitment to scholarships at South Alabama with a $300,000 gift to the university. This recent gift, coupled with dollar- for-dollar matching funds from the scholarship initiative and previous commitments, brings the value of Alabama Power's scholarship endowments to more than $1.2 million. Saxon said this gift is part of Alabama Power's mission to invest in the communities it serves. The new endowment this gift creates will expand and extend the impact of the Alabama Power Scholarships. Previously, these were awarded to junior or senior engineering students who had demonstrated strong potential. The new program will enable the USA College of Engineering to attract elite freshmen and transfer students. Engineering Dean John Steadman said the scholarships will enable the university to compete with other top engineering schools for elite students. "With 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," Steadman said. "These 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." USA Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations Joseph Busta said Alabama Power's long-term relationship with the university has created a partnership that will have a lasting impact on students. "We deeply appreciate the continued generosity of the Alabama Power Foundation," Busta said. "We appreciate the many ways that Alabama Power and its employees give back to the university and the local community." Owens has already felt that impact. The scholarship is more than just financial support, it's about the opportunities for her to lead outside the classroom. She has worked as programs chairwoman at Circle K and was 2013-14 president of the National Society of Black Engineers. Owens encourages other high school students to consider engineering. She is a volunteer with the iCan program to introduce girls to engineering. "Those different organizations outside the college and on campus, and holding officer positions, developed me into a leader," said Owens. Looking South magazine USA! USA! USA! POWER TO ALABAMA COMPANY RENEWS SCHOLARSHIP COMMITMENT TO COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING Owens received Alabama Power Scholarship as a USA electrical engineering major. Photo courtesy of the University of South Alabama

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