Power of Good

PowerofGood.com | Fall 2015 13 immediately signed up to help. He knew that his 17-year- old son, Drew, an agricultural student, would also benefit. Before construction, Williams met with Crutchfield to check blueprints and discuss preliminary work. Before work began, the school cleared the site of weeds and debris. "With the help of several students, we completed preliminary layout of the site before construction," Williams said. "The students worked alongside APSO volunteers, completing much of the work themselves." A steady stream of agricultural students worked from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. with APSO members Curry Bennett, Joseph Brown, Mark Crews, Drew Downs, Carlette Durham, Carlos Gonzalez, Bryan Giles, Josh Hodges, Justin Rigsby and Anna Catherine Roberson. APSO volunteers removed invasive plants from the area and worked with the students, showing them safe ways to use tools. Under the watchful eyes of their teacher and volunteers, the students helped build the platform, dug postholes for benches and cemented the posts. "It was a great chance for our volunteers to work and interact with students, and do hands- on work," said project coordinator Roberson, whose team volunteered 85 hours. The new outdoor classroom will have far- reaching effects on the school's 250 agricultural students and the state, said Crews, Western Division vice president at Alabama Power. "This project presented a unique opportunity for us to not only work hand in hand with students to build something they can be proud of and use for many years to come, but to also teach them to appreciate the value of being a good steward of our environment," Crews said. "These students are our future workforce, and it is classes like this one at Brookwood High School that will prepare them for whatever path they choose to follow." Crutchfield said she appreciates the help of APSO members and the Alabama Power Foundation in helping make her dream for an outdoor classroom a reality. "We can't stand alone as educators," Crutchfield said. "To do what we do, it takes the community and business partners such as Alabama Power and other like-minded community members who invest in students." The Students To Stewards grant program is part of Alabama Power's and Alabama Power Foundation's Brighter Minds education initiative. In 2015, Students To Stewards will award 20 grants: six outdoor classroom grants worth up to $7,500 each and 14 classroom curriculum grants worth up to $1,000 each. Since its creation in 1989 with funds donated by Alabama Power shareholders, the Alabama Power Foundation has supported Alabama communities, educational institutions and nonprofits with nonratepayer money through more than 20,000 grants and scholarships. Students at Brookwood High School and Western Division APSO volunteers gather at the new outdoor classroom built through Students to Stewards.

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