POWERGRAMS

11 "Our school was a very important part of our lives. … All of the people at Lay Dam, including us at school, did something for the World War II effort. Many of us had relatives fighting. … The men working at Lay Dam were considered to be essential to help keep the electric power going for our country. There were soldiers who lived in the 'bunkhouse' and guarded the dam." – Mary Lou Greene Easterling, Lay Dam. "The original school built in 1922 consisted of a two-room dwelling, which was used as a church and classrooms, along with a four-room dwelling, which was a combination of classrooms and Sunday School rooms. … We traveled by school bus to Parrish High School for grades 10-12. The students from Goodsprings came to the school in the seventh grade." – Jone Burnett Davis, Gorgas Steam Plant. Early on, Alabama Power's third president, Tom Martin, said, "The South's greatest resource is its people." In addition to the provision for education of youths in the villages, the company expanded its commitment to education by providing support for individual collegiate scholarships and awards, as well as funding for electrical engineering programs at the University of Alabama and Alabama Polytechnic Institute (now Auburn University), and a funding collaborative with Auburn for the study of rural electrification. While president of Alabama Polytechnic, Spright Dowell said, "The work your company is doing is an outstanding constructive force for the upbuilding of the State and Nation that is not equaled by a similar organization anywhere." Many graduates of Alabama's colleges and universities went on to fill positions throughout Alabama Power, including Maria Whitson, Auburn's first female electrical engineering graduate, and former APC President Joe Farley, who completed graduate work in business administration at the University of Alabama. Continuing education was encouraged for employees, from correspondence programs to an evening school at Gorgas Steam Plant. In 1950, Martin asked several prominent education, science and business professionals to "forecast goals and hopes for the next one-half century of world progress." A.R. Meadows, state superintendent of education at the time, believed "education in America and in Alabama will be greatly improved and will do much toward improving living conditions of all mankind." With the founding of the Alabama Power Foundation in 1989, the company was able to help fulfill that hope by expanding the outreach and impact of educational support and service to the state. Since inception, the foundation has given more than $231 million in noncustomer funding to the arts, education, environmental stewardship, civic and community development, and health and human services. "The Alabama Power Foundation is a source of good, designed and dedicated to work for the advancement of the people of our state," said Myla Calhoun, foundation president. In 2018, the foundation supported more than $6 million in educational initiatives, including Power to Play, classroom grants and Students to Stewards. BICENTENNIAL As the state's bicentennial activities come to fruition, Alabama Power has been a primary benefactor of the educational initiatives, including teacher training institutes, support for schools involved in community engagement projects, and the development of the PastPort that has encouraged thousands of residents and nonresidents alike to visit historic destinations in all 67 counties. The education initiatives were designed to have a long-term impact, by supporting and encouraging history teachers through networking and development of instructional resources and teaching strategies that will enable them to connect with and inspire students for years to come. A teacher from Eufaula who took part in the institute said, "I knew (the workshop) would be a great tool for instruction. As an English teacher and cult historian, it has really generated a new sense of excitement to share Alabama's narrative in my classroom, and to ensure that the voices of the past are not forgotten but brought to life." About 200 schools performed community projects throughout the past year, with 21 recognized as Alabama Bicentennial Schools of Excellence and awarded grants to continue and expand projects. While many of the education programs focused on third through fifth grades, about 40 high school students were selected as part of an Alabama Bicentennial Student Advisory Committee. Students had the opportunity to manage the AL200 Twitter account, bringing student voices and perspectives to the celebration, while also highlighting the impact of the bicentennial on their school and community. "Support for education has been a mainstay of Alabama Power for over a century," Calhoun said. "Because we believe that our most valuable resource is our people, and that knowledge, imaginations and skills build upon each other to deliver a healthier, more vibrant and more prosperous state. "Throughout the bicentennial, we have been proud to support our teachers and communities, and through the foundation, the Alabama Power Service Organization and the Energizers, we will maintain that commitment for generations to come," Calhoun said. Martin

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