POWERGRAMS

said Bobbie Knight, president of Miles College in Birmingham and a former Alabama Power vice president. "During these challenging times, especially with the coronavirus pandemic having changed the way we serve our students, this grant will help us improve our technology capabilities and continue to innovate to meet our students' needs." Oakwood College will use its grant to replace the 20-year-old fiber optic infrastructure used across the 1,185-acre campus. Founded in 1896, Oakwood is associated with the Seventh-day Adventist Church and offers 58 majors across five schools to its 1,800 students. The Huntsville institution awards associate, baccalaureate and master's degrees. The funding for Stillman College will be used to support the launch of Alabama's first "early" college based at an HBCU. While Stillman already offers courses to students in Tuscaloosa through a dual-enrollment agreement with the Tuscaloosa City Schools, Stillman Start Academy will be its first effort to provide collegiate courses in STEM disciplines, and career and life development resources, including entrepreneurship, to students in Sumter, Greene and Hale counties via distance-learning technology. The initial phase of the program will benefit 40 high school students. Stillman College was founded in 1876 by the Presbyterian Church and named for the Rev. Charles Stillman, who was then pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Tuscaloosa. It awards to its 750 students bachelor's degrees in 17 disciplines within three schools. "We are delighted to receive this generous grant from Alabama Power and Southern Company," said RaSheda Workman, vice president of Strategic Initiatives at Stillman. "The coronavirus pandemic has shed new light on the technology disparities within our rural communities. With this grant, we can further enhance our technology capabilities and continue to educate the next generation of leaders." Talladega College's grant will be used to improve technology bandwidth throughout campus; provide technology resources to faculty and staff; and build capacity to support infrastructure expansion. The first private historically Black college in Alabama, Talladega College was founded in 1867 by former slaves William Savery and Thomas Tarrant. The college recently set a record for the largest enrollment in its history at 1,313 students. It offers 17 degree programs, including a new Master of Science in Computer Information Systems. "We are so grateful for Alabama Power's support," said Talladega College President Billy Hawkins. "With record- breaking enrollment increases and three new buildings on campus, Talladega College's technology needs have increased significantly. Alabama Power's generosity is helping us to meet these needs during this challenging season." Tuskegee University will use its funding for critical infrastructure upgrades, including switches, bandwidth, virtual app platforms, firewall replacements and hardware updates. Tuskegee University is a private land-grant institution founded on July 4, 1881. It offers 40 bachelor's and 17 master's degree programs, as well as four doctoral programs, including the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. The former home to Booker T. Washington and George Washington Carver has about 3,000 current students. Aerial view of Stillman's campus, above, while students study outdoors at Miles College, above right. Talladega College President Hawkins chats with students, at right. 32

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