POWERGRAMS

C hristmas came early in 2020 for historically Black colleges and universities across Alabama with a Thanksgiving-time delivery of grants totaling $1.75 million for technology-focused projects. Alabama Power and Southern Company, through its charitable foundation, gave the state's four-year HBCUs the funding, providing resources to innovate and create new offerings for students at Alabama A&M, Alabama State, Miles, Oakwood, Stillman, Talladega and Tuskegee. "The role technology plays in education and our daily lives continues to expand and grow," said Alabama Power CEO Mark Crosswhite. "These grants are designed to support these important institutions' efforts to provide their students greater access to technology, foster enhanced education opportunities and drive career and workforce readiness. These grants are investments in future members of Alabama's workforce and will help ensure our future economy is prosperous and inclusive." The technology-grant funding to the state's HBCUs is part of a $50 million commitment by Southern Company, which includes a multiyear strategy to provide students with scholarships, internships, leadership development and access to technology and innovation to support career opportunities. This round of funding was awarded by the Southern Company Foundation. The grant for Alabama A&M will create the Drake Learning Resources Extended Reality Center, a one-stop immersive technology facility; establish immersive technologies in classrooms for collaboration and sharing; and create cloud virtual desktops, making academic apps accessible on any device. The Huntsville university was founded by a former slave in 1875 and became a land-grant institution in 1890. The 800 staff and faculty provide more than 60 undergraduate, graduate and certificate programs to A&M's 6,100 students. Alabama State University's grant will be used for critical infrastructure upgrades to increase bandwidth and wireless access points; web applications and soware for instruction; and equipment to support teaching and learning in a virtual environment. ASU was founded in 1867 by the "Marion Nine," freed slaves who raised $500 for land on which to build a school for students denied the right to public higher education. The campus was moved to Montgomery in 1887 and became the state Black teachers college in 1929. Alabama State today offers its 6,000 students 47 degree programs from eight divisions. Alabama Power's funding will support the Miles College Empowerment Center for Digital Excellence in Careers and Education. The M-Power Center will allow students and faculty to learn, train and engage with cuing-edge technology, focusing on science, technology, engineering and math, capacity building and training components. Founded by the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church in 1898, the college in Fairfield was named in honor of Bishop William Miles. The college offers its 1,700 students 25 bachelor's degrees in six divisions, as well as an honors program. "We are very pleased to receive this generous grant from Alabama Power and Southern Company," EDUCATION HBCUs WILL USE $1.75 MILLION IN GRANTS FOR TECH IMPROVEMENTS by CHUCK CHANDLER Stillman College will use its grant funds, in part, for dual enrollment classes for area high school students. 31

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