Alabama Power Gift to Establish Elite Scholars Program at USA College of Engineering

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Posted on September 15, 2014

Joy Washington

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A generous gift from the Alabama Power Foundation will enable the University of South Alabama’s College of Engineering to establish an elite scholars program for undergraduate students. The announcement was made today, at the Sept. 12, USA Board of Trustees meeting.

Vice President of Alabama Power’s Mobile Region, Mike Saxon, presented a $300,000 gift to USA President Dr. Tony Waldrop and Dr. Steve Furr, chairman of the USA Board of Trustees.

The foundation’s most recent gift — to be matched by the Mitchell-Moulton Scholarship Initiative — will make an impact of $600,000 on the USA College of Engineering’s scholarship endowments. That increases the total value of Alabama Power’s scholarship endowments at the University to more than $1.2 million.

USA Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations Dr. Joseph F. Busta Jr. said Alabama Power’s long-term relationship with the University has enabled the two organizations to create a partnership that will have a meaningful and lasting impact on students at South Alabama.

“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.”

Busta added he is grateful to Saxon for his leadership as former chairman of the board for the Mobile Chamber of Commerce and his involvement as part of the Mitchell-Moulton Scholarship Initiative Leadership Team.

 “Mike Saxon is a leader who understands the importance of building a strong community and puts that commitment into practice,” Busta noted.

The Alabama Power Foundation’s previously established scholarship program, created in 2005,awards scholarships to engineering students at the sophomore level and above. This gift will expand the reach of the program to include high-achieving freshmen and transfer students.

Dr. John Steadman, dean of the USA College of Engineering, said the scholarships created by this gift will enable the University to compete with other top engineering schools for elite engineering 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.”

Saxon said this gift is part of Alabama Power’s mission to invest in the communities it serves.

“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.”  

For more information, contact Joshua E. Cogswell, director of USA Development at (251) 460-7032. 

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