NEWS

The American Electric Power Foundation has announced at $50,000 grant to the Louisiana Tech University Foundation for new equipment in the Power Systems and Smart Grid Laboratory.

Pictured are (from left) Dr. Mickey Cox, Dr. Prashanna Bhattarai, Dr. Hisham Hegab, Malcolm Smoak, Devin Ferguson.

“The Electrical Engineering program at Louisiana Tech University has a strong history of producing engineering graduates with practical, hands-on skills coupled with solid engineering fundamentals,” said Dr. Hisham Hegab, College of Engineering and Science dean. “These funds will support the purchase of lab equipment allowing students to perform additional experiments on smart grid systems, and wind and solar generation systems.”

The AEP Foundation is funded by American Electric Power and its utility operating units, including Southwestern Electric Power Co. (SWEPCO), which serves approximately 230,700 customers in Louisiana.

“Louisiana Tech engineers are filling critical roles in the energy industry – designing renewable wind and solar generation facilities, building and operating the smart grid, reducing carbon emissions, and protecting critical infrastructure from cyber attacks,” said Malcolm Smoak, SWEPCO president and chief operating officer, and a Louisiana Tech graduate. “The support from the AEP Foundation will strengthen the university’s engineering programs as it educates the next generation of engeineers.”

Smoak is a past member of the Louisiana Tech Engineering and Science Foundation and serves as a member of the Louisiana Tech Electrical Engineering Advisory Board.

The American Electric Power Foundation provides a permanent, ongoing resource for charitable initiatives involving higher dollar values and multi-year commitments in the communities served by AEP and initiatives outside of AEP’s 11-state service area.