F EATURED S TORIES

Behind a company making the transition to a cleaner tomorrow are employees making a similar and just as dramatic shift in their futures.

A West Liberty University student left class around 10 a.m. on a recent brisk fall day. Wet leaves on the ground created a pretty scene on her drive through the hilly countryside on Route 88, but they also posed a safety hazard. 

Hani Ammar wasn’t planning to save anyone’s life on Saturday, June 11, but that’s what happened when he came across a disabled car that caught fire on the side of a major freeway in Columbus, Ohio.

AEP's Dirk Pauley has unflagging tenacity and grit that has helped him become one of the best triathletes in his age range. His other motivation? Raising money for Pinky Swear, a foundation that supports families with children being treated for cancer.

Thanks to colleague Valerie LeMaster, John Anderson has a new lease on life and a new kidney.

High school students learned how to use drones through a federally-funded summer Workforce of the Future program in southeastern Ohio and with the help of Randy Lowe, a manager in AEP's Telecommunications department.

After more than eight years working with his 'little,' the Big Brothers and Big Sisters (BBBS) of Oklahoma recently presented one of AEP's own with a prestigious honor. Brandon Webber, manager, station system services (TFS Station, Energy Delivery) was awarded the 2022 Matt Burtelow Award. Each year one outstanding volunteer is selected. 

Appalachian Power's Rob Arnold, distribution system manager, will tell you that 17-year-old Connor McMillian isn’t your average teenager. 

McMillian is taking college courses year-round to complete high school in three years; has a mowing business; helps his friends on their farms; is a traveling musician and is working as a line mechanic intern in the Kingsport District for ten weeks this summer. 

Rockport, Texas – population 10,000 – sits on the beautiful water of the Gulf of Mexico. Known for its sleepy fishing town vibe, breathtaking sunsets, and as the home of Texas’ only Blue Wave Beach, it's a coastal gem that continues to rebuild after taking a hit from Hurricane Harvey in 2017. One of the most unique and hopeful things about Rockport is that its location attracts the most beautiful migratory birds in the world as they fly south for the winter. The most famous, and most endangered guest, is the whooping crane.

For Scott Welker, manager, TFS Station (East), teamwork has built the foundation of his life. He has worked on teams throughout his professional career at AEP, and in his local community, was recently honored for giving back. Welker was inducted into the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) Officials Hall of Fame for his 33 years of service as a high school official in Muskingum Valley.