AEP Foundation Contributes $50,000 to Texas A&M International University Alumni Association
The AEP Foundation has contributed $50,000 to the Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) Alumni Association. The contribution will help fund the Proyecto Amigos Program at TAMIU.
Proyecto Amigos is dedicated to supporting TAMIU's primarily underserved and disadvantaged undergraduate students. The program’s goal is to promote community and belonging in addition to providing leadership and mentorship opportunities to help increase undergraduate retention and graduation rates.
AEP Texas External Affairs Manager Tony Arce, Jr. presented an enlarged version of the contribution check on behalf of the AEP Foundation. Arce noted that American Electric Power, the parent company of AEP Texas, created the AEP Foundation in 2005 to provide 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.
The AEP Foundation focuses on improving lives through education from early childhood through higher education in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and math; by meeting basic needs for emergency shelter, affordable housing, and the elimination of hunger; and championing social change. Other support may be offered to protect the environment, promote healthcare and safety, and enrich life through art, music, and cultural heritage.
“This AEP Foundation contribution is an investment in all of our futures,” Arce said. He noted there are three current components of Proyecto Amigo.
These include:
- Mentorship: Proyecto Amigo participants will be able to connect with local alumni and business professionals in the community. These community mentors will provide guidance and encouragement to students. This mentorship program is designed to lead to potential internships as well as full-time employment opportunities after graduation.
- Retention and Graduation: The Proyecto Amigos Program Manager will work concurrently with the participants' academic advisors and the AEP Foundation to ensure correct credit and prerequisite enrollment as well as tracking course grades. Proyecto Amigos participants also will have full access to other optional programs at TAMIU including, tutoring, career services, student counseling, and student health services. Proyecto Amigo students are also encouraged to participate in other on-campus organizations and activities such as student-led clubs and organizations.
- Enriched Education: The Proyecto Amigos program plans to hold and participate in conferences, workshops, and other events geared toward student success, leadership growth, and overcoming various challenges students may experience.
TAMIU President Dr. Pablo Arenaz praised the AEP Foundation’s generosity and shared vision.
“We deeply appreciate the AEP Foundation’s generous support of this new Proyecto Amigos initiative that will help our students to more fully engage in the life of the University. Research shows that students who do engage fully in the University community develop a sense of belonging which fuels elevated retention and graduation rates. With AEP’s support, we will be able to provide a robust program that helps our undergraduate students, many of whom are economically disadvantaged, to thrive, succeed, and graduate. The AEP Foundation has long shared our vision of providing students with resources and support, contributing more than $250,000 to fund student programs to date. We celebrate their partnership,” said Dr. Arenaz.
AEP Texas is part of the American Electric Power (AEP) system. AEP is focused on building a smarter energy infrastructure and delivering new technologies and custom energy solutions to its customers. AEP maintains the nation’s largest electricity transmission system and more than 221,000 miles of distribution lines to efficiently deliver safe, reliable power to nearly 5.5 million regulated customers in 11 states.
AEP Texas serves over one million electric meters in the deregulated Texas marketplace. As an energy delivery (wires) company, AEP Texas delivers electricity safely and reliably to homes, businesses, and industries across its nearly 100,000 square mile service territory in south and west Texas. AEP Texas also builds new power lines, restores service following outages, and records electric usage using advanced meters for retail electric providers (REPs) throughout its service territory. The company also connects or disconnects service upon the orders of the REPs.
A Member of The Texas A&M University System, Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) is a primarily Hispanic-serving, State-assisted university founded in 1970. Its 300-acre campus is located in northeast Laredo on former ranchland.
The campus is home to a diverse enrollment of over 8,500+ students from 31 countries and 28 US states. TAMIU offers transformative undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees in the arts and sciences, business, education, and nursing. As its name affirms, the University maintains a special focus on developing an international academic perspective for the State of Texas.
For additional information on Proyecto Amigos at TAMIU, contact Donah Justice, program manager, at donah.justice@tamiu.edu, call 956.326.2971, or visit offices in the Senator Judith Zaffirini Student Success Center, room 222.
TAMIU’s Spring 2024 Registration is now underway.
To learn more about TAMIU’s Registration processes, visit the dedicated Registration Hub at https://go.tamiu.edu/registration.
Late Registration begins Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024, and ends Monday, Jan. 22, 2024. Spring Semester 2024 classes begin Jan. 16, 2024.
For more information, contact the Office of the University Registrar at 956.326.2250, email registrar@tamiu.edu, or visit offices in the University Success Center, suite 121.
University news and information is also available online at tamiu.edu, and on its social channels: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.
