Sixteen schools and nonprofit organizations across the state will receive conservation education grants through the Alabama Power Foundation’s Students to Stewards program. Students to Stewards provides support for dynamic stewardship, conservation education and outdoor classrooms.

This year’s Students to Stewards grants total nearly $60,000 and will help bring an awareness of environmental issues to a new generation. Grants will be awarded in two categories:

• Curriculum: nine awards up to $1,000 each for classroom lessons, in-the-field learning and teacher training.
• Outdoor classrooms: seven awards up to $7,500 each for the construction of outdoor instruction areas.

“We have been very pleased with the progress of the Students to Stewards program,” said Matt Bowden, foundation board member and Alabama Power vice president of Environmental Affairs. “It gives students all across the state the opportunity to learn about the outdoors and equips them with knowledge on how they can be good stewards of our natural resources.”

In partnership with the Alabama Wildlife Federation’s Alabama Outdoor Classroom Program, Students to Stewards outdoor classroom grantees will receive technical and organizational assistance in creating their outdoor classrooms.

 “The Alabama Power Foundation’s support can be seen all around our state through various education initiatives,” said Tim Gothard, executive director of the Alabama Wildlife Federation. “They understand the importance of teaching our young people the impact of conservation and how to be good stewards of the environment. The first year of this program was very successful and we hope to see it continue to provide new opportunities for students across our state.”

The recipients of the 2016 Students to Stewards outdoor classroom grants are:

• City of Heflin
• Elmore County Board of Education
• Meadow View Elementary School – Alabaster
• Montevallo Elementary School PTO
• Randolph County High School
• Robert E. Lee Elementary School – Satsuma
• Southeast Alabama Human Development Council Inc. – Abbeville.

The recipients of the 2016 Students to Stewards curriculum grants are:

• Admiral Moorer Middle School – Eufaula
• Ashville High School
• Blount County Education Foundation (Locust Fork High School)
• Blount County Education Foundation (Susan Moore Elementary and High School)
• Calera Middle School
• Hollinger's Island Elementary School – Mobile
• Keep Etowah Beautiful Inc. – Gadsden
• Rocky Ridge Elementary School – Hoover
• Vestavia Hills City Schools Foundation.

For more information about Students to Stewards, the Brighter Minds education initiative and other Alabama Power Foundation and Alabama Power community programs, visit www.powerofgood.com.

Since its creation in 1989 with funds donated by shareholders, the Alabama Power Foundation has supported Alabama communities, educational institutions and nonprofits with non-ratepayer dollars through more than 20,000 grant and scholarship awards.