North America is gearing up for a rare event as a total solar eclipse graces the skies. Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO) is proud to announce its collaboration with the De Queen school district and American Electric Power (AEP) meteorologists to bring educational resources and activities to the local community.
Working closely with Arkansas Teacher of the Year, Beau McCastlin, a communication director at De Queen school district, he and his dedicated students partnered with SWEPCO to produce an educational video about the total solar eclipse.
The video features De Queen student journalists and AEP Meteorologist Ed Kieser, who offer valuable information about this rare astronomical event.
“Public engagement is an important part of what we do at SWEPCO,” said Ed Kieser, AEP Senior Meteorologist. “The Great American Eclipse is a once in a lifetime event for this area and is a unique opportunity for us to interact with students in our communities.”
On Friday, April 5, the educational video will be screened for all students at De Queen High School (DQHS), further enriching their understanding of the upcoming solar eclipse and ensuring they are prepared to view it safely. The video is also available for any classroom or home school student to watch HERE.
"It's an honor to work with De Queen and be part of such a significant event in the community," said Jennifer Harland, External Affairs Manager. "We are excited to engage with the community and provide valuable educational resources about the total solar eclipse."
For many DQHS students, the lessons they learned because of the project with SWEPCO weren’t confined to an understanding of the cosmos.
“This collaboration with SWEPCO showed me how to work as a team and how to follow and lead at the same time,” said Karlie Saldivar, De Queen High School Junior. “I knew that I had a big responsibility since it was going to be watched in other states as well, but I enjoyed it because it showed me what my future could be if I did continue into this field.”
As anticipation grows for the upcoming cosmic phenomenon, SWEPCO is also preparing. The company will participate in Sevierly Dark Fest in De Queen on Saturday, April 6, and the Solarbration event at the Arkansas/Texas state line in Texarkana on Monday, April 8. At both events, attendees will have the opportunity to view the educational video, receive free pinhole projectors, and capture solar selfies with SWEPCO’s mascot Louie the Lightning Bug.
SWEPCO awarded a $1,000 grant to the school district for the enhancement of educational programs within the DQTV classroom. This contribution underscores SWEPCO's dedication to supporting local communities and fostering learning opportunities for students.
“When I was asked to do this project, I had no idea what was so cool about the eclipse,” said Penelope Sims, De Queen High School Senior. “Now I'm super excited to watch it. I'm very invested in it now. Getting to partner with SWEPCO and do this has been an amazing opportunity.”
For more information about SWEPCO's involvement in the total solar eclipse events, visit SWEPCO.com/eclipse.