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FirstEnergy Awards Grants to Educators

MORRISTOWN, N.J., Oct. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE), parent company of Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L), awarded eight teachers representing seven New Jersey schools with Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education grants. The grants, of up to $500 each, will be used for a variety of creative classroom projects, workshops and teacher development programs. Winning projects include alternative energy solutions, hydroponics and water filtration.

Grant winners include: Carolyn McLain, Alexander Hamilton School , Morristown; Cheryl Murga , Mill Pond Elementary, Lanoka Harbor; John M. Kuzan , Lacey Township High School, Lacey Township; David Alfonse and Cheryl McDonald , Marine Academy of Science and Technology, Sandy Hook; Fred Fogle , Kittatinny Regional High School, Newton; Raquel Lima , St. Pius School, Montville; and Linda Carlesi , All Saints Academy, Parsippany.

"The projects funded by these grants encourage students to discover career possibilities in the STEM fields of study while supporting the professional development of our educators," said Don Lynch , president, JCP&L. "We remain committed to supporting our schools to build the workforce we need tomorrow."

The grants are awarded to individual teachers and administrators at schools served by FirstEnergy's electric utility operating companies and in communities where it has facilities. Grant recipients are recommended by local educators from the company's Educational Advisory Council. As part of the program, recipients must furnish a written summary and evaluation of their projects that can be shared with other educators in FirstEnergy's service area.

Since the program's inception, more than 1,000 STEM grants have been awarded by FirstEnergy to educators and youth group leaders.

JCP&L is a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp. JCP&L serves 1.1 million customers in the counties of Burlington, Essex, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union and Warren. Follow JCP&L on Twitter @JCP_L and Facebook at www.facebook.com/JCPandL.