Chevron recently donated funds to 24 school districts to help fund STEM education programs.
As a part of the company’s month-long “Energy for Learning” series, Chevron awarded grants totaling $1.4 million to 24 school districts and other non-profit organizations in the South Bay, Calif. area. These grants will be used to fund local Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM)-related education programs.
The more than $1.4 million contribution is a reflection of the Chevron El Segundo Refinery’s ongoing support for education programs in the South Bay, and in recognition of the facility’s one hundred and five year history in El Segundo.
“We are extremely proud to support STEM funding and help teachers and schools gain additional resources through these grants,” said El Segundo Refinery general manager Henry Kusch. “Many generations of Chevron employees and their families in the local community have seen firsthand the quality education programs our schools provide.”
Among the grant recipients is the El Segundo Unified School District (ESUSD) which will direct the grant funds to implement the final component of Project Lead the Way ensuring all 6th grade science courses at the El Segundo Middle School have engineering education for every student in grades K-12 thanks to Chevron’s ongoing generosity and support.”
In Manhattan Beach, the funds will be used to further infuse K-12 classrooms with inquiry based mathematics and Next Generation Science Standards though UCLA Center X Math support, Project Lead the Way and Robotics at Mira Costa High School and elementary schools.
“STEM is everywhere you look,” said Mike Matthews, superintendent of the Manhattan Beach Unified School District. “It is critically important for this millennial generation to be both tech savvy and STEM ready and Chevron’s partnership continues to help better prepare our students in this regard.”
The number of STEM jobs is estimated to grow twice the pace of all other jobs through the next several years and currently 20% of all U.S. jobs – 26 million positions – require knowledge in at least one STEM field.
