For more than 30 years, Chevron has been supporting the STEM disciplines—science, technology, engineering, and math—at the University of Utah, through scholarships, fellowships, and science-related outreach programs for young people. Their generous support continues today.
“We want the students of today to gain the critical skills needed to succeed in the jobs of tomorrow—not only for the success of Chevron’s business, but also for the country’s ability to compete in the global marketplace,” says Greg Gabel, manager, Chevron Salt Lake Refinery. “The thinking is that if people and communities are to thrive, nothing is more important than education and job training that can lead directly to good-paying jobs, many of which are in the STEM disciplines.”
“Generous support from Chevron is immensely important to the Department of Geology and Geophysics, as it funds a graduate fellowship, an undergraduate scholarship, our American Association of Petroleum Geologists chapter, and our Petroleum Industry Career Path,” says Francis Brown, dean of the college of Mines and Earth Sciences. “Chevron also partners with the department in other ways, such as the recent Turks & Caicos modern carbonates field trip to the Caribbean led by Steve Bachtel, a Chevron geoscientist.”
Chevron’s ongoing support of STEM education at the U is providing enhanced teaching and learning opportunities to faculty, and to students of all ages—an investment that will pay big dividends as those students become the STEM professionals of the future.
At Red Butte Garden, Chevron makes it possible for students from kindergarten through 12th grade to tour the garden— directly immersing themselves in the wonders of botany science—by underwriting the transportation costs of getting students to and from the garden. Guided field trips led by garden staff or trained volunteers include science activities that meet the standards and objectives of the Utah State Core Curriculum at each grade level, such as learning about the life cycles of plants and bugs and how they eventually turn into compost. During the 2013-14 school year, nearly 3,000 Title One students were able to visit the garden, thanks to Chevron’s generosity.
At the Natural History Museum of Utah, the Youth Teaching Youth science education, outreach and mentoring program just celebrated its 20th anniversary. As one of the program’s generous supporters, Chevron helps make it possible for students from Glendale Middle School to teach science to local fourth graders. As the middle school students move on to high school, they continue to learn and teach science as interns while developing college and career goals.
