ExxonMobil Employees to Introduce Students to Engineering Careers at Company Sites Across the United States
-- ExxonMobil employees reach out to 3,000 students across the country at
14 company locations
-- Students will receive first-hand experiences of life as an engineer
-- Activities are part of national "Introduce a Girl to Engineering"
program
IRVING, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- For the eighth consecutive year, ExxonMobil is hosting "Introduce a Girl to Engineering" sponsored by National Engineers Week, where company employees will host students in various activities designed to encourage careers in engineering. At 14 company locations, ExxonMobil engineers will engage middle-school students with presentations, hands-on experiments and demonstrations - all focused on math, science, engineering and technology.
"ExxonMobil has a strong commitment to encouraging teens to study and develop their math and science skills in order to become the next generation of innovators in our country," said Suzanne McCarron, general manager, Public and Government Affairs, Exxon Mobil Corporation. "Less than 10 percent of entering college freshmen pursue engineering today so it is imperative to reach students during their middle school years as they begin to think about college and careers."
ExxonMobil's goal with this program is to show students that careers in engineering are not only lucrative and diverse, but also provide opportunities to make significant improvements to everyday life. Through a combination of site outings at ExxonMobil offices and classroom visits, it is expected that more than 400 ExxonMobil volunteers will impact nearly 3,000 students.
Local activities include demonstrations on how the industry uses 3D technology to search for oil and natural gas; water purification experiments; bridge-building with straws; exploring the science of manufacturing lipstick, and panel discussions with practicing engineers. Events will take place over the next several months.
According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, the top 15 highest paying jobs today all require math skills, and of those top jobs, 12 are in engineering. Despite the obvious benefits of studying math and science, students who do not study math beyond algebra II in high school statistically have less than a 40 percent chance of graduating from college. Because 8th grade is the turning point for choosing higher level math and science classes, ExxonMobil focuses resources and efforts at middle school.
In addition to National Engineers Week, ExxonMobil develops and supports other programs that encourage students to develop a keen interest in careers in the math and science fields, specifically promoting the involvement of women and minorities in these industries, as well as initiatives to improve teacher effectiveness. Nationally, ExxonMobil has taken part in developing The Dream Tour presented by ExxonMobil, ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Summer Science Camps, Mickelson Science Teachers Academy and Sally Ride Science Festival, among others.
About Exxon Mobil Corporation
ExxonMobil is the world's largest publicly traded international oil and gas company, providing energy that helps underpin growing economies and improve living standards around the world. ExxonMobil also engages in a range of philanthropic activities that advance education, health and science in the communities where ExxonMobil has significant operations. In the United States, ExxonMobil supports initiatives to improve math and science education at the K-12 and higher education levels. Globally, ExxonMobil provides funding to improve basic education, promote women as catalysts for economic development, and combat malaria and other infectious diseases in developing countries. In 2009, together with its employees and retirees, Exxon Mobil Corporation, its divisions and affiliates, and ExxonMobil Foundation provided $235 million in contributions worldwide, of which more than $98 million was dedicated to education. Additional information on ExxonMobil's community partnerships and contributions programs is available at www.exxonmobil.com/community.
About National Engineers Week
National Engineers Week (eweek.org), founded in 1951 by the National Society of Professional Engineers, is dedicated to ensuring a diverse and well-educated future engineering workforce by increasing understanding of and interest in engineering and technology careers among young students and by promoting pre-college literacy in math and science. Engineers Week also raises public understanding and appreciation of engineers' contributions to society and is among the oldest of America's professional outreach efforts. For more information, please visit www.eweek.org.
Source: Exxon Mobil Corporation
Released February 21, 2011