Send My Teacher Web Site Receives Overwhelming Response

More than 1,600 teachers from across the country apply for a chance to attend the 2009 Mickelson ExxonMobil Teachers Academy

IRVING, Texas, Jan. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Since its April launch, more than 1,600 third-through fifth-grade teachers have logged onto www.sendmyteacher.com to apply for an opportunity to attend the 2009 Mickelson ExxonMobil Teachers Academy at the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, N.J. Two hundred teachers will be selected through the online application process to attend the Academy, now in its fifth year.

"Amy and I are very excited to see the overwhelming response to the Web site, including the number of applications received from teachers across all 50 states," said Phil Mickelson. "We look forward to extending opportunities to teachers looking to enhance their math and science teaching skills at the Academy."

Launched in 2004, the Mickelson ExxonMobil Teachers Academy was founded through a partnership with ExxonMobil, Phil and Amy Mickelson, the National Science Teachers Association and Math Solutions. The Academy is an intensive one-week, all-expense paid program designed to provide third-through fifth-grade teachers with innovative skills to teach math and science in the classroom. In addition to New Jersey, Louisiana and Texas are sites for the 2009 Academy program. To date, more than 1,500 teachers have attended the Academy, impacting more than 30,000 students nationwide with the lessons and skills they learned.

"As a company that is at the forefront of technological innovation, we recognize the key role math and science play in regaining our nation's competitive standing," said Ken Cohen, Vice President, Exxon Mobil Corporation. "The curriculum is designed to deepen teachers understanding of these critical subjects, so they can captivate the interest of students at an early age in classrooms nationwide."

The Send My Teacher Web site was developed to engage students and teachers to learn more about the Mickelson ExxonMobil Teachers Academy. Students were encouraged to log on to the site to nominate their teacher to apply for a chance to attend the 2009 Academy. While on the site, students were able to send an e-card to their teacher to acknowledge their hard work in the classroom. The Web site received more than 40,000 visits since it launched and visitors viewed more than 171,000 pages on the site. More than 4,100 e-cards were sent between the launch of the Web site and Oct. 31 when applications closed.

The National Science Teachers Association and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics will convene a panel of math and science experts to evaluate the entries. The teachers selected to attend the Academy will be announced in February 2009.

About Exxon Mobil Corporation

Exxon Mobil Corporation and ExxonMobil Foundation, the primary philanthropic arm of Exxon Mobil Corporation in the United States, engage in a range of philanthropic activities that advance education, health and public policy 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 and combat malaria and other infectious diseases in developing countries. In 2007, together with its employees and retirees, Exxon Mobil Corporation, its divisions and affiliates, and ExxonMobil Foundation provided $207 million in contributions worldwide. Additional information on ExxonMobil's community partnerships and contributions programs is available at www.exxonmobil.com/community.

Phil and Amy Mickelson Foundation

Phil and his wife, Amy, teamed up with the ExxonMobil Foundation to develop a new and innovative program to improve science and math education in elementary schools. The program -- The Mickelson ExxonMobil Teachers Academy -- offers advanced training in science and mathematics instruction for elementary school teachers chosen from the communities around the country where Mickelson will be playing tournaments. Web site: www.PhilMickelson.com.

National Science Teachers Association

The National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), founded in 1944 and headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, is the largest organization in the world committed to promoting excellence and innovation in science teaching and learning for all. NSTA's current membership of more than 55,000 includes science teachers, science supervisors, administrators, scientists, business and industry representatives, and others involved in and committed to science education. Web site: www.nsta.org.

Math Solutions

Math Solutions, founded in 1984, has provided a wide range of professional development services and resource materials to more than 500 districts, in 47 states, helping more than 100,000 teachers and administrators across the country. Web site: www.mathsolutions.com.

    Contact:
              Matt Motley, Weber Shandwick
              mmotley@webershandwick.com
              469-375-0272

              Chris Welberry, ExxonMobil
              972-444-1107

SOURCE ExxonMobil

Released January 8, 2009