By Maddie Sims and Leanne Nguyen | Staff Writers
Since 1903, the ExxonMobil corporation has reported investiture of funds into the Southeast Texas community of nearly $200,000, heavily concentrated into education resources for Beaumont ISD and students in STEM programs, as well as support for a host of local nonprofits.
Leading into graduation season, the company has been spotted throughout the Beaumont Charlton-Pollard neighborhood, bequeathing checks and opportunities for learning and career advancement.
For the first time, students from Beaumont ISD were able to take part in the STEM Academy program presented by Exxon Mobil in collaboration with Space Center Houston. Nearly 120 fifth grade and seventh grade students from Amelia Elementary, Charlton-Pollard Elementary, and Pietszch-MacArthur Elementary and Middle School participated.
The STEM Academy, a program ExxonMobil reported as exclusive to students at ExxonMobil Beaumont partner schools through a $150,000 contribution from ExxonMobil, provided students an opportunity to visit Space Center Houston four times over the course of the spring semester to experience hands-on STEM skill building through experimentation with engineering challenges and guided activities focused on space science, the basics of robotics, coding, and software applications, among other topics.
ExxonMobil Beaumont Complex Mechanical Division Manager Diana Yetman said plans for the program started last fall during discussion on how ExxonMobil and Beaumont ISD could work together to spark creativity within the children in the local community.
“To be able to see them one day (working in) engineering positions…(as) scientists (or) mathematicians, we would love to be able to see that,” Yetman said. “I hope they had fun, because it is through fun that we have learning, and when we have learning, it sparks more curiosity and creativity.”
Yetman also remarked on the importance of accessibility to STEM education.
“...It is the foundation of the future that we build together…innovators and leaders of tomorrow are sitting in classrooms in places like Beaumont right now. We are proud to support our nearby neighbors in obtaining access and skills they will need to pursue meaningful careers,” she said.
The principals of each school also spoke positively about the program’s benefits.
“I’m so proud of seeing where this program…this entire initiative, has grown,” Amelia Elementary School Principal Fred Owens said. “We’re so excited for our students.”
Charlton-Pollard Elementary School Principal Belinda Taylor emphasized the importance of STEM education and the role it plays for preparing students for college careers and life beyond the classroom.
“Providing students with opportunities to participate in STEM programs and activities helps cultivate curiosity, perseverance, communication and leadership,” she added. “These experiences expose students to future career pathways while fostering a deeper understanding of how science, technology, engineering, and mathematics impact everyday life and shape the future of our communities and our world.”
Pietzsch-MacArthur Middle School Principal Karolarnica Adams added how life altering the program’s experience is for BISD students.
“This is not the end; it is just the beginning. I see future astronauts. I see future engineers and future mathematicians,” she said.
Space Center Houston Chief Learning Officer Daniel Newmyer said Space Center Houston looks to inspire the future through their STEM pathway program.
“What we want to show students is that it doesn’t matter what you do. If you work hard, you work well on a team and you collaborate, you can have big dreams. You can solve big problems,” he said. “We see that in space exploration, so we’re excited to bring that to the students of Beaumont to say, ‘Hey, you can achieve great things, whether it’s in space exploration or in oil and gas or any industry that they find exciting and passionate.’”
Additionally, programs like the STEM academy give students the chance to see successful people that can make conise “look and like them,” Newmyer added.
“When you look at space exploration problems, they seem unsolvable, but then you have a whole bunch of normal people that are really just good at their job who work well together and achieve these big things. When students see that and get to be part of it, and get to apply the learning they do in the classroom in a great environment like Space Center Houston, it changes who they are, changes how they think, and they get to do great things.”
Supporting health
Additionally, May 12, ExxonMobil donated $250,000 to Legacy Community Health to support community health initiatives in Beaumont’s Charlton-Pollard and South Park neighborhoods.
“$250,000 goes a very long way, and we are so grateful to drive healthy changes across communities of South Park and Charlton-Pollard,” Legacy Community Health CEO Robert Palussek said. “These neighborhoods are deeply important to us because, as it stands right now, one out of three patients in these communities that we serve lives right here.
“This investment (will) help us continue expanding access to quality health care and critical support services where they need it the most. Through this partnership, we will increase outreach efforts and community events to better connect families to the care.”
Palussek emphasized that the donation will help support Little Readers, an initiative that aids in increasing literacy rates in children by providing free books, and to collaborate with Beaumont ISD schools in the surrounding area to keep hygiene closets stocked and available for students.
Additionally, the funding will also help to expand awareness and access to pharmacy services in the communities where pharmacies are not always easily and readily available, including educating patients about pharmacies and free home delivery services.
ExxonMobil Beaumont Integrated Complex Manager Phil Matherne highlighted that having access to “good healthcare can lead to futures for these communities.”
“Legacy Community Health plays an important role in supporting individuals and families across Southeast Texas by helping expand access to health and wellness resources,” Matherne said. “When somebody has access to good healthcare, it’s exponential in their ability to achieve something in life.”
