Free Camps Help Students Have Fun While Learning Math and Science
HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ExxonMobil, in conjunction with Dr. Bernard Harris and the Harris Foundation, announced today the ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Summer Science Camp program will expand to 30 residential camps and include participation by 11 new universities.
The two-week camps are designed for under-privileged middle school students across the country and provide a fun-filled setting for them to gain a deeper understanding of science, technology, engineering and mathematics and to promote exciting careers in science.
Dr. Harris, a former NASA astronaut and the first African American to walk in space, created the camps four years ago with support from ExxonMobil. More than 1,500 students will take part in this year’s camps and explore themes such as “Mission to Mars,” “Revolutionary Robotics,” and “Energy and Motion.” The camps are free and all student expenses are paid for by the program.
“The success of this program is due to the support from ExxonMobil and our partnership with renowned universities across the country,” said Dr. Harris. “It’s rewarding to realize how many kids we can reach by providing a new and fun experience involving science while raising awareness about math and science careers.”
Rex W. Tillerson, chairman and chief executive officer of Exxon Mobil Corporation, said the camps help inspire young minds.
“ExxonMobil is dedicated to supporting programs that generate interest in math and science education and provide career options for students,” said Tillerson. “Our country needs future scientists and engineers and these camps are an investment in that future.”
At camp, students attend daily classes in natural science, engineering, mathematics and technology, taught by faculty of participating universities and secondary classroom teachers, who also receive professional development training. Activities include classroom study, experiments, individual, team and group projects, weekly field excursions and guest speakers who motivate students to fulfill their dreams.
To apply to attend the ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Summer Science Camps, students must be academically qualified, genuinely interested in mathematics and science and be recommended by two teachers. More information about student eligibility and selection criteria can be found at the ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Summer Science Camp website at www.theharrisfoundation.org.
Numerous studies show that the United States faces a critical shortage of engineers, scientists and other workers in math and science. ExxonMobil is supporting programs and organizations that focus on improving mathematics and science education. The company also sponsors programs to increase the number of highly trained mathematics and science teachers, provide professional development and training opportunities for teachers, and attract students to pursue science- and math-related courses in middle school, high school and college.
| This year’s university line up for the ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Summer Science Camps includes |
| (* new programs): |
| *University of New Mexico (Albuquerque, NM) |
| *Arizona State University (Tempe, AZ) |
| Bowie State University (Bowie, MD) |
| Central State University (Wilberforce, OH) |
| *Delaware State University (Dover, DE) |
| *Georgia Institute of Technology (Atlanta, GA) |
| Howard University (Washington, DC) |
| *Indiana University (Bloomington, IN) |
| Lamar University (Beaumont, TX) |
| New Jersey Institute of Technology (Newark, NJ) |
| Northeastern University (Boston, MA) |
| *Northern Illinois University (DeKalb, IL) |
| Oregon State University (Corvallis, OR) |
| Prairie View A&M University (Prairie View, TX) |
| Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (Troy, NY) |
| Southern University (Baton Rouge, LA) |
| Southwestern Oklahoma State University (Weatherford, OK) |
| Temple University (Philadelphia, PA) |
| *Trine University (Angola, IN) |
| *University of Arkansas at Little Rock (Little Rock, AR) |
| University of Houston (Houston, TX) |
| *University of Nebraska-Lincoln (Lincoln, NE) |
| University of Oklahoma (Norman, OK) |
| University of Southern California (Los Angeles, CA) |
| University of Texas at Arlington (Arlington, TX) |
| *University of Texas-Pan American (Edinburg, TX) |
| University of Texas at San Antonio (San Antonio, TX) |
| University of Virginia (Charlottesville, VA) |
| Washington University at St. Louis (St. Louis, MO) |
| * Worcester Polytechnic Institute (Worcester, MA) |
About ExxonMobil Foundation
ExxonMobil Foundation is the primary philanthropic arm of the Exxon Mobil Corporation in the United States. The Foundation and the Corporation engage 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 and combat malaria and other infectious diseases in developing countries. In 2008, together with its employees and retirees, Exxon Mobil Corporation, its divisions and affiliates, and ExxonMobil Foundation provided $225 million in contributions worldwide, of which more than $89 million was dedicated to education. Additional information on ExxonMobil’s community partnerships and contributions programs is available at www.exxonmobil.com/community.
About The Harris Foundation
Founded in 1998, The Harris Foundation is a 501 (c) (3), non-profit organization based in Houston, Texas, whose overall mission is to invest in community-based initiatives to support education, health and wealth. The foundation supports programs that empower individuals, in particular minorities and economically and/or socially disadvantaged, to recognize their potential and pursue their dreams.
The Education Mission of the Harris Foundation is to enable youth to develop and achieve their full potential through the support of social, recreational, and educational programs for grades K-12. Through three primary initiatives— The DREAM Tour, the ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Summer Science Camp and Dare to Dream—the foundation encourages math and science education, motivates youth to stay in school, fosters youth leadership and citizenship, as well as instills the values of responsibility, fairness and respect.
The Harris Foundation believes that students can be prepared now for the careers of the future through a structured education program and the use of positive role models. To date, more than 10,000 K-12 students have participated and benefited from THF programs. www.theharrisfoundation.org
