Energy industry lends hand to STEM initiative
The oil and natural gas industry is helping to lead a technological initiative at elementary schools throughout the Oklahoma City Public Schools district.
On Monday, the Oklahoma Energy Resources Board and several oil- and natural gasrelated companies announced they are helping to financially support nearly half of 33 new STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) learning centers that opened in the schools this year.
The OE RB contributed $300,000 — the most it has donated for a single proje ct—to support 10 of the centers. Ascent Resources, Chesapeake Energy, Devon Energy, Kimray and Reign Capital Holdings together contributed an additional $150,000 to support five others.
The centers feature curriculum, tools and equipment developed by the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation, which launched its STEM program in 2016 by opening 10 centers t hat provided underserved elementary school kids in disadvantaged neighborhoods exposure to science.
This year, the foundation
has STEM centers operating in 55 schools and youth-serving organizations throughout the country, including the 33 in Oklahoma City.
Generally, the centers provide students with hands-on experience and learning that helps them develop problemsolving skills through science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
The Ripken Foundation not only provides the curriculum, tools and equipment. It also provides educators with ongoing programming and technical support and gives students at the centers the opportunity to participate in its national STEM challenge.
J oe Rossow, t he Ri pken Foundation's executive vice president of operations and programs, said the foundation's goal is to expose as many elementary students as it can to science, technology, engineering and math, particularly ones who can't access magnet schools specializing in those instructional areas.
What is so great about the Oklahoma City program, he said, is that each of its 33 centers will have the same curriculum, equipment and tools.
“So if a child moves from building to building, there is a familiarity there that will enable the child to be successful,” he said. “It is a really big expansion for us.”
Rossow said the partnership announced Monday also is different because of the multiple partners it involves, such as the Ripken Foundation, the OERB, the individual oil and natural gas firms and the Foundation for Oklahoma City Public Schools.
“Everyone is saying we want to make sure we have accessible programs for all kids,” he said. “This could be a successful model for other cities.”
In a release announcing its financial support for the program, Mike McDonald, OERB's chairman, stated the oil and gas industry is “100% committed to supporting our state's future leaders.”
“The STEM Centers we funded will provide teachers with the tools they need to educate young Oklahomans about the important fields of science, technology, engineering and math, which are not only critical to our industry but to the future of our country,” he said.
OERB also works with other organizations, museums and universities to bring interactive science, technology, engineering and math exhibits and activities to communities across the state.
At the Ripken Foundation STEM Centers, OERB volunteers will work with students as well. Educational leaders applauded the support.
“The opportunities being provided to the students of Oklahoma City Public Schools through the oil and natural gas industry's generous support are nothing short of transformational,” Mary Melon, Foundation for Oklahoma City Public Schools' president, said in a statement.