ExxonMobil Employees Spark Girls’ Interest in Engineering
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Introduce a Girl to Engineering program inspires students to
“Be an Engineer” -
Employees lead interactive experiments and engage with more than 2,000
students at company facilities around the country -
Associated with Girl Day, an initiative designed to show the
collaborative and life-changing work of engineers
IRVING, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)–ExxonMobil
is inspiring girls to consider careers in science, technology,
engineering and math (STEM) through its 13th annual Introduce
a Girl to Engineering Day program. This year’s program is a
component of the company’s broader “Be
an Engineer” initiative and will engage more than 2,000
middle-school girls around the country.
“Many girls may not realize that engineering is an exciting and
rewarding career option,” said Ben Soraci, ExxonMobil’s general manager
of public and government affairs. “ExxonMobil’s Introduce a Girl to
Engineering program is designed to showcase the breadth and
diversity of engineering careers and inspire girls to be innovators of
the future.”
This week and over the course of the next several months, students at 11
ExxonMobil and XTO Energy sites around the country will participate in a
variety of hands-on activities designed to ignite curiosity in STEM
careers. Activities include demonstrating the energy industry’s use of
3D imaging technology to search for oil and natural gas, water
purification experiments, and exploring the science and chemistry behind
everyday consumer products. ExxonMobil employees will guide students
through the activities, helping to sharpen their STEM skills. Since the
program’s inception more than a decade ago, 11,000 students have
participated in activities conducted at company facilities or as part of
classroom demonstrations.
ExxonMobil launched its “Be an Engineer” program in 2014 to highlight
real-life engineers behind some of the world’s greatest technical
achievements and to encourage students to choose related careers. The
campaign has won several awards, including the 2014 Ragan PR Daily CSR
award for cause marketing, and has generated more than 17 million online
engagements.
Introduce a Girl to Engineering, one of ExxonMobil’s many
initiatives to attract more young people to STEM careers, particularly
girls and underrepresented minorities, is being conducted in concert
with Girl Day, an initiative founded by DiscoverE
designed to demonstrate the collaborative and life-changing work of
engineers. While employment overall is expected to grow just shy of 10
percent by 2018, STEM-related jobs are predicted to grow by 17 percent.
Programs that encourage interest in STEM fields are crucial in meeting
the needs of the STEM sector as it continues to expand, as well as
providing young people with meaningful and well-paying jobs.
About ExxonMobil
Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM), the largest publicly traded
international oil and gas company, uses technology and innovation to
help meet the world’s growing energy needs. ExxonMobil holds an
industry-leading inventory of resources, is the largest refiner and
marketer of petroleum products and its chemical company is one of the
largest in the world. ExxonMobil engages in a range of philanthropic
activities that advance education, with a focus on math and science in
the U.S., promote women as catalysts for development, and combat
malaria. In 2014, together with its employees and retirees, ExxonMobil,
its divisions and affiliates, and the ExxonMobil Foundation provided
$279 million in contributions worldwide. Additional information on
ExxonMobil’s community partnerships and contribution programs is
available at www.exxonmobil.com/community.
About DiscoverE
DiscoverE, formerly National Engineers Week, was founded in 1951 by the
National Society of Professional Engineers and 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. DiscoverE 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.discovere.org.
Contacts
ExxonMobil
Media Relations, 972-444-1107
