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On March 9, a new computer lab was unveiled at Richmond High School in Richmond, Calif., as part of the school's engineering academy.

"Before, this was just another classroom," said Duane Crum, state leader in California for Project Lead the Way, which creates innovative learning opportunities for science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) curriculum in middle and high schools across the nation. "Now we have teachers that have been trained to teach these engineering courses, and we have students that were talking about dropping out of school who are now re-energized and see themselves graduating and going on to an engineering career."

Introducing Teens to Engineering

At Richmond High School in California, budding engineers gain hands-on experience in a Chevron-sponsored lab. Many of Chevron's investments in education are focused on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). As such, Chevron partnered with Project Lead the Way—a leading provider of STEM programs for middle and high school students in the United States—to help build an engineering program at Richmond High and 14 other California schools in communities where we operate.

Video Transcript (28 KB)

The lab will enhance the school's engineering program, which uses Project Lead the Way curriculum and includes 35 new computers equipped with software designed to develop students' skills in engineering principles and engineering design. The computer lab was made possible through partnerships between education nonprofit Project Lead the Way, West Contra Costa Unified School District, the City of Richmond and Chevron.

"The jobs of the future are going to require new technical skill sets and we want to play a role in preparing California's students for those opportunities," said Mike Coyle, general manager of Chevron's Richmond refinery. "Our work with the City of Richmond, West Contra Costa Unified School District and Project Lead the Way aims to help more of California's students to excel in STEM curriculum and pursue careers in those fields."

Chevron has helped Project Lead the Way implement programs in 15 schools throughout the state to create unique learning opportunities that get students excited about STEM education. In the 2010-2011 school year, Chevron helped Project Lead the Way bring engineering curriculum to 850 additional California students and plans to expand programs to more schools next year.