A colorful circuit board with student's hands working to manipulate it into working.

The people of Oklahoma Oil & Natural Gas donate funds to support STEM education access

Thursday, November 21, 2024

Media Contact: Desa James | Communications Coordinator | 405-744-2669 | desa.james@okstate.edu

Oklahoma State University’s College of Engineering, Architecture, and Technology has received a donation from the Oklahoma Energy Resources Board on behalf of the people of Oklahoma Oil & Natural Gas to further its commitment to STEM education.

The people of Oklahoma Oil & Natural Gas has pledged the remaining funds to reach CEAT’s crowdfunding goal of $7,500, through the university’s interactive platform, PhilanthroPete. These funds will be instrumental in supporting underprivileged students’ participation in CEAT STEM camps, as well as aiding the program in purchasing essential materials and supplies.

OERB Executive Director Mindy Stitt expressed excitement about supporting CEAT’s outreach efforts.

“The people of Oklahoma Oil & Natural Gas are thrilled to contribute to this initiative. We see a strong alignment between our mission and CEAT’s outreach goals, especially in empowering young minds through STEM education,” Stitt said.

“We’re eager to engage our student education team to explore further partnerships, such as STEM nights, teacher workshops and resource-sharing opportunities.”

A CEAT student instructing young students how to build a robotic vehicle during a STEM event. — K-12 students learning STEM from a CEAT student.

With a strong history of supporting education and environmental stewardship, OERB was founded in 1993 to leverage the strength of the Oklahoma oil and natural gas industry. Since then, OERB has reclaimed over 20,000 historic well sites and provided millions of dollars in free classroom resources for Oklahoma educators. Through the OERB, Oklahoma Oil and Natural Gas has set its mission to promote energy efficiency, support environmentally responsible practices and provide educational resources and remediation services across the state.

The Oklahoma Oil & Natural Gas donation will be directed toward providing financial assistance to students in need, giving them the opportunity to participate in OSU’s K-12 STEM camps. These programs provide students with hands-on experiences in fields like engineering, technology and applied sciences. Additionally, this donation will aid the program’s ability to purchase the necessary materials to provide interactive and inspiring STEM camps for all children.

“The support from the people of Oklahoma Oil & Natural Gas is a testament to the impact we can achieve when we work together,” Dr. Jovette Dew, director of K-12 STEM programs, said.

“This partnership not only advances CEAT’s STEM mission but also amplifies the broader goal of fostering the next generation of innovators and problem-solvers in Oklahoma.”

A K-12 student watching something in the distance with an expression of amazement. — A K-12 student watches as her catapult launches her ping pong ball across the classroom.

For more information about CEAT’s K-12 STEM camps and resources click here. You can also find information about OERB’s educational programs here.