Energy Transfer awards $5,000 grant to school STEAM program

JACKSON TOWNSHIP, PENNSYLVANIA — Jackson Elementary School held a special assembly today to celebrate a $5,000 grant from Energy Transfer that will be used to purchase supplementary resources and lab supplies for students. The donation is in support of the school’s Inventionland program, a STEAM initiative designed to provide rich experiential learning opportunities and hands-on exploration for students within each of the STEAM disciplines.

STEAM — science, technology, engineering, arts and math — programs provide students with critical thinking skills for future jobs, school Principal Christine Long said.

“STEAM foundations lie in inquiry, critical thinking and process-based learning,” she said. “These core principles are exceptionally important for students to understand well beyond the classroom. We thank Energy Transfer for their generous donation for the benefit of our students.”

Energy Transfer presented a check for $5,000 to the school as part of its community outreach efforts associated with its Mariner East pipeline system. Company representatives Adam Thomas, Senior Project Engineer, and Christopher Koop, Public Affairs Specialist, spoke to students during the assembly about their experience in the energy industry. ​ 

“Our hope is that this gift will be able to help inspire some young children today and hopefully nudge them toward the engineering field,” Energy Transfer representative Adam Thomas said. “Engineering skills are projected to be in high demand for decades.”

Company representative Christopher Koop added, “This is a great opportunity to teach students about the many uses of petroleum in our lives and the many jobs that the industry sustains. I’m very proud to work for a company that seeks out opportunities to invest in students and the communities where we operate.”

Local officials including state Rep. Frank Burns and township supervisors were on hand Friday for the check presentation.

“Having a workforce that can perform the jobs of the future means helping students obtain the skills needed to fill those jobs,” Burns said. “I’ve long supported the commonwealth’s ongoing education efforts to promote science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics. Today’s generous $5,000 grant from Energy Transfer will enhance the STEAM offerings at Jackson Elementary School, and is much appreciated.”

Long said the STEAM program will help drive the elementary school to the next level, providing rich learning experiences for students that will translate into skills for long-term careers.

“We want to prepare our students for those future jobs that haven’t even been created yet, and Energy Transfer’s support of this initiative will certainly help our school to be able to do just that,” she said.

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