Engineering the Future
Bright futures STEM from educational opportunities in North Dakota! Marathon Oil believes the foundation of a strong community is a quality education system. As a part of our investment in the communities where we live and work, we’re always on the lookout for opportunities to form partnerships that bring impactful programs to our communities.
One example of a recently formed partnership is the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation , who we collaborated with to open high-tech science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) centers in North Dakota. The opening of the two STEM centers this week signified two “firsts” for these centers: Lincoln Elementary in Dickinson received the first STEM center in North Dakota, and Edwin Loe Elementary is now home to the first Ripken STEM center on an Indian reservation. Through these centers, students will be able to expand their horizons to include topics and careers of the future.
A group of volunteers from our Dickinson office assisted building out one of the STEM centers and then joined fellow employees on Thursday, Aug. 25 for the ribbon cutting and official opening of the STEM centers in Dickinson and New Town.
Marathon Oil employees help build out the final finishes of the first STEM center in North Dakota.
Marathon Oil employees join the ribbon cutting ceremony at the grand opening of the first STEM center in North Dakota.
We partnered with other energy companies alongside the Ripken Foundation to make this is a reality. Dickinson Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Marcus Lewton thanked the companies for their support and encouraged others to step up to ensure all Dickinson students have the same opportunities. “Today’s students need access to high-tech learning tools to understand the world they’re entering,” he said. “Engaged corporate partners, like Devon, Flogistix and Marathon Oil, are vital to providing unique opportunities like these STEM centers. We’re excited to watch our students explore and grow with these new tools and hope these offerings will be expanded to all Dickinson elementary schools.”
Students exploring the new STEM center at Lincoln Elementary in Dickinson, ND.
What are STEM Centers?
The new dedicated STEM centers will introduce students to science, technology, engineering and math; encouraging them to practice problem-solving skills and inspiring them to work toward promising careers. The centers include innovative learning equipment such as 3D printers, Snap Circuits, Ozobots and Bee-Bots. For each STEM center, the Ripken Foundation provides training, a curriculum guidebook and activity kits to enhance the tools. The organization has opened more than 200 STEM centers nationwide, helping strengthen America’s most underserved and distressed communities by supporting and advocating for children. Letters were sent home to families highlighting the new centers and the partners that made it happen.
