diversity and international initiatives

Cynthia Reyna, 2008 recipient of the National Youth Award in Engineering and Mathematics from the Hispanic Heritage Foundation

ExxonMobil works to ensure that access to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education is made available, including specific programs aimed at women and minorities in the United States. In 2007, we supported, among others, the Hispanic Heritage Foundation by sponsoring the first Hispanic Heritage Award for Math and Science, increasing our total support of the Foundation to $1.2 million. We continued to be longtime supporters of the United Negro College Fund, American Indian College Fund, National Society of Black Engineers, Society of Women Engineers, Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, and the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering (NACME). The Corporation also funded programs at universities and national associations to increase the enrollment of women and minority students in geoscience degree programs.

Learn more about our other education efforts.

International Education Initiatives
Our worldwide operations expose us to diverse educational systems and conditions. These range from modern technology-based classrooms to basic infrastructure often in countries where education is not easily accessible. ExxonMobil strives to meet educational needs that are specific to individual countries, and in the developing world we focus on improving infrastructure. For example:

Geoscience Learning Center, Kazakhstan
We helped establish a Geoscience Learning Center at the Kazakh National Technical University (KazNTU). The Center provides resources and learning opportunities, including presentations by experts from ExxonMobil. This helps prepare students enrolled in the geoscience program to work in the oil and gas industry. From 2004 to 2007, ExxonMobil Kazakhstan Inc. provided monthly scholarships to 14 students studying geoscience at KazNTU, three of whom have also been offered summer internships.

Career Counseling Unit, Qatar
We have supported projects targeting low-income families and community development through the Social Development Center since 2001. In 2007, the ExxonMobil Foundation contributed $300,000 to finance the Center’s Career Counseling Unit, which provides career guidance and skills training to high-school and university students. Career counselors help students explore their career interests and prepare for the job market.

INJAZ — Junior Achievement Worldwide Affiliate, Egypt
NJAZ teaches young Egyptian students how business helps improve a community’s prosperity and inspires them to become entrepreneurs. Throughout the academic year, INJAZ reaches more than 13,000 students, mainly from underprivileged communities. In 2007, 36 ExxonMobil Egypt employees volunteered to help teach the INJAZ curriculum and shared their professional experience with youth at local schools and national universities by teaching practical skills on how to succeed in the private sector.

Sriracha Refinery Scholarship Fund, Thailand
Children in many rural areas are unable to complete 12 years of formal education due to the economic burden on their families. In an effort to provide less fortunate children with the education they deserve, our Sriracha refinery created a scholarship fund sponsored by ExxonMobil with additional donations from ExxonMobil employees. Since the fund’s inception in 1998, almost 800 students have been able to pursue their education, and in 2007 alone, 190 students received funding.