BP America has awarded Xavier University of Louisiana (XULA) a $750,000 grant to establish the BP STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) Summer Institute to include the following programs: MathStar, BioStar, ChemStar, Louisiana Engineering Advancement Program and Computer Science.
BP's portfolio of US business functions is extremely broad, encompassing virtually all aspects of the company's global business. By investing in a diverse range of energy sources – from traditional oil and natural gas production to alternative energy – BP is helping meet America's energy needs today while ensuring a more secure energy future.
And, through its grants to XULA, BP is investing in the future of America's youth.
The grant, distributed over a three-year period, will allow the existing "Star" and LEAP programs to sustain and enhance offerings and support the development of a new summer program in the Computer Science Department, while also funding ongoing recruitment and retention efforts.
"Since coming to our aid in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, BP America has supported Xavier math and science programs every year," said Xavier University of Louisiana President Dr. Norman C. Francis. "The establishment of the BP STEM Summer Institute comes at a critical time, and the Xavier community is delighted to have them on board. We are extremely grateful to BP America for its continued investment in our educational mission."
Francis, himself a graduate of XULA, is the longest tenured college president in the US. He has served as president of the university since 1968 and is a nationally recognized leader in higher education. He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in December 2006 and has been cited as one of the nation's most effective college presidents in a survey of his peers.
For more than 25 of those years, XULA, under Francis's leadership, has provided summer programs to promote academic excellence by contributing to a solid foundation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics courses, as well as analytical reasoning and leadership.
The university believes middle and high school-aged students who participate in such programs are further encouraged to pursue undergraduate and graduate studies in these areas in the future. These vital programs have positioned more than 7,500 students to excel in high school science and mathematics, as well as prepare them for college undergraduate studies with a focus in these areas.
And, if Xavier happens to be the university of choice for some of these students, they will be in good company.
According to the US Department of Education, XULA continues to rank first nationally in the number of African American students earning undergraduate degrees in biology, chemistry and physics.
Recognizing the importance of math and science to various industries and the university's desire to enable students, the BP Foundation granted Xavier $150,000 in 2010. The BP Math and Science Initiative secured a three-year commitment from 30 students to participate in Xavier's "Star" programs. In addition to the traditional curriculum offered in these programs, this cohort of students has been introduced to petro-technical studies.
"We recognize that Xavier's math and science camps begin the career journey for many bright, young future doctors, scientists and engineers," said BP America Government and Public Affairs Vice President Crystal Ashby. "BP is pleased to expand its commitment to Xavier's summer education camps and honored to be the lead corporate sponsor for these prestigious programs."
Xavier University of Louisiana is a private, co-educational institution offering a comprehensive liberal arts program and professional programs, including 38 undergraduate majors, five master's degree programs and a doctor of pharmacy program. Xavier is the only historically Black, Catholic university in the United States and draws students from 39 states, Washington, D.C., Guam, the Virgin Islands and 7 foreign countries.
