SOWELA Receives $100,000 to Fund STEM Energy Professional Development

SOWELA Technical Community College received $100,000 from the Future Use of Energy in Louisiana (FUEL). In collaboration with ExxonMobil and Allen Parish School Board, this initiative will support professional development training in rural school districts. SOWELA was one of 13 Louisiana programs to receive funding to advance energy talent development.

“Providing instructional opportunities to train future educators in the STEM fields is critical to the continued success of providing educational training opportunities to our students,” said SOWELA Chancellor Dr. Neil Aspinwall. “This is another great example of education and industry partnering to help provide the skills and tools needed to prepare our students for future work opportunities in the always changing and expanding STEM fields.  We really appreciate ExxonMobil for their willingness to invest in talent development for our educators and Allen Parish School Board for their support with the training.”

Funding for the SOWELA program provides 40 educators with a one-week STEM (Science Technology Engineering Math) summer professional development camp at SOWELA Oakdale. Middle and high school teachers throughout the six-parish area and across all disciplines will explore principles in project-based learning and STEM.

Participants will take on the role of a student in completing an energy-focused project. The training will culminate with an educator showcase where teachers present their energy research projects. They will also customize lesson plans, attend workshops, strengthen their teaching and leadership skills and build their professional network.

“We care about our communities, and that starts in the classroom. A good education sets the foundation for the future, and we’re excited to help students get ready for the jobs of tomorrow,” said Justin Carr, CCUS asset manager at ExxonMobil. “By teaming up with SOWELA, the Allen Parish School Board, and local teachers, we’re helping bring real-world skills into the classroom. We’re proud to support students and teachers as they learn, grow, and take on new challenges — together, we’re making a difference.”

FUEL is a collaborative initiative bringing together universities, community and technical colleges, state agencies, industry partners and capital investors. With $160 million in funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) through the NSF Engines program, the largest and most competitive award ever given by the agency, and an additional $67.5 million from the Louisiana Economic Development, FUEL's mission is to drive the state's energy innovation forward.