Chevron is investing $1.5 million in various educational programs throughout Kern County.
As part of National Engineers Week, Chevron is giving the money to STEM classes and programs. "STEM" stands for science, technology, engineering, and math.
Local students and recipients of grant money gathered Tuesday at Bakersfield College to display some of the work they're already doing.
Most of the grant money, a little over $900,000 is going to Cal State Bakersfield. Some of the things they plan to do with the money include: creating a bachelor's degree for engineering sciences and funding summer research programs for high school students in the area.
A Chevron representative says the goal is to get more students interested in pursuing careers in one of the STEM fields.
"Well, the United States, we're losing our competitive advantage so it's really important to get students to realize that. These careers are feasible, they can happen. We just need to invest and keep on investing in those partnerships locally. It takes all that. It takes the community to realize that we need to make this a priority and we hope to continue that momentum," said Adam Alvidrez with Chevron.
Of the remaining money, about $100,000 is going to BC. The remaining $500,000 is going to various high schools and middle schools in Kern County to support their engineering and technology programs.
Chevron estimates more than 20,000 students will benefit from this grant money. And, close to 400 teachers will receive aid to help them develop STEM-based classroom projects.
