For the seventh consecutive year, ExxonMobil has provided support for K-12 students to learn about the natural and applied sciences as participants in summer programs at Hope College.
A $7,000 grant to the college will support Summer Step Up, a four-week science and engineering program. Summer Step Up supplements the academic-year mentoring program for at-risk middle school students. The award was presented at Hope on Friday, March 11, by David Handy, a territory manager with ExxonMobil and Abigail Albers, representing J&H Oil, a local ExxonMobil branded fuels marketing distributor.
Hope College has been offering educational outreach programs for K-12 students for more than 20 years through programs such as the Tod Gugino Summer Science Camps. This year’s award will strengthen the programs offered through Hope’s new Center for Exploratory Learning. The Center for Exploratory Learning, or ExploreHope, provides innovative, experienced-based learning for pre-professional students in the context of K-12 outreach programs. The goal of the Step Up program is to provide students with the academic and emotional support they need to succeed in school and reach their educational and life goals.