Phillips 66 Lake Charles Manufacturing Complex donated $30,000 to the Southwest Louisiana Alliance Foundation to be used for a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) program that began this year in two Calcasieu Parish Schools: the College Street Career and Technical Center and the Westlake High School Career and Technical Center.  Each school received 15 robots and additional sensors for each robot to expand its functions.  One teacher from each school traveled to the Carnegie Mellon Robotics Academy in Pittsburgh, PA, to attend a one week training session on the curriculum and hardware to effectively deliver this new program.

Representatives from Phillips 66 and the SWLA Economic Development Alliance visited with the teachers and students recently to see the program in action.

First picture: College Street Career & Technical Center students with Tony McCardle (CPSB Director Career & Technical Education), Karl Bruchhaus (CPSB Superintendent), Megan Hartman (Phillips 66 Public Relations Director), Jerry Baus (Computer Service Technician Teacher), and Morgan Turpin (Alliance SWLA Foundation Director).

Second Picture: Westlake High School Career & Technical Center students with Richard G. Harbison (Phillips 66 Plant Manager), Megan Hartman, Mike Richard (Computer Service Technician Teacher), Morgan Turpin, and Tony McCardle.

“We are grateful for the opportunities that arise through relationships with community partners like Phillips 66. The addition of this STEM program to our Career and Technical Centers will further interest students in pursuing technological careers such as coding and robotics, which can lead them to future careers right here in Southwest Louisiana. This funding will directly impact the lives of our students as we jointly prepare them to become the workforce of tomorrow,” said Superintendent Karl Bruchhaus.

“As a result of this grant, our Phillips 66 Lake Charles Manufacturing Complex – in partnership with the Southwest Louisiana Alliance for Economic Development and the Calcasieu Parish School Board – is able to assist in developing an exciting new program for career and technical students.  We hope it will pique their interest in the wide range of career opportunities in our local refineries, manufacturing facilities and supportive service providers.  This educational initiative is one way we can align our key company values to improve lives where we live and work,” said Richard G. Harbison, Phillips 66 Lake Charles Manufacturing Complex Plant Manager.

Coding and robotics are basic workforce skills needed to attract and sustain information technology businesses to our region.  By having this program in the K-12 school system, our organizations are preparing our next generation of workers with foundational skills that will make them employable in careers with jobs that have yet to be developed.   This program is designed to serve a total of 72 students during the school year.

About Phillips 66

Phillips 66 is a diversified energy manufacturing and logistics company. With a portfolio of Midstream, Chemicals, Refining, and Marketing and Specialties businesses, the company processes, transports, stores and markets fuels and products globally. Phillips 66 Partners, the company's master limited partnership, is an integral asset in the portfolio. Headquartered in Houston, the company has 14,600 employees committed to safety and operating excellence. Phillips 66 had $54 billion of assets as of Dec. 31, 2017. For more information, visit www.phillips66.com or follow us on Twitter @Phillips66Co.