Borger, Texas Workshop Highlights
On March 11, ConocoPhillips and the National Energy Education Development (NEED) Project hosted their second energy education workshop in Borger, Texas. Forty-five K-12 teachers from the region, including one from New Mexico, participated in the day-long workshop that supplied teac hers with energy information, curriculum materials and science kits to pass on to their students.
Two ConocoPhillips employees joined the teachers to discuss local operations and answer energy-related questions. Mike Fagnant, senior principal engineer with the Borger Refinery, discussed energy security and talked with teachers about the company’s strategic alliance with Tyson Foods to produce and market the next generation of renewable diesel fuel using by-product animal fat as a refining feedstock. Fagnant taught teachers about emissions reduction and explained the company’s chemical business – Chevron Phillips Chemical Company – which operates a plant in Borger.
Teachers were eager to learn about available careers in the industry. Craig Santarpia, a ConocoPhillips facilities engineering supervisor, highlighted the many career opportunities for new college graduates and emphasized the future demand for petroleum and electrical engineers.
After learning about energy and the industry from ConocoPhillips employees, the teachers learned about the science behind energy through interactive activities led by two NEED instructors. At the end of the workshop each teacher left with more than $500 worth of energy curriculum materials, science experiments and student energy information books to improve their students’ energy knowledge.
ConocoPhillips will host a total of 24 energy workshops across the United Stated during 2008.
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