ConocoPhillips believes that the best way to prepare a community for its future is to equip its youth with practical skills to help them achieve their full potential, which is why nearly half of our annual contributions are directed toward education and youth programs. By supporting these programs around the world we help communities strengthen their economic base and train their future workforce. In 2006, ConocoPhillips provided more than $22 million to support educational programs.
 In 2008, ConocoPhillips announced the company's partnership with the National Energy Education Development (NEED) project to sponsor teacher workshops across the country. These one-day sessions are open to K-12 teachers and are designed to offer training and resources on key energy topics. By fostering energy education and beginning a dialogue in classrooms across the United States, ConocoPhillips hopes to instill in the country’s youth not only a desire to learn, but also a desire to be proactive about energy issues.
The company’s involvement with K-12 schools helps to provide a solid foundation for youth’s success. We build this foundation by acting as positive role models and volunteering in schools around the world. ConocoPhillips also develops programs that instill our core SPIRIT values in students by teaching them about innovation and environmental responsibility so they can become leaders and innovators in their schools and in the workplace.
ConocoPhillips continues its commitment to education by providing financial assistance and volunteering time to college students, ensuring they are fully equipped for successful careers upon graduation. We go one step further to ensure the longevity and integrity of accredited K-12 schools, colleges and universities by providing matching gifts to schools who receive financial donations from employees, retirees and directors.
National Energy Education Development (NEED) Partnership
On January 31, 2008, ConocoPhillips and NEED began one-day energy classroom workshops in 24 cities across 15 states. The launch took place in Golden, Colo. The purpose of these energy workshops is to:
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Create awareness in America’s classrooms of today’s energy challenges and the importance of using energy wisely.
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Provide teachers with tools about the science of energy, energy sources and energy efficiency, among other topics.
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Supplement educators’ training with professional development and provide them with resources they can use in their classrooms, such as standards-based, grade-appropriate energy curriculum sets and hands-on student kits.
In addition to classroom workshops, ConocoPhillips will sponsor training opportunities for educators through workshops at national and regional educator conferences throughout 2008. For more information, visit ConocoPhillips' Energy Education Program Web site.
K-12Rice University's Elementary Model Science Lab
In 2008, ConocoPhillips funded the expansion of Rice University's Elementary Model Science Lab (REMSL). This nationally renowned program promotes science education by training elementary school teachers to deepen their professional knowledge, explore the latest science concepts and learn new teaching methods aimed at students in kindergarten through fifth grade. This unique professional development opportunity well help teachers empower their students to discover and enjoy science.
The program is guided by research showing that if students do not develop an interest in science by the fifth grade, they are unlikely to develop an interest in science at all. Achievement scores for the students of the REMSL-trained teachers have increased significantly -- as high as 41 percent. ConocoPhillips Rice Elementary Model Science Lab will serve the needs of more than 80 Houston-area teachers during the 2008-2009 school year.
Teaching Tools
For more than 25 years, ConocoPhillips has been producing quality educational videos and teachers’ guides on math, science and environmental topics. These materials have been offered to qualified teachers and have been seen by millions of junior high and high school students. Teachers and students can enjoy while learning with Teaching Tools. These free teaching guides and videos cover topics ranging from math and science, to problem solving and protecting wildlife. To order ConocoPhillips' educational films, visit the Teaching Tools Web site.
Search for Solutions Video Series
As part of the company’s commitment to building a solid foundation for children to succeed, ConocoPhillips has worked in conjunction with the National Science Teachers Association to create a video series that explores the key elements of science: creativity, modeling, application, theory and argument. The Search for Solutions video series features distinguished scientists and research centers from the United States, Australia and Chile, and is designed to capture the attention and imagination of junior high and high school students to help them understand how various scientific processes are practically applied. The videos are accompanied by online teaching guides that help reinforce concepts through discussion, hands-on exercises and experiments. ConocoPhillips funds production costs for the 10-part video series, as well as distribution to more than 20,000 science teachers throughout the United States.
Search for Solutions China
Since 1998, ConocoPhillips has partnered with the State Environmental Protection Bureau of China and Municipal Environmental Protection Bureaus to help Chinese elementary and secondary students become better environmental citizens. The Search for Solutions China program provides students with specific educational information on the environmental conditions that affect their lives, hands-on experience through field studies and experiments and workshops to creatively express their concern for the environment or to create their own environmental solutions.
Junior Achievement
ConocoPhillips works closely with Junior Achievement to bring real world experiences to K-12 students to open their minds to their potential. Employees volunteer their time and knowledge to Junior Achievement to provide students with hands-on experiences to help them understand the economics of life. At the elementary level, employees teach children how they can positively impact the world around them as individuals, consumers and workers. As volunteers in middle and high schools, employees prepare students for the future by focusing on workplace readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy.
UniversitySPIRIT Scholars
The ConocoPhillips SPIRIT Scholars program recruits outstanding students and provides them with leadership and public service opportunities throughout their college careers. The program's objective is to prepare students for success in the modern business world. SPIRIT scholars receive scholarships, potential summer internships, business-related training and professional mentoring from ConocoPhillips employees. The formally established program provides funding for individual scholarships for students at the following universities: University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, the University of Tulsa, the Colorado School of Mines, University of Texas and Texas A&M. For more information about the SPIRIT Scholars Program at these program schools, contact the specific participating university.
ConocoPhillips has also established a SPIRIT Scholars At-Large Program to provide funding for students who attend other universities recruited by the company. This program provides a similar experience for students at these schools. For more information about this program, please contact ConocoPhillips recruiters who may be visiting your school.
Dependent Scholarship Program
Each year, ConocoPhillips awards scholarships to children of ConocoPhillips employees. In 2007, the company awarded 60 dependent scholarships, bringing the total number of students who have received scholarships since 1951 to 3,421. Each scholarship recipient receives $3,000 each year, renewable yearly based on scholastic achievement, for a four-year total of $12,000.
Matching Gift Program
Designed to improve public and private education, the company’s matching gift program allows employees and the company to work together to help worthwhile educational institutions. Employee gifts are matched $1 for $1, up to $10,000 annually, for every donation made to accredited universities and K-12 schools.
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