CITGO Fueling Education Program Drives Importance of STEM

Educators have opportunity to learn from 'America's Science Teacher' Steve Spangler and receive new school supplies

News provided by

Mar 22, 2016, 08:35 ET

HOUSTON, March 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- CITGO Petroleum Corporation invites elementary and middle school teachers to enter its fourth annual Fueling Education Program, focusing on the importance of engaging young students in the subjects of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Through April 30, teachers in grades K – 8 are encouraged to visit www.fuelingeducation.com for the chance to win STEM-related prizes to benefit their classrooms and schools, including the Grand Prize of an in-school teacher training session with 'America's Science Teacher,' best-selling author, and Emmy-award winning television personality, Steve Spangler.

To enter, teachers simply visit www.fuelingeducation.com to share their favorite STEM teaching ideas or lesson plans through a brief description, photo, and/or video, for the chance to receive one of the following:

Three Grand Prize winners will receive an in-school teacher training session led by Spangler, with the opportunity to invite up to 99 other fellow teachers to attend and learn STEM-related topics, lessons and activities to engage their students. Each Grand Prize winner will also receive a voucher to purchase classroom supplies from National School Supply.
Nine First Prize winners will receive an all-expenses paid trip to Spangler's "Science in the Rockies" seminar, held mid-summer in Denver, to participate in hands-on workshops to further develop the way they teach STEM subjects. In addition, each First Prize winner will receive a voucher to purchase classroom supplies from National School Supply.
90 Second Prize winners will receive a voucher to purchase classroom supplies from National School Supply.

"At its very core, STEM is really about our ability as educators to build connections and create experiences that inspire our students to think differently as they imagine their unlimited potential as future scientists and engineers," said Steve Spangler. "I'm excited to partner with CITGO and work with teachers through the Fueling Education program to create unforgettable learning experiences that engage elementary students in STEM subjects to benefit them in the classroom and in their future careers."

Upon entering the contest, teachers will receive a STEM education packet with lesson plans and posters while supplies last. Those K – 8 teachers in the 29 states in which CITGO operates, as well as the District of Columbia, are eligible to enter.

Throughout the past three years, the CITGO Fueling Education program has contributed new school supplies to hundreds of teachers. To enter and learn more about the program rules and regulations, visit www.fuelingeducation.com.

About Steve Spangler
Steve Spangler is a best-selling author, educator, entrepreneur and Emmy award-winning science communicator who finds the most creative ways to make science fun. His videos featured on YouTube have more than 190 million views, and his online experiments are widely used by parents and educators to increase student engagement and inspire young scientists to learn more about STEM-based careers. Steve is probably best known for using YouTube as his classroom to teach millions of people how to turn a bottle of soda and a roll of Mentos into an erupting soda geyser. Spangler is a frequent guest on the Ellen DeGeneres Show where she dubbed him "America's Science Teacher…because his creativity and sense of fun are inspiring the next generation of STEM leaders." For more, visit www.stevespanglerscience.com or www.facebook.com/stevespangler.

About CITGO
CITGO is committed to giving back to the local communities it serves through its network of locally owned stations. CITGO Marketers and Retailers own and operate nearly 5,500 CITGO locations and are proud to support their communities. For more information on the positive impact of the locally owned CITGO stations, visit www.fuelinggood.com.

CITGO, based in Houston, is a refiner, transporter and marketer of transportation fuels, lubricants, petrochemicals and other industrial products. The company is owned by CITGO Holding, Inc., an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A., the national oil company of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. For more information, visit www.CITGO.com.

SOURCE CITGO Petroleum Corporation