Stephen D. Bechtel, Jr. Named to the STEM Leadership Hall of Fame

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Jun 30, 2015, 06:17 ET

RESTON, Va., June 30, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Stephen D. Bechtel, Jr., senior director of Bechtel Group, Inc., was inducted today into the STEM Leadership Hall of Fame in San Diego, Calif., at the U.S. News & World Report STEM Solutions National Leadership Conference.

Bechtel and four other honorees were selected for their leadership in advancing science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education and workforce development across a number of sectors, including government, industry and education. Riley P. Bechtel, chairman of the board of Bechtel Group, Inc., accepted the award on behalf of his father.

"Our company's stewardship program builds on my father's life-long leadership and support of STEM education," said Riley Bechtel. "Today, Bechtel employees offer hands-on experiences in engineering through our global partnerships with a number of leading organizations. Our volunteers support numerous STEM projects and reach thousands of students globally in places such as Australia, Chile, India, the United States, and the United Kingdom."

The company's stewardship program includes five nonprofit partners: DiscoverE, Engineers Without Borders, FIRST®, Junior Achievement®, and Ocean Exploration Trust."

Stephen D. Bechtel, Jr. served as the third-generation head of Bechtel, the worldwide engineering and construction business that was founded in 1898. Throughout his career, Bechtel worked to help young people learn about and prepare for STEM careers. In 1974, he co-founded the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering (NACME). He also served as the first chair of DiscoverE and as the vice chairman on the Council for Science and Technology Task Force in California, where he advised the governor on increasing the state's technical talent pool by improving K-12 science and mathematics education.

In the last 25 years, Bechtel has been devoted to two philanthropic organizations: the S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation and the Stephen Bechtel Fund. Both organizations support students and educators in STEM education and character development while also encouraging effective education policy.

The Bechtel Group Foundation, the corporate foundation, recently approved a NACME scholarship in honor of Stephen D. Bechtel, Jr. Over the next five years, the $250,000 scholarship will support young women who are beginning their college-level engineering studies.

Read the U.S. News & World Report news release announcing the winners.

About Bechtel:
Bechtel is among the most respected engineering, project management, and construction companies in the world. We stand apart for our ability to get the job done right—no matter how big, how complex, or how remote. Bechtel operates through four global business units that specialize in infrastructure; mining and metals; nuclear, security and environmental; and oil, gas, and chemicals. Since its founding in 1898, Bechtel has worked on more than 25,000 projects in 160 countries on all seven continents. Today, our 58,000 colleagues team with customers, partners, and suppliers on diverse projects in nearly 40 countries. www.bechtel.com

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SOURCE Bechtel