Fuel Cell Today - BP Awards $1 Million for Energy Grants and Scholarships

HOUSTON, June 12, 2006 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Houston-area students will be building their own hydrogen fuel cell car, cooking with solar power and caring for an outdoor "Eco-Station," thanks to funding provided to 93 teachers in 69 schools in the first year of BP's A+ for Energy education program in Texas.
BP America, Inc. President and CEO Ross Pillari and state and community leaders saluted the A+ for Energy 2006 award recipients at a celebration Monday at Space Center Houston. NASA astronaut James Reilly was the keynote speaker.
BP announced the awarding of more than $1 million in grants and scholarships to teachers in five Houston-area counties -- Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston and Harris. Recognizing teachers for their innovative approaches to teaching students about energy and energy conservation, A+ for Energy will provide recipients either $5000 or $10,000 grants to be used for energy education projects and materials in their classrooms.
"BP is excited to present these awards to the teachers who demonstrated such innovative and instructive approaches to teaching kids about energy and energy conservation," Pillari said. "With the help of many talented Texas teachers, it is our hope that these grants will serve as a springboard for a life-long educational journey that will inspire today's youth to become responsible, energy-conscious adults."
A+ for Energy will provide $725,000 in grant money and an additional $300,000 in scholarships to the winning teachers to attend a three-day conference co-sponsored by BP and the National Energy Education Development (NEED) Project. Winning teachers also will receive an energy science kit and a set of student materials for their classrooms valued at $500.
Teachers at 69 different schools received awards for 77 different projects, including 32 individual classroom winners, 17 projects shared by teachers touching multiple classrooms, 28 that will touch entire schools and five that will involve entire school districts.
"We were thrilled that an overwhelming number of inventive responses were submitted by Texas teachers," said Texas Education Commissioner Shirley Neeley. "This demonstrates that education can help influence our future use of energy."
In developing A+ for Energy, BP worked in close partnership with Space Center Houston, KHOU-TV 11 and the NEED Project. BP invited Pre K-12 educators in five counties where BP employees live and work to submit classroom, after-school, extra-curricular or summer activities that foster energy-conscious thinking. The A+ for Energy opportunity generated interest from more than 500 Texas educators. In identifying winners, two independent panels of experts in the education, science and environmental fields reviewed 325 qualified submissions.
"Our state's classrooms are brimming with tremendous creativity, and these additional resources will be greatly appreciated," said Neeley. "We are pleased that BP is providing funds to teachers who bring such tremendous energy to the subject of energy education and help bring conservation projects to life."
BP's Pillari said that the program reflects BP's vision for the efficient development of energy resources for the benefit of future generations. "We might expect that the knowledge created and the creativity engendered will help lead to energy solutions that we can barely imagine now," he said. "We appreciate the involvement of our partners, and salute the ideas and commitment of the winning teachers. We hope that come fall, the energy classrooms of Texas will be more vibrant than ever and that we will all benefit down the road."
Harris county public and private schools receiving A+ for Energy grants include 11 elementary schools, 12 middle schools and 11 high schools.
Following are the numbers of winners selected from each area county: Brazoria - 17; Chambers - 1; Fort Bend - 6; Galveston - 24; Harris - 45
For a complete list of winning projects, teachers and schools, visit http://www.aplusforenergy.org/Texas/WinnersList.htm .
Scholarship conference background:
BP partners with the NEED Project to support energy education in Texas schools by supplying course content and curricula that is aligned with state standards for the core subject areas of science, math and social studies for all grades. As part of its A+ for Energy program, BP will award grant recipients with a scholarship to attend a three-day training conference hosted by NEED in Texas in July 2006. The all-inclusive scholarship will cover travel, meals and lodging expenses as well as a NEED Science of Energy Kit valued at $500. The kit includes classroom tools and materials to help educators teach energy.
About BP
BP is the single, global brand formed by the combination of the former British Petroleum, Amoco Corporation, Atlantic Richfield (ARCO) and Burmah Castrol. BP is a global producer, manufacturer and marketer of oil, gas, chemicals and renewable energy sources. Everyday, BP provides energy solutions to approximately 13 million customers in more than 100 countries. For more information, visit http://www.bp.com/us .
About NEED
NEED provides energy education training and curriculum to K-12 teachers and students throughout the United States. NEED programs encourage a "KIDS TEACHING KIDS" approach to education, and provide teachers with the background and content knowledge they need to teach energy in a fun an energizing way. NEED materials are correlated to the National Science Education Standards and to Texas' Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) standards. NEED provides workshops and classroom materials to interested teachers and school districts in Texas. For more information about NEED, visit http://www.need.org .
MEDIA CONTACTS: Hugh Depland, BP America
281-366-4092
Neil Geary, BP America
409-942-4881
Terry Young, GCI Read-Poland