ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Summer Science Camps to Inspire Next Generation of Innovators

HOUSTON --(Business Wire)--

One thousand middle-school students will be offered a chance to participate in interactive science and math camps at 20 university campuses nationwide this summer with support from Dr. Bernard A. Harris Jr., the first African American to walk in space, and the ExxonMobil Foundation.

Students attending the ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Summer Science Camps will test and develop their engineering and science prowess during daily activities that emphasize development of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) skills.

"The Harris Foundation inspires kids to pursue STEM careers by providing them with hands-on science and engineering activities that help them sharpen their problem-solving skills and envision themselves in these careers," said Dr. Bernard Harris Jr., president, The Harris Foundation.

Students live on campus during the two-week camp and participate in classes taught by university faculty, secondary teachers and local STEM professionals. As part of the interactive, inquiry-based curriculum, campers also enjoy the added benefit of exploring local museums, nature centers and ecosystems, allowing them to discover science at work in their communities.

According to a recent Harris Foundation study of camp alumni who are currently enrolled in college, 96 percent credit the program for influencing their decision to pursue higher education. Of those college students, 85 percent plan to pursue a STEM-relateddegree.

"ExxonMobil is committed to helping students strengthen their math and science capabilities," said Suzanne McCarron, president, ExxonMobil Foundation. "These camps are one way to equip our nation's youth with skills needed to be competitive in an increasingly global economy."

Since 2006, the ExxonMobil Foundation and The Harris Foundation have helped more than 7,000 students enhance their interest in science and math through the program. As part of the effort to increase interest in STEM, students also learn about the rewarding career options in these fields from local professionals - fields that will continue to need skilled workers over the next ten years according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Eligible applicants must be entering sixth, seventh or eighth grades in the fall of 2013. Additional information regarding application requirements and submission instructions for each camp are available at www.theharrisfoundation.org.

In 2013, camps will be hosted at the following locations:

Bowie State University (Bowie, Md.)
Lamar University (Beaumont, Texas)
New Jersey Institute of Technology (Newark, N.J.)
Prairie View A&M University (Prairie View, Texas)
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (Troy, N.Y.)
Southern University (Baton Rouge, La.)
Saint Louis University (St. Louis, Mo.)
Temple University (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Texas A&M University (College Station, Texas)
The City College of New York (New York, N.Y.)
University of Alaska-Anchorage (Anchorage, Alaska)
University of Arkansas at Little Rock (Little Rock, Ark.)
University of Colorado Colorado Springs (Colorado Springs, Colo.)
University of Houston (Houston, Texas)
University of Oklahoma (Norman, Okla.)
University of Southern California (Los Angeles, Calif.)
University of Texas-Pan American (Edinburg, Texas)
University of Virginia (Charlottesville, Va.)
University of Wyoming (Laramie, Wyo.)
Worcester Polytechnic Institute (Worcester, Mass.)

About The Harris Foundation

Founded in 1998, The Harris Foundation is a 501 (c) (3), non-profit organization based in Houston, Texas, whose overall mission is to invest in community-based initiatives to support education, health and wealth. The foundation supports programs that empower individuals, in particular minorities and economically and/or socially disadvantaged, to recognize their potential and pursue their dreams.

The Education Mission of The Harris Foundation is to enable youth to develop and achieve their full potential through the support of social, recreational, and educational programs. The Harris Foundation believes that students can be prepared now for the careers of the future through a structured education program and the use of positive role models. More than 15,000 students annually participate and benefit from THF programs. www.theharrisfoundation.org

About the ExxonMobil Foundation

The ExxonMobil Foundation is the primary philanthropic arm of Exxon Mobil Corporation in the United States. The foundation and the corporation engage in a range of philanthropic activities that advance education, health and science in the communities where ExxonMobil has significant operations. In the United States, ExxonMobil supports initiatives to improve math and science education at the K-12 and higher education levels. In 2012, together with its employees and retirees, Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM), its divisions and affiliates, and the ExxonMobil Foundation provided $256 million in contributions worldwide, of which $116 million was dedicated to education. www.exxonmobil.com/community.