Sulphur, La. – July 11, 2017 – The CITGO Lake Charles Refinery recently awarded collegiate scholarships to local students including three high school graduates of CITGO employees’ children. The scholarships are part of the CITGO STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Talent Pipeline Program.
Since 1987, CITGO has been active in helping qualified dependent children of its employees reach their collegiate goals through offering college and university scholarships. Since the program began, 310 students have been awarded scholarships totaling over $3.1 million. Of those scholarships, 94 were to Lake Charles employees’ children. The students selected as the 2017 CITGO scholarship recipients include: Lynzee R. Burnett, Lake Charles, LA, daughter of Christopher C. Burnett; Haley P. Cooley, Lake Charles, LA, daughter of Ron “Dallas” Cooley and Tyler J. LeBlanc, Lake Charles, LA, son of Roger E. LeBlanc.
CITGO continues to uphold education as one of its core values and all recipients received their scholarships through application and based on CITGO scholastic criteria. Art Klein, CITGO Interim Vice President and General Manager, CITGO Lake Charles Manufacturing Complex, said CITGO is privileged to be able to continue the tradition of offering scholarships to CITGO employees’ children. “The scholarship recipients have proven their commitment to academic excellence by going above and beyond average academic performance. They have earned these scholarships. Our hope for them is that this opportunity provided by CITGO will help them pursue their dreams through higher education,” Klein said.
The CITGO scholarships and the CITGO STEM Talent Pipeline are one more example of how CITGO supports education locally. The CITGO Lake Charles Refinery is very active in supporting education at all levels in Calcasieu Parish. CITGO has participated in the Calcasieu Parish school system Partners in Education program since 1988 and is partnered with four Calcasieu Parish public schools: Sulphur High School, Sulphur High 9th Grade Campus, E.K. Key Elementary School and the Calcasieu Parish Alternative Site. CITGO is also a sponsor of McNeese State University and SOWELA Technical Community College.
About CITGO
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 Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A., the national oil company of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
For more information, visit www.CITGO.com