HOUSTON, Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- CITGO Petroleum Corporation recently participated in Houston's largest free family festival, Energy Day. The event brought together families, students, energy professionals and other members of the community for a day of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programs, exhibits and activities. With more than 25,000 attendees filling Sam Houston Park on Saturday, Oct. 20, Energy Day was, once again, an impressive display of education and community. The popular event was presented by the Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) and the Consumer Energy Education Foundation (CEEF).

"Energy Day is a shining example of this city's prospering energy industry and its dedication to giving back," said Rafael Gomez, Vice President Strategic Shareholder Relations and Government & Public Affairs. "The event gives us a chance to interact with our Houston family face-to-face and showcase opportunities and resources that can lead to fantastic STEM careers."

CITGO was a sponsor of the event and organized a station where visitors participated in hands on activities that demonstrated how petroleum is used in every day products. As an active corporate citizen of Houston, CITGO prides itself in demonstrating the benefits of a STEM education and careers in the energy industry.

"Inspiring students to be excited about STEM education is a pillar of our corporate social responsibility efforts," said Gomez. "Energy Day is great way to achieve that goal outside the classroom setting. Giving children the chance to experience dozens of hands-on exhibits in a single day keeps them entertained and engaged."

The five-hour event offered 61 exhibits, including bike riding to generate electricity, creating LED bracelets, learning about the physics behind sports, and studying out how infrared images, robotics and virtual reality are used in STEM industries. To cap off the day, more than 180 students and teachers were awarded nearly $2,300 as part of the Energy Day Academic Program.

"We're thankful to have sponsors like CITGO support Energy Day and the Houston community," said CEEF's Energy Day Director, Kathleen van Keppel. "Teaching children about the incredible opportunities STEM offers in a layout that's welcoming and accommodating was our goal, and we've been able to provide that for the last eight years thanks to the support of local schools, energy experts and sponsors."

About CITGO

Headquartered in Houston, Texas, CITGO Petroleum Corporation is a recognized leader in the refining industry with a well-known brand. CITGO operates three refineries located in Corpus Christi, Texas; Lake Charles, La.; and Lemont, Ill., and wholly and/or jointly owns 48 terminals, nine pipelines and three lubricants blending and packaging plants. With approximately 3,400 employees and a combined crude capacity of approximately 749,000 barrels-per-day (bpd), CITGO is ranked as the sixth-largest, and one of the most complex independent refiners in the United States. CITGO transports and markets transportation fuels, lubricants, petrochemicals and other industrial products and supplies a network of approximately 5,200 locally owned and operated branded retail outlets in 30 states and the District of Columbia. CITGO Petroleum Corporation 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