Phillips 66 bolsters commitment to STEM education with pair of $1 million gifts 

• Financial support: Phillips 66 is donating over $2 million to support STEM programs, including a $1 million gift to Project Lead the Way and a $1.1 million grant to ST Math. 

• Future-ready workforce: Investing in STEM education is key to cultivating talent that will tackle global energy challenges and drive innovation.  

Phillips 66 is growing its support for STEM, committing over $2 million in total donations for two hands-on educational programs.   

The company announced a $1 million gift to help with the expansion of the Project Lead the Way Gateway program, which uses collaborative academic activities to expose middle school students to careers in science, technology, engineering and math. The gift follows a $1.1 million grant to implement ST Math, a game-based learning program, for students in the Permian Basin.  

“The customized learning from these programs will help students get the skills they need to become leaders in the workforce of the future,” said Courtney Meadows, Phillips 66 Social Impact Manager. “By supporting programs like Project Lead the Way and ST Math, we’re helping to build a  broader workforce in STEM fields.” 

The two gifts are part of a larger educational outlay from Phillips 66 totaling $10 million in 2024, with additional support provided through employee matching and volunteer grants. Over the past five years, Phillips 66 has given approximately $50 million to education initiatives where it operates. 

“Phillips 66 has long seen education as a way to create positive social change in our communities,” said Meadows. “We believe Project Lead the Way and ST Math, in addition to our other educational efforts, will result in real progress.” 

The company’s collaboration with Project Lead the Way began in 2023 with an initial $1 million investment to support STEM curriculum in a number of states and cities. The recent $1 million donation will continue to expand the Gateway program’s reach within those areas beginning in the 2025-26 academic year.  

The $1.1 million grant to ST Math will support the program’s implementation in the Ector County Independent School District, one of several school districts where the company funds the game-based program. The grant funded the program’s start-up, training, and implementation across all elementary, early learning, and prekindergarten campuses, as well as its STEM Academy.  

“I haven’t seen a program that coincides so well with our current curriculum and helps enrich student learning,” said Jennifer Bizzell, principal at the district’s Reagan Magnet School. “It really excites me to see these students grow with ST Math.” 

Said Bizzell, “We are creating lifelong learners that will eventually go into the workforce, and they may even become Phillips 66 employees.” 

Inspiring the next generation in STEM fields is crucial to tackling global energy challenges. By investing in education, we’re not just preparing for the future but actively shaping a workforce ready to innovate and lead in solving tomorrow’s problems.