CITGO Lemont Refinery Teams Up With Old Quarry Middle School To Educate Students About Petroleum Refining

LEMONT, Ill., Feb. 28, 2013 / 3BL Media /PRNewswire/ -- CITGO Lemont Refinery employees visited Old Quarry Middle School last month to educate more than 300 eighth grade students about the petroleum refining process and the career opportunities within the petroleum industry.

"We have been very fortunate to have CITGO employees help enrich our eighth grade science curriculum for the past six years," said Shiqipe Osmani, eighth grade science teacher at Old Quarry Middle School. "Our students have enjoyed learning about the connection between science and industry first hand from local employees from the Lemont Refinery."

The program was developed by CITGO employees as a career-education initiative designed to supplement the science curriculum for eighth grade students. CITGO Lemont Refinery employees, Jim Lant, Manager Laboratory, and Brian Rimbo, Emergency Planning and Response Manager, offered presentations to several classes about environmental protection, personal lab safety, health, chemistry and engineering. During the presentations, students were asked to participate in interactive demonstrations and experiments.

CITGO encourages new learning opportunities that challenge students and help them understand the role of science in their lives today and the impact science will have in their future. Last spring, employees participated in several science programs, including Project Infinite Green and Homer Junior High School's Annual Science Fair. This year, CITGO continued its efforts to educate students about the importance of science, while raising awareness of career opportunities.

The CITGO Lemont Refinery employs more than 800 local residents on a full-time and contract basis in support of the local economy. While Lemont Refinery employees produce high-quality fuels for a large portion of the network of nearly 6,000 locally owned CITGO stations across the country, they also make a major positive impact on the community. Each year more than 2,500 volunteer hours and thousands of dollars are given in support of community programs such as Muscular Dystrophy Association, United Way and a variety of environmental and preservation programs. For more information on the CITGO Lemont Refinery, visit http://citgorefining.com/Lemont.

CITGO, based in Houston, is a refiner, transporter and marketer of transportation fuels, lubricants, petrochemicals and other industrial products. The company is owned by PDV America, 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

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