CITGO Honored as a Friend of Engineering by Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi for Furthering STEM Education

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas, May 17, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi (TAMU-CC) recognized CITGO Petroleum Corporation for its commitment to supporting the next generation of engineers by honoring the company with the prestigious Friends of Engineering Award. A partner of TAMU-CC for more than 30 years, CITGO was one of three Friends of Engineering Award honorees at this year's annual award luncheon held at the university. Award recipients are honored for their outstanding achievements in support of the School of Engineering and Computing Science.

More than 400 students are currently enrolled in the TAMU-CC engineering program, which has been offering degrees in mechanical and electrical engineering since 2009. A supporter of the School of Engineering and Computing Science since its inception, CITGO donates scholarships that allow the school to recruit and retain a diverse group of high-achieving students. The CITGO Corpus Christi Refinery is an integral member of the engineering department's Industrial Advisory Council and Engineering Advisory Board, which inform the strategic direction of the school's engineering curriculum. These contributions from CITGO, among others, have helped ensure that engineering students are graduating with the skills needed to succeed and meet the demands of today's modern, high-tech business environment.

"The Island University is grateful for the CITGO Corpus Christi Refinery's support for engineering scholarships and the 2009 launch of our engineering program," said Dr. Flavius Killebrew, President and CEO of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. "This year our first class of electrical engineering majors started class, and we're working on civil and industrial programs, as well. None of these developments would be possible without the generosity of CITGO."

CITGO actively participates in programs throughout the community that promote academic exploration in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields, from leading environmental stewardship workshops to sponsoring school robotics teams. Recently, CITGO announced its renewed partnership with Foy H. Moody High School in Corpus Christi and its CITGO Innovation Academy for Engineering, Environmental & Marine Science. In 2015, CITGO brought educators from Texas, Illinois and Louisiana aboard the Exploration Vessel Nautilus with the Ocean Exploration Trust to give them first-hand deep-sea exploration research and educational experience that they then delivered back to their classrooms.

"CITGO is an avid supporter of programs that prepare students for real-world challenges and highly sought-after careers in STEM fields. We strive to strengthen the local workforce in Corpus Christi by showing students career paths they may not have otherwise been aware of and providing them opportunities to excel in these fields," said CITGO Corpus Christi Refinery Vice President & General Manager Art Klein.  

For more information about the CITGO Corpus Christi Refinery's community involvement, please visit www.CITGO.com/SocialResponsibility/Community.jsp.

About CITGO Corpus Christi Refinery

The CITGO Corpus Christi Refinery, which celebrated 80 years of operations in 2015, provides more than 1,000 jobs locally, while generating more than $345 million per year in support of the local economy through salaries, services and taxes. In addition to producing high-quality fuels for its network of nearly 5,500 independently owned and operated CITGO branded stations across the country, Corpus Christi refinery employees make a major positive impact on the community. In 2015 alone, CITGO employees in Corpus Christi volunteered more than 2,900 hours of their personal time to local and national charities. Since 2013, the CITGO Corpus Christi Refinery and its employees have provided more than 10,000 volunteer hours and approximately $3.3 million in support of community organizations such as United Way, Charlie's Place, Muscular Dystrophy Association, The Miracle League, Catholic Charities, the Special Olympics and a variety of environmental and preservation initiatives, such as the revitalization of the Gateway to Corpus Christi, Hans and Pat Suter Park and Adopt-A-Beach Clean Up. The 80th anniversary of the Corpus Christi Refinery last year was preceded by the 70th anniversary of the CITGO Lake Charles Refinery in 2014 and is being followed by the 90th anniversary of the CITGO Lemont Refinery in 2016, with CITGO facilities marking three significant milestones in three consecutive years. For more information on the CITGO Corpus Christi Refinery, visit www.citgorefining.com/corpus-christi.

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 Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A., the national oil company of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. For more information, visit www.CITGO.com.

SOURCE CITGO Petroleum Corporation