Southern receives $65,100 donation from ExxonMobil

Southern University Chancellor Dr. James Llorens today accepted a $65,100 donation from ExxonMobil in Baton Rouge. The funds are a combination of donations from ExxonMobil employees and matching funds from the ExxonMobil Foundation.

Chancellor Llorens said the money will used for scholarships and equipment in the College of Engineering.

“We are extremely pleased with our partners at ExxonMobil and all of the SU grads and supporters at ExxonMobil who made this happen,” Llorens said. “ExxonMobil continues to be a great supporter of our institution in terms of financial gifts, along with providing internships for our students and the hiring of our graduates.”

In a letter to the university, ExxonMobil Foundation President Suzanne M. McCarron said, “We hope that you will join our efforts by directing a portion of our matching funds to programs…that provide math and science teachers with professional development, attract more young people to teach math and science, and support programs that encourage women and minorities to become scientists and engineers.”

Southern is among 871participating colleges and universities in the ExxonMobil Foundation’s Educational Matching Gift Program. ExxonMobil employees, retirees and surviving spouses donated $11.9 million to institutions of higher education in 2012, which are being matched by ExxonMobil Foundation with educational grants totaling $28.3 million.

In the photo, from left to right, are Claudette B. Bradford, Laboratory Head at ExxonMobil's Baton Rouge Complex, Chancellor James L. Llorens, Julius Bradford, Plant Manager at the ExxonMobil Port Allen Lubricants Plant, and David K. Dartez, Services Manager-Baton Rouge Area Human Resources at ExxonMobil.