On the evening of December 10, the Evangeline Section of the Society of Petroleum Engineers held a recognition ceremony at the Petroleum Club for the recipients of their School Science Grants. The purpose of the grants is to support education related to petroleum engineering and related sciences. A selection committee awarded grants to applicants based on the “level of industry/technical application, project scale and effort applied to the application.” Ten teachers in eight Lafayette Parish Public Schools were chosen for grants totaling $4,400:
- Catherine Ishee, Broadmoor Elementary
- Judy Morgan, Charles M. Burke Elementary
- Lisa Ranney, Comeaux High
- Chelsea Thomas, Duson Elementary
- Aimee Yandle, Edgar Martin Middle
- Barbara Helveston, Edgar Martin Middle
- Brandy Welch, Edgar Martin Middle
- Phoebe Boutte, L.J. Alleman Middle
- Michelle Landry, Lafayette High School
- Susan Yerino, Woodvale Elementary
The Evangeline Section of the Society of Petroleum Engineers has a long history of partnership with Lafayette schools. The first grants were awarded in 1999 to Woodvale Elementary and Broadmoor Elementary. Since that time the Society has awarded a minimum of $10,000 each year in grants to Lafayette area schools.