823 students get Chevron scholarships
Chevron Bangladesh handed over the scholarships to the recipients through a ceremony
Chevron Bangladesh has awarded stipends among 823 students from 24 educational institutions near its Bibiyana, Jalalabad and Moulavi Bazar natural gas fields this year.
This was a part of the company's ongoing yearly scholarship distribution programme for financially disadvantaged, meritorious students.
Chevron Bangladesh handed over the scholarships to the recipients through a ceremony at the premises of its Bibiyana Gas Plant on Tuesday, said a press release.
According to the press release, 66 percent of the students who received the financial support were females.
Of the total, 20 scholarships were given to students who received excellent grades in the recently published results of the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinations.
The average pass rate of Chevron's scholarship recipients in this year's SSC examinations was nearly 100 percent.
The United States Ambassador to Bangladesh, Earl Robert Miller attended the scholarship distribution ceremony. Chevron Bangladesh President Neil Menzies, Director of Corporate Affairs Ismail Chowdhury, Bibiyana Gas Plant Superintendent Ashiq Rahman, and senior staff from Bibiyana Gas Plant were also present at the programme, among others.
The US Ambassador said, "Young people like yourselves can and will push this country into the future."
Finally, he congratulated the Chevron scholarship recipients and encouraged them to continue to challenge themselves and take risks in order to grow as people and as future leaders.
Chevron Bangladesh started the scholarship programme with only a few educational institutions more than a decade ago.
Aside from its scholarship distribution drive, Chevron's Quality Education Support Initiative aims to improving the learning environment at schools near its three gas fields.
In addition to stipends, support is provided in the form of additional teaching, computer labs, coaching support and endowment fund for selected schools, school uniforms, sports equipment, furniture, sanitation facilities and potable water. Chevron's support for schools helps improve their overall performance.
Chevron Bangladesh President Neil Menzies, "We believe that it is critical to support education activities in our operational areas to nurture the untapped potential of school children, particularly among poor and disadvantaged families, helping them achieve their full learning capacity."
Chevron has been running its corporate social responsibility initiatives in economic development, education and health for communities near its gas fields since 2005.