News

The Monsanto Fund helped the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Engineering successfully conduct its annual Summer Camps during June. The $15,000 grant assisted the School in hosting two separate weeklong camps for 55 high school students from six states by providing scholarships, supplies and instruction costs.

The camps are designed to provide students with hands-on experience in the world of engineering. The engaging projects that students worked on included:

• Programming robots
• Programming traffic signals
• Working on hovercrafts
• Working on rockets
• Building water filters and circuits
• Developing four-dimensional construction projects 
• Tours of Phillips 66 Wood River Refinery and discussions with the company’s engineers

“We are grateful for Monsanto Fund’s support, because these camps open a world of engineering possibilities to students and let them know that SIUE is a great place to learn and discover,” said Chris Gordon, associate dean of the SIUE School of Engineering and summer camp director. “During the past five years, campers from 12 states have participated in the summer camps.

“We have seen previous campers return to SIUE to begin their studies. This shows the value of the camp experience in attracting talented students and in helping them to identify and pursue their goals.” 

The Phillips 66 Wood River Refinery is also a corporate sponsor for the camps. 

About the Monsanto Fund

The Monsanto Fund, the philanthropic arm of Monsanto Company, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening the communities where farmers and Monsanto Company employees live and work. Visit the Monsanto Fund at www.monsantofund.org.