By Anna Noel
Yorktown News-View
On Friday, Feb. 11, the first STEM center in Yorktown and the third in DeWitt County was opened. A school assembly was held from 1:30-2:15, then students moved to the new center to try out the gadgets and a ribbon cutting was held. Several representatives from Devon Energy and the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation were present, including Devon vice president, Aaron Ketter.
“You know energy is important to us,” Ketter stated, “but it’s also important to everyone around us in the sense of, it’s a mainstream of our lives. The really cool thing is it takes a lot of scientists to find and develop energy, and energy is a rapidly changing landscape. When I think about when I first became an engineer, I didn’t have these cool things that Joe, you have designed. For Devon it is important for us to reinvest in the communities that we operate in; it’s important to stand beside our team members that live here locally and also start from the ground and work up.
“Science is obviously important to us, and we want communities filled with kids that can learn and become scientists. You’re seeing the culmination of that interest and the great partnership with the Cal Ripken Foundation.”
Christina Rehkop, director of community relations for Devon Energy, stated, “We hope that this center will provide unique opportunities for the children of Yorktown to explore their imaginations and challenge their critical thinking skills. Together with the Ripken Foundation, we’re aiming to inspire the next generation of STEM leaders and encourage budding young scientists to follow their dreams.”
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