WILMINGTON – A partnership between DuPont and an education group that focuses on sharing digital resources in classrooms across the world is up for one of the highest corporate citizen awards in the United States.
DuPont and Discovery Education are finalists in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Citizens Award in the best commitment to education category. In 2021, the multinational company has partnered up with Discovery Education on a multi-year partnership to offer ready-to-use digital STEM lessons and other resources to Delaware teachers.
Through this program, Delaware teachers were also offered the opportunity to tap into professional development on other technology resources, as well as connecting them to the Discovery Education network, which spans 140 countries with virtual and in-person conferences, networking and sharing best practices.
DuPont first announced the partnership in 2021 to help boost middle and high school students’ access to high-quality STEM resources, as well as support technical education pathways in the First State.
DuPont spokesman Dan Turner said the company estimates it has reached 46,000 students and 1,800 in 2023 alone.
“As an innovation-driven company, we created this unique partnership together with Discovery Education and the Delaware Department of Education to inspire the next generation of STEM-focused talent. We are proud to take a leadership role in exposing students to great STEM and technical careers they can start right out of high school,” DuPont Global Leader of Community and Social Impact Patrick McCrummen said in a prepared statement.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Citizens Award recognizes the most innovative and impactful corporate programs geared to solve some of the world’s largest problems. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Citizens Award honors programs focused on health, disaster response, economic empowerment, community improvement and more.
“DuPont’s partnership with the Delaware Department of Education and Discovery Education is a powerful example of what’s possible when public and private organizations unite to address big challenges,” U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Senior Vice President Marc DeCourcey said in a prepared statement.
“This unique collaboration is impacting countless lives and building brighter futures for the next generation,” DeCourcey added.
In another piece of the partnership, DuPont joined the STEM Careers Coalition, which aims to create strong links between classrooms and careers to build the STEM career pipeline. DuPont officials said their involvement in the coalition has helped reach more than 10 million students.
Together in Delaware, DuPont and Discovery Education reached 95 schools with over 115,000 students. With more careers in advanced manufacturing and bioscience coming to the First State, state and business leaders have said it’s critical to work to develop talent in Delaware to ensure residents secure those high-paying jobs in their home state.
DuPont has extended its partnership with Discovery Education for another year with a limited number of school districts involved until it ends before the school year of 2026. This final cohort includes Brandywine, Red Clay, Capital, and Smyrna school districts.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Citizens Award winners will be announced during the 2024 Business Solves Conference that runs between Oct. 29 and 30. More information about the awards and finalists is available on the U.S. Chamber Foundation’s website.