BASF TOTAL Petrochemicals supports local schools by topping $40,000 in STEM Grants

Port Arthur, TX, February 10, 2021 – BASF TOTAL Petrochemicals continued its support of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education in 2020 by distributing more than $40,000 towards STEM programs in Port Arthur, Port Neches-Groves, Bridge City, Nederland and Lumberton school districts. Annually, BASF TOTAL Petrochemicals makes educational grants available to near neighbor schools to promote and improve STEM in the classrooms. Teachers submit their innovative grant requests in the fall detailing how they will use funds to enrich science instruction and create positive impacts on student learning.

As part of the annual giving, BASF TOTAL Petrochemicals awarded Bridge City Independent School District with a $13,390 grant to enhance STEM education at their four campuses. Bridge City High School will use their grand funds to purchase a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) plasma cutter – a machine that uses a plasma torch aided by a computer using numerical coding.

The CNC cutter will allow welding students to learn necessary skills for succeeding in the workplace. Students can create structural components, engine parts, decorative signs and inlays, along with many other items made from sheet metal. Additionally, the problem solving, and computer skills required to operate this machine gives the students real-world experiences and preparedness for post high school opportunities.

“The BASF TOTAL Petrochemicals team commends the work teachers are doing to stimulate interest in STEM subjects and help students understand how these courses relate to future careers,” said John Lycan, Vice President and Site Manager of the Port Arthur plant. “We see the tremendous value in offering STEM education programs and grants to benefit local students and schools. Our industry needs a well-trained workforce.”

According to Bridge City High School Career and Technical Education (CTE) Coordinator Grady Welborn, their programs are continuously seeking ways to integrate the best real-world practices into innovative classroom instruction, and BASF TOTAL Petrochemicals has helped make that possible. “This grant will have a positive impact on many of our engineering, welding and small engine CTE programs,” said Welborn. “We are grateful for the funds provided by BASF TOTAL and are eager to install the machine at our campus in the spring.”

BASF TOTAL Petrochemicals, LLC

BASF TOTAL Petrochemicals LLC is located in Port Arthur, Texas and manufactures a range of chemicals used in hundreds of consumer products. BASF TOTAL is a joint venture partnership between BASF Corporation, 60 percent ownership, and Total Petrochemicals & Refining USA, 40 percent ownership. For more information about BASF Corporation and Total Petrochemicals & Refining USA, Inc. visit www.basf.us or www.totalpetrochemicalsusa.com.

About BASF

BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has more than 18,800 employees in North America and had sales of $18.4 billion in 2019. For more information about BASF’s North American operations, visit www.basf.com/us. At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. More than 117,000 employees in the BASF Group work on contributing to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio is organized into six segments: Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, Surface Technologies, Nutrition & Care and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of €59 billion in 2019. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the U.S. Further information at www.basf.com.

Total Petrochemicals & Refining USA, Inc.

Total Petrochemicals & Refining USA, Inc. (TPRI) is part of the Refining-Petrochemicals Americas Division of Total S.A., one of the largest integrated international oil and gas companies with operations in more than 130 countries worldwide. TPRI is headquartered in Houston and is a major producer of polypropylene, polystyrene, styrene, base chemicals and polyethylene in the United States. Its refinery produces transportation fuels and other petroleum-based products for the global market. The company employs more than 1,600 who work in support of manufacturing and research/development activities in Texas and Louisiana. Visit us online at www.us.total.com.