NOBLE ENERGY AND DCPA PARTNER TO CREATE AN INNOVATIVE S-T-E-A-M INITIATIVE
O “When you positively impact the life of a child – through the arts, or otherwise – it trickles down for generations.” — CHIP RIMER, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, US ONSHORE, NOBLE ENERGY
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Over the past year, Noble Energy and the Denver Center for the Performing Arts (DCPA) have led an innovative curriculum that supports STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) education for more than 500 students in schools across Colorado. Working hand in hand, DCPA Dramatic LearningTM teachers and Noble Energy employees bring the subject of energy to life for students. Challenging students to get out of their seats and act as rocks, plants, and animals allows them to immerse themselves in the material and internalize the lesson. As one Noble Energy employee said, “you can’t be daydreaming when you’re pretending you’re a tree!” And a 5th grade Denver Public School teacher said her students continued to speak about the program for days after the lesson. “They were engaged the entire time and really enjoyed the ability to express themselves throughout the session. This very hands-on workshop not only helped my students learn and solidify new concepts but also gave me ideas for other ways to teach various concepts.” Noble Energy believes that incorporating a comprehensive and innovative arts initiative in education provides the critical thinking, communications and creativity skills essential to student and professional success. Taking the traditional STEM program and adding the “A” for arts sparks students’ imaginations and helps them innovate through hands-on projects. For Noble Energy the partnership with DCPA is a natural fit. Noble Energy feels strongly that operating in Colorado is a privilege and works daily to better the lives of Coloradans today and for generations to come. In fact, this is part of the company’s purpose – Energizing the World and Bettering People’s Lives. Noble Energy’s support for Colorado’s public schools is part of the company’s commitment to Colorado and the company intends to grow the STEAM partnership with DCPA, reaching more students across the state. With energy playing such a vital role in Colorado’s past, present and future, it is critical that the workforce of tomorrow understands what powers our energy economy. “For us, it’s a passion to help the next generation be more successful than we are,” said Noble Energy Senior Vice President Chip Rimer. “When you positively impact the life of a child – through the arts, or otherwise – it trickles down for generations.” Noble Energy has been a long-standing supporter of both STEM curricula and DPS. Through a partnership with the Denver Broncos, Noble Energy has donated tens of thousands of dollars to the DPS Foundation and has helped recognize students who excel in STEM courses. The company also supports DPS’s 8th grade career fair and employee volunteers are actively involved with the school district’s reading programs and other projects.
APPLAUSE • Mar – May 2017 • 303.893.4100 • denvercenter.org
Photos by John Moore
A PROUD SPONSOR OF DCPA EDUCATION