Cultivating Curiosity: Promoting STEM Interests Among Mississippi Students
At Ergon, we recognize that investing in the community and future generations has a great impact on helping students reach their dreams and make a positive difference.
Building young innovators of the future. In recent years, there has been rapid growth in STEM education (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). Today, schools, organizations and businesses are now implementing initiatives to provide grade-level students and high schoolers with opportunities to engage in STEM-related activities in traditional settings and extracurriculars.
Ergon has partnered with local groups and nonprofits to help spark curiosity, build confidence and show young people that STEM skills are needed in the diverse, technological workforce. One of our trusted partnerships is in Vicksburg, Mississippi, home to several Ergon businesses, including Ergon Refining Inc. (ERI), Magnolia Marine Transport Company, Ergon Marine & Industrial Supply Inc. and ISO Services.
SAME CAMP
Addi Moore, Operational Excellence Engineer for ERI, suggested and has steered our involvement with the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) STEM/Engineering and Construction Camp since 2023. For just $100, 40 high school juniors and seniors across the country can apply to attend the weeklong SAME Camp and learn about mechanical, chemical and industrial engineering majors while exploring innovative careers in Vicksburg.
Maribel Melo, Human Resources Manager for ERI, shared that assisting the SAME Camp through volunteerism fulfills Ergon’s mission of Doing Right.
“Many employees are engaged in the community service that we do,” said Melo. “Our Outreach Team brings forward organizations and charitable events their coworkers would like to support, and it’s always fantastic to be a part of the efforts to bring service projects to life, like our involvement with SAME, to really make a difference.”
Maribel’s statement acts as a testament to our dedication. ERI has sponsored and participated in the SAME STEM Camp for the last three years. During these events, ERI has served lunch for the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center Young Engineers Panel. ERI’s Clayton Dickerson sat on the panel and spoke to students about pathways to success post-graduation in both 2023 and 2024. This year, Addi Moore served as a panelist.
________________________
But the ERI Team’s efforts to transform young minds didn’t stop there. Volunteers have since expanded their involvement over the last two years to give students a true feel of what it would be like in the workforce, exposing them to a mock simulation of a day on the job. Four workstations were created to immerse scholars in a professional career setting where they had a chance to experience interactive, real-life workflows step-by-step. Through these sessions, students were introduced to vital skills for working in laboratories and production facilities. Students explored the process of tank transfers with a hands-on training tool to rebuild a pump and valve to transfer water from one tank to the other. Another exercise was practicing safety methods with the Vicksburg Fire Department, including learning to use a fire extinguisher with virtual reality.
________________________
STEM in the City
The road from Vicksburg to Jackson, Mississippi, is more than just a stretch of highway. It symbolizes our dedication to providing resources in academics, leadership development and a supportive environment for students across the state. Our work with the SAME Camp focuses on engaging with aspiring engineers through hands-on practices, and our partnership with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Mississippi reflects a similar thread — learning by doing.
________________________
In June 2025, Ergon’s Energy & Specialty Solutions (ESS) Community Outreach Team participated in STEM in the City: Exploring Jackson, Empowering Futures that SOAR. This event was organized by the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Mississippi during STEM Week across all locations. Students aged 5 – 18 showcased projects and participated in STEM experiments led by Ergon and other local businesses in the Jackson Metro Area. Twelve ESS members set up an invention table that included slime-making to educate kids about molecules and polymers; lava lamps to introduce the concepts of density, mass and volume while demonstrating how oil and water don’t mix; screaming balloons to explore the science of sound, motion and vibration; and UV bead bracelets to teach about the types of light the sun emits and how chemical components react to ultraviolet light when exposed.
By connecting youth with real-world role models, we help encourage their continued interest in STEM education by making it fun and accessible while also strengthening engagement. Our participation reflects Ergon’s commitment to working together to make a long-term, positive impact on generations and the communities we serve.
To continue creating opportunities for engineering students, we are also a sponsor of Mississippi State University’s Summer Bridge Program. This transformative initiative serves as a building block for engineering students by providing educational workshops to help them be successful in academics, building relationships and developing skills to utilize in their professional careers.
