Innovative program helps students DREAM big!

March 31, 2010

The 10,000 cheering students are experiencing the DREAM Tour created by astronaut Dr. Bernard Harris and sponsored by ExxonMobil.

DREAM stands for Daring to Reach Excellence for America’s Minds. This national motivational program encourages America’s middle school students to find and achieve their potential by encouraging them to go to college and study science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) as a way of fulfilling their dreams.

A math and science mission
“Since becoming the first African-American to walk in space in 1995, I have been on a mission to inspire kids to follow their dreams,” explains Harris. “This is important for the survival of the United States and the competitiveness of our country.”

“Right now, our kids are not graduating from high school like they should,” says Harris. “Those who are graduating are not going to college. If they do go to college, they’re not majoring in science, math or other high-tech fields, which are prerequisites for many good jobs in today’s society.”

ExxonMobil agrees.

“Technology is arguably the single greatest force driving the world economy today,” says Truman Bell, ExxonMobil’s senior program officer for education and diversity. “Excellence in U.S. math and science education is critical to America’s ability to successfully compete and prosper globally in the 21st century.”

“My dreams are power”
As a major supporter of educational initiatives to encourage students to study STEM subjects, ExxonMobil teamed up with Harris to reach more than 1 million students, teachers and parents through the DREAM Tour.

The tour is the Harris Foundation’s second educational- outreach project with the ExxonMobil Foundation, which partnered with him in 2005 to create the ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Summer Science Camps. Held each year at 30 colleges and universities nationally, the free two-week residential camps for middle school students offer innovative programs to improve knowledge in STEM subjects, while fostering leadership and citizenship. More than 4,000 students have participated.

In mid-December, Houston was the 20th stop on the 30-city DREAM Tour and by far the largest and most star-studded event. Athletes from the city’s four professional sports teams answered questions ranging from their favorite subjects in school to how technology and science have affected their sports. Local radio personalities emceed the show,and area teachers conducted science experiments.

But in every city, the same messages resonate with the young audiences. “Believe in those who believe in you.” “My dreams are power.” “Believe in yourself, and you can be whatever you want to be.”

Be a rock star
A key segment of every DREAM Tour features a panel of ExxonMobil employees — “Rock Stars” — who share their own stories of how excelling in STEM subjects can lead to exciting careers.

Many of ExxonMobil’s stars, such as Brandi Burns, also volunteer at Harris’ summer camps.

“I tell the students to pursue something they enjoy,” says Burns, project engineer, ExxonMobil Production Company. “If they can fit science, math and technology into it, that’s all the better, because that’s where our innovations come from.”

“It’s cool to be a geek,” exclaims ExxonMobil’s Janie Kenney. “There are so many opportunities out there, but you need to have a solid foundation in science and math.”

Kenney is a construction execution supervisor who travels the globe ensuring projects in Europe, Africa and Australia are constructed safely and with the highest quality while meeting demanding work schedules.

“I enjoy the energy the students bring, and when you see their eyes open wide and their big smiles, you realize you are reaching them.”

Computer Systems Specialist Jose Carreno shares how he grew up in Mexico as the oldest of four children with little means. He tells students that no matter what their financial situation or socioeconomic background, they can achieve their dreams.

The 30-year ExxonMobil employee typically has the students cheering when he says, “There is a lot of opportunity out there. All you have to do is have a desire or ‘ganas.’ Do you have ganas?”

Roaring approval
Back “live” at the Houston event, local superintendents and civic and business leaders take the stage to show their support.

“Do you know that you can change the world?” one says. “I come to you with a very special plea: Will you stay in school? Will you learn to love math? Will you experiment with science? Will you have self-determination to make your own decision to be the very best you can be?”

The crowd cheers an enthusiastic “yes” after each question.

But the highlight of the two-hour show is Harris, who emerges on stage through a curtain of fog dressed in a flight suit as music from 2001: A SpaceOdyssey rattles the arena.

Harris shares his story of how he grew up from humble beginnings to become an aerospace flight surgeon, astronaut and the first African-American to walk in space.

“I started out no different than you,” he says. “When I was 13 years old, I was fascinated with science and science fiction. I got the chance to watch a man land on the moon, and I knew then what I wanted to do with my life. I wanted to fly in space, but education was my launching pad.”

Harris says that after his parents divorced when he was young, he saw the difference that having a college degree made for his mother as compared to his father, who never graduated from high school.

“I learned at a very early age how important education could be to fulfill my dreams. Education provides you with more options to achieve.”

In closing the program, Harris leads a one-line chant that sums up the message the DREAM Tour wants to impart to participants.

“I am an infinite being with infinite possibilities,” the students shout. Harris’ final words to them: “Study hard. Dream big.” And the young crowd roars with approval.

Mission accomplished.