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Hess gives toy trucks, STEM curriculum to all ND elementary schools

Hess Corporation

Toy trucks and STEM education.

That was the announcement made at a Bismarck elementary school Monday.

"Hess is sending 8000 of those trucks across our state to all of our elementary schools in North Dakota," state school superintendent Kirsten Baesler told a group of fourth grade students at Liberty Elementary School.

Each elementary school will receive 24 of these toy trucks.

"The trucks have been around since 1964," said Hess Senior vice-president for production Mike Turner.

The STEM curriculum that will accompany the truck donation was designed by Baylor College.

"It's a program that basically has the students work together in teams," Turner said. "They're learning about kinetic energy and different types of engineering."

The students are to build roads and bridges to support the trucks.

"We think STEM is an important part of the growth of any individual," Turner said.

Turner said he hopes this will help students become interested in science, technology, engineering and math, to fill the projected future workforce needs in North Dakota.

"This is our home," Turner said. "If the kids turn into engineers, and work for Hess someday, that would be great."

Hess has been in North Dakota since oil was discovered in the 1950s.