For ten years, Chevron has helped open doors for students across Coalinga, Firebaugh, and the surrounding communities.
Through a partnership with the West Hills Community College Foundation, Chevron has invested more than $1 million in programs that expand access to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education. Those investments have helped create opportunities for students from elementary school through college, strengthening STEM pathways and inspiring future scientists, engineers, healthcare professionals, and innovators.
One of the most visible examples is the Chevron Science Summer Camp, which celebrated its 10th anniversary in June 2026.
Since its launch in 2016, the free summer program has introduced more than 550 students annually to STEM through hands-on learning experiences designed to spark curiosity and creativity. Hosted each summer in both Coalinga and Firebaugh, the camp serves .
students entering second through seventh grades and provides opportunities that many families in rural communities would not otherwise have access to. By bringing the program directly into local communities, Chevron and the West Hills Foundation help ensure that students throughout western Fresno County can explore science, technology, engineering, and mathematics regardless of where they live.
Chevron leaders say those opportunities are exactly why the company continues to invest in STEM education.
"We believe every student should have the opportunity to explore science, technology, engineering, and math regardless of where they live," said Megan Lopez, Public Affairs Representative for Chevron Americas Exploration and Production. "By investing in programs like the Chevron Science Summer Camp and STEM initiatives at Coalinga College, we're helping create opportunities for students to discover their potential and pursue careers that will shape the future."
For Zach Soto, Director of MESA at Coalinga College, the camp has become a community tradition.
"Every summer I look forward to this camp," Soto said. "The community continues to support it, and every year we see students excited to come back and learn."
Over the years, the program has become a summer tradition for families in both Coalinga and Firebaugh, introducing hundreds of students to STEM concepts through engaging, hands-on activities.
Over the past decade, camp activities have evolved from simple science experiments to engineering challenges, robotics projects, solar-powered designs, and other hands-on STEM experiences. Demand has remained strong, with enrollment growing in recent years as more families seek opportunities for their children to explore science and technology.
For Soto, the camp's greatest success is seeing former participants continue their STEM journey.
One former camper, Hector Escobar Jr., later enrolled at Coalinga College as a Computer Science major, became a MESA tutor, and transferred to San Jose State University. Stories like his demonstrate how early exposure to STEM can influence a student's future.
"We hope that out of the hundreds of students we've served, many become future STEM majors," Soto said. "Maybe they're future scientists, engineers, teachers, researchers, or even the next astronaut."
Chevron's impact extends well beyond summer camp. The company's support helped create the Chevron Makerspace at Coalinga College, providing MESA students and . . other STEM majors access to advanced technology, including 3D printers and design tools. Students studying chemistry, biology, computer science, engineering, mathematics, and health sciences use the space to develop projects, explore new technologies, and gain hands-on experience.
"Students get to see the engineering part, the computer programming, and the 3D printing," Soto said.
The Makerspace has also helped students compete beyond the classroom. In recent years, Coalinga College students have used the facility to develop projects for the Innovation Boot Camp in Washington, D.C., where they competed alongside students from community colleges across the nation.
According to Alex Perez, Executive Director of the West Hills Community College Foundation, Chevron's support is especially meaningful because it helps provide opportunities that traditional funding sources cannot.
"This camp is completely free to families," Perez said. "Gifts like Chevron's open doors and create possibilities for students and families that were not there before."
That investment is particularly important in rural communities where access to STEM enrichment programs can be limited. While larger metropolitan areas often offer a variety of summer camps and technology programs, many students in western Fresno County have fewer opportunities to explore science and engineering outside the classroom.
Chevron's support helps bridge that gap. From STEM Pop-Up events and robotics competitions to summer camps, MESA, and the Makerspace, the company's investment helps spark curiosity and supports students through college and beyond.
Over the past decade, Chevron has done more than support programs. It has helped build a culture of STEM education at Coalinga College, expanded access for rural students, and helped transform curiosity into opportunity for the next generation of innovators.