(L to R) Pilot Travel Center Manager Trevor Hauserman, Subway Manager Jouita Rengal, Pilot Travel Center Assistant Manager Bry Smalley, LRS Superintendent Dr. Sharon Johnson-Shirley, LRS Assistant Superintendent Cynthia Trevino.
Thanks to a significant donation from the Pilot Travel Center, located at 2501 Burr Street in Gary, Lake Ridge New Tech students involved in the study of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) will be able to do more research.
The unexpected dollars came in the form of a grant sponsored by the Pilot Company. Lake Ridge Assistant Superintendent Cynthia Trevino said she received an email from the Knoxville, Tennessee-based corporation inviting the district to apply for a $10,000 grant through Pilot to be used at the district’s discretion.
“Pilot reached out to us and notified us that since we are in their business district, we were eligible to apply for a grant, so I applied.”
Trevino said it all happened very quickly.
“Within a couple of days, the grant was approved and we were invited to their Burr Street location to pick up the check,” she said.
According to Trevino, the money will be used for the purchase of STEM classroom resources and AI software tools.
Meg Counts, Senior Manager of the Team Member Experience and Corporate Giving at Pilot, said the company has a longstanding commitment of educational initiatives in the communities where they do business.
“Since its beginning, our company has supported causes important to the communities we serve,” Counts said. “It is our privilege to give back to organizations that inspire students to excel in their studies through specialized programs, providing equal access to technology and fostering opportunities for innovation.”
Lake Ridge Schools Superintendent Dr. Sharon Johnson-Shirley said the donation will go far to help students.
“We are both humbled and grateful for this generous donation,” said Dr. Johnson-Shirley. “Our students will benefit greatly from it. As for the Pilot Travel Center located at 25th and Burr Street, they epitomize what it means to be a corporate-community partner. On behalf of the Lake Ridge family, I am very thankful for their support.”