Sw Louisiana News

On December 19, Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter, alongside officials from the Calcasieu Parish School Board and Region 5 STEM Center, announced a new partnership with Woodside Energy. This collaboration will establish a STEM Innovation Lab at the Lake Charles Boston Academy of Learning campus.

The lab will be situated in the current library of the Region 5 STEM Center at the academy located on Enterprise Blvd. It will include specialized areas for space and travel, robotics and drone exploration, a STEM Maker Machine area, and innovations and inventing. Additionally, there will be flexible spaces and professional development areas for educators.

The $100,000 project is funded by a $60,000 donation from Woodside Energy. The remaining costs are shared between the City of Lake Charles and Calcasieu Parish School Board.

“At Woodside, we’re committed to giving back to the communities where we live and work,” said Vanessa Martin, Vice President for Woodside’s Louisiana LNG project. “We are committed to continuing our contributions in Louisiana and we’re proud to be supporting further STEM education and research in Lake Charles.”

Since its opening in 2021, the Region 5 STEM Center has offered STEM-based educational opportunities to over 30,000 students across Southwest Louisiana. The addition of this lab aims to transform it into a modern facility.

“Growth is what we strive for in all we do across the district," stated Dr. Jason Van Metre, Superintendent of Calcasieu Parish School Board. "When community partners step in to invest in our students – our future – we all benefit."

Mayor Nic Hunter emphasized the importance of this initiative: “The Region 5 STEM Center is a driving force in developing interest in STEM-based careers... By engaging students early we hope to retain talent locally.”

For more information on the Region 5 STEM Center visit their website.