Marathon Petroleum’s Garyville refinery in Louisiana awarded a $350,000 grant to the St. John the Baptist Parish Public Schools.

The investment by Marathon will support building and equipment upgrades at the school system’s Career Technical Education (CTE) Leadership Academy and allow more students to participate in the school’s award-winning welding program.

Students of the program earn welding certifications upon graduation, with many receiving part-time employment while in high school and full-time employment opportunities post-graduation.

The upgrades are expected to begin early next year and to be completed before the start of the 2024-2025 school year.

“On behalf of Marathon Petroleum, and as a proud native of St. John the Baptist Parish, it is my absolute honor to announce our latest investment in the students of St. John,” Iman Montgomery, the refinery’s community and stakeholder engagement representative, said. “We’re proud to be part of this community, and together, we are working harder than ever to provide new opportunities for our young people and to strengthen the communities we call home.”

Montgomery was joined for the grant announcement by Vice President of Refining Mike Henschen and other employees from the refinery.

“We are always working with our larger community to create and inspire new opportunities for our students in St. John,” said Interim Superintendent Kendria Spears. “This investment by Marathon Petroleum is the latest success story, thanks to our shared focus and desire to make people’s lives better.”

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, “about 42,600 openings for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers are projected each year, on average, over the decade.” Many of the openings will be due to older workers in these professions retiring.