May 23, 2011 By Renee Busby, Press-Register Mobile, Ala. – Bishop State Community College will upgrade math and science facilities with a $25,000 grant from BP PLC. Bishop State President James Lowe said the school formed a relationship with the company while he was on the governor's task force for cleanup related to last year's oil spill. The spill occurred last year on April 20 when the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded. Lowe said BP officials came to the Mobile college for a tour, and he "shared with them that we needed some improvements," especially to math and science areas. Lowe said he explained that the college has been forced to work with lean budgets because of proration, across-the-board state cuts. BP, he said, offered to help and came up with the $25,000 figure. Lowe said a purchase list is being prepared by the division of math and science chairman, and will include math technology, microscopes and computers. Ayana McIntosh-Lee, general manager of external relations for BP in Alabama, said in a statement that BP's investment "will prepare graduates with the technical skills necessary to enter and succeed in the local workforce." Lowe also hopes to form a partnership with the company that will help students and graduates gain jobs with BP. © 2011 aol.com, Mobile, Ala. © 2011 Press-Register, Mobile, Ala. All rights reserved. Used with permission of The Press Register
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