ExxonMobil presented Lamar University’s Community Relations Program with a check for $25,000 for the establishment of a Navigating Excellence Success Triumph (N.E.S.T.) at Amelia Elementary School.

N.E.S.Ts, innovative, high-tech, welcoming spaces designed to entice precocious students to read and high achieving students to engage and explore, now exist in three BISD elementary schools - Blanchette, Charlton Pollard and Pietzsch-MacArthur. Thanks to ExxonMobil, Lamar University will create a fourth N.E.S.T. at Amelia later this spring.

Norman Bellard, Lamar University’s assistant to the president for community relations and founding member of the South Park Neighborhood Partnership and Teresa Simpson, executive director for the LU/BISD Business Partnership accepted the check on behalf of Lamar University.

“We are excited ExxonMobil has joined us for the benefit of Southeast Texas’ students and literacy in our area,” said Bellard. “Their donation will establish one N.E.S.T., and remaining funds will be dedicated toward establishing another NEST at BISD ExxonMobil business partnership campus.”  

The idea for a N.E.S.T. evolved from a relationship between Lamar University and the neighborhood surrounding the campus, which includes Pietzsch-MacArthur. Several years ago, LU’s former First Lady Nancy Evans began promoting “Reading Wednesdays” at PMac. Every Wednesday Evans would visit with students and incite them to read. Soon afterwards, Evans helped organize LU education majors to regularly tutor the students.  That’s when it became obvious that a special room or space was needed to accommodate reading and individualized learning.

“The first one was so well received and so successful, we looked for other community partners who could fund N.E.S.Ts in every elementary school,” said Bellard. “To date, N.E.S.Ts haven’t been built in middle schools but due to the success of the unique spaces, as well as interest of partners, like ExxonMobil and others we’ll soon announce, we’re expanding the project to reach more and more young people in Southeast Texas.”