In order to accomplish its mission of enhancing the quality of education in the Petal School District by providing private funding for a positive impact on the district’s five schools, the Petal School District Education Foundation relies on the donations of its supporters to help fund its activities, events and scholarships throughout the year.
The foundation now has an additional $500 to add to that goal, courtesy of a grant from the Boardwalk Pipelines Education Grant Program, which is available to elementary, middle, junior high and high schools along Boardwalk’s rights of way. The grant was applied for and received by Cayla Camp Burns, a resident and graduate of the Petal School District.
"I’m excited about this new opportunity, with Boardwalk being in our backyard, and them investing in our schools,” said Matt Dillon, superintendent of the Petal School District. “We think that’s a blessing … and we really appreciate Cayla getting the ball rolling for that, to get this opportunity for our district.”
According to a statement issued by their communications team, Boardwalk Pipelines, LP, the parent company of Gulf South Pipeline Company, LLC, Texas Gas Transmission, LLC, and Boardwalk Louisiana Midstream, LLC owns and operates pipeline facilities near the aforementioned types of schools.
“Boardwalk strives to be a good neighbor in communities where it operates and takes pipeline safety seriously,” said Diane Emerson, director of HR administration, philanthropy and HOU Facilities for Boardwalk.
Boardwalk, which is headquarted in Houston, Texas, deals in the natural gas and natural gas liquids industry, and operates a facility on U.S. 11 in Petal, among others around the country.
The funds from the company’s education grant can be used for equipment, special programs, or for other education-driven endeavors.
Twelve elementary, middle, and junior high schools in Mississippi are eligible to receive the grant.
“I’m excited for the opportunity to further connect industry with education in the Petal School District and beyond,” Camp Burns said. “I’m in support of investing in our children, because they are our future.
“I was motivated to look for grant opportunities earlier this year beginning in January because I saw the need, and I was also familiar with key industries that have the ability to meet that need. Also, having a daughter in the district, my goal has been to become as involved as possible in her education, and going for grants is one way I plan to do that.”
In addition, in 2006 Boardwalk established a scholarship program to assist high school seniors from eligible high schools who plan to continue their education in college programs. Scholarships are offered each year for full-time study at an accredited two- or four- year institution of the student’s choice.
The scholarship program is administered by Scholarship Management Services, a division of Scholarship America. Awards are granted without regard to race, color, creed, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or national origin.
Seniors at thirteen high schools located on property where Boardwalk Pipelines operates in Mississippi are eligible to apply for a $2,000 scholarship.
More information about the grant program and the scholarship program can be found online at https://tinyurl.com/yudm4fp3.
“Boardwalk, among many other companies, are not only private donors, they are also major contributors to our local tax revenue,” Camp Burns said. “I think that what they are doing is wonderful, and we should applaud their efforts to go over and beyond to invest in our children and their future.”
Boardwalk Pipelines primarily provides transportation and storage of natural gas and natural gas liquids. The company operates approximately 14,055 miles of pipelines and several underground storage caverns, with an aggregate working gas capacity of approximately 205 billion cubic feet and a liquids capacity of approximately 31.8 million barrels.
To apply for the Boardwalk Pipelines Educational Grant Program, eligible schools can visit Boardwalk Pipelines’ website, www.bwpipelines.com, to apply for an annual amount of $500.
