The event will raise funds for UNT's Teach North Texas program. TNT is a program that encourages undergraduate math, science and computer science majors to seek a teaching certification within a four-year degree. According to the co-director of TNT Dr. John Quintanilla, Texas and the nation face a critical shortage of qualified science, mathematics and computer science teachers.
Texas Instruments Foundation also will be honored during the luncheon. The foundation recently gave TNT a $425,000 grant to expand the program and add two new master teachers to its staff.
The luncheon will be held at Delaney Vineyards in Grapevine from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. McElvy will discuss the responsibility that corporate America has to support math and science education. ExxonMobil has been a proponent of TNT and similar programs across the country.
McElvy has been with ExxonMobil for more than 31 years, serving in a variety of positions with the company before becoming president of the foundation. He also is a trustee of the Eisenhower Fellowships, which sponsors U.S. internships for emerging global leaders. A Fort Worth native, he was recently named to the Board of the Texas Academy of Math and Science, a two-year residential program for high school students that is based at UNT.
Individuals can reserve a seat at the luncheon for $125. Larger sponsorships are available, contact Michelle Lee at 940-369-7805 or http://www.exxonmobil.com for more information or to reserve a seat.
"Developing our society's skills in math, science and technology is essential to U.S. success in business and industry, as well as on the world stage. ‘Key to Success' provides scholarship support to attract and prepare the very best students to become teachers of math, science and technology, so that our children receive the strongest possible education in these important fields," said Dr. Jerry Thomas, dean of the College of Education.
Previous luncheon speakers include Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert, CEO of Blockbuster, Inc. Jim Keyes and CEO of the National Math and Science Initiative Tom Luce. The luncheon is co-sponsored by the UNT Colleges of Education and Arts and Sciences.
The above text is based on a UNT News Service news release available on the web at http://web3.unt.edu/news/story.cfm?story=11606.
