Chevron and Oakland A’s promote science education at Stege Elementary School

Oakland A’s mascot Stomper and second baseman Eric Sogard  made a special appearance at Stege Elementary School Friday before their game against the Kansas City Royals. The floppy-eared mascot and spectacled major leaguer were in town to celebrate the academic fields of science, technology, engineering and math.

This is the second year the Oakland A’s have partnered with Chevron to promote the oil refinery’s scholastic workbook the “Science of the Game.” Last year the dynamic duo visited Lincoln Elementary School where slugging outfielder Josh Reddick quizzed students about the “physics of the game.”

Chevron Richmond spokesperson Melissa Ritchie said the crude oil company distributed 15,000 workbooks throughout the Bay Area, and invested $15 million dollars in education programs that have impacted more than 500,000 students and 6,700 teachers in California.

Fourth grade teacher Theresa Griffin said her students found the workbooks exciting and have worked out of them every day for the past couple of months. “[My students] don’t get a lot of programs to participate in, so I think community outreach and making partnerships is important because we do need to get into science and technology,” she said.

But for fourth grade student Kayla Ellison it’s more about getting to meet a baseball player. “It was just like the first day I’ve ever done that, and in my mind I’m like ‘Oh, my God, my mind is blown!’” she said while wearing her gold and green ball cap.

“It’s great being around the kids and seeing the smiles on their faces,” Sogard said after signing ball caps and giving high-fives. “It’s great to be able to share with them. I hope the [Science of the Game] will help them now or in the future.”