Photo by Donald A. Promnitz. Al Williams (left), vice president at Chevron, San Joaquin Valley Business Unit watches Fresno State physics professor Don Williams and Tiffany Pawlowski, administrative coordinator at the physics department and outreach make ice cream with liquid nitrogen.

Fresno State’s science, technology, engineering, agriculture and math (STEAM) program received a large boost on Monday in the form of a $450,000 grant from Chevron.

“Today is very special because we have an opportunity to recognize an inspirational investment by our friends at Chevron,” said Joseph Castro, president at Fresno State. “And we are proud to partner with Chevron to make a positive difference for our students, the Central Valley, and beyond.”

Of the gift, $325,000 will go towards the development of a Process and Control Automation Academy led by the Lyles College of Engineering and the Jordan College of Agriculture Sciences and Technology.

“Chevron employees take great pride in safely developing… gas resources, delivering affordable reliable energy that improves lives, and powers the world while creating value for our business partners and the communities where we operate,” said Al Williams, vice president at Chevron, San Joaquin Valley Business Unit in Bakersfield. “To do that, we need highly skilled and talented people like at Fresno State University.”

The ceremony at Fresno State was followed by a demonstration by the Physics Outreach team.