Mayor Billie Skellie and Mayor Billy McDonald, joined Cities United for Science Progress (CUSP), a partnership between The U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) and DuPont, in their respective cities at Quarles Elementary School and Pass Christian Elementary School on May 5^th for a Science in the School Day.

Both mayors were on hand to emphasize the importance of science education in the lives of Long Beach and Pass Christian’s schoolchildren.

Mayor Skellie was joined by Long Beach resident and mechanical engineering graduate of Mississippi State University and DuPont’s Area Manager for Purification and Oxidation, Philip Sigler. The Mayor and Sigler led 65 fourth graders at Quarles Elementary School in a fun filled morning of trial and error experimentation as the students built “puff mobiles” with paper, tape, life savers and paper clips.

Mayor McDonald was joined by Diamondhead resident and chemical engineering graduate of Xavier University in New Orleans, Louisiana and masters graduate in chemical engineering from Purdue and DuPont’s Area Manager Environmental, Nicole Tureaud.  The Mayor and Tureaud worked side-by-side with over 90 fourth graders at Pass Christian Elementary throughout the morning on the “puff-mobile” experiment.

“DuPont DeLisle is excited to be a part of such a worthwhile program,” said Pat Nichols, plant manager of DuPont DeLisle Operations.  “Anything we can do to help get kids excited about math and science benefits everyone.  This program introduces area children to math and science, exposing them to excellent

career opportunities while at the same time ensuring that we have future engineers and scientists to keep our country viable in the ever-competitive global market.”

“We are excited to have a partnership that benefits children who are the future of our cities,” said Tom Cochran, executive director of The U.S. Conference of Mayors. “CUSP serves as a useful tool for teachers, students and children across the country and helps revive a much-needed interest in science.”

DuPont is a science company. Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for people everywhere.  Operating in more than 70 countries, DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products and services for markets including agriculture, nutrition, electronics, communications, safety and protection, home and construction, transportation and apparel.

CUSP is a partnership between The U.S. Conference of Mayors and DuPont.  Through the $3 million Lead-Safe…for Kids’ Sake grant program and the acclaimed Science in the School Day initiative, over 30 cities have received grants, more than 54 cities have been visited and close to 14,000 elementary school children have participated in the USCM-DuPont partnership. CUSP provides assistance to mayors in promoting and inspiring student’s interest in science and engineering.

For more information, please contact Jade Floyd, CUSP managing director, at 202.466.7324 (desk) or 202.641.2047 (cell) or via e-mail at jfloyd@usmayors.org.