ExxonMobil Contributes Lead Gift for Texas State Science and Engineering Fair Hosted This Year...

Business Editors/Science Writers/Education Writers

LUBBOCK, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 9, 2004

More Than 1,000 Student Competitors from across the State Are

Expected to Attend

The ExxonMobil Foundation officially announced today their $50,000 contribution

to the ExxonMobil Texas State Science and Engineering Fair (EMTSSEF) for the fourth consecutive year. The Fair is the state competition for middle and high school regional science fair winners, attracting more than 1,000 student competitors in two divisions. The junior division includes grades 6-8, and the senior division includes grades 9-12.

Operating the state level science competition since 2001, Texas Science Careers Consortium rotates the fair location between member universities in two-year terms. This year, Texas Tech University in Lubbock will be the new host of the fair continuing to serve as the host university through 2005. The 2004 Fair will be held April 1-3 at the United Spirit Arena on the Texas Tech University Campus.

"Education is the most important focus of ExxonMobil's giving program and we are proud to continue our partnership with the Texas Science Careers Consortium to recognize and reward those students who have excelled in science," said Edward F. Ahnert, president of the ExxonMobil Foundation. "The ExxonMobil Texas State Science and Engineering Fair is a great way to encourage young scientists and introduce this generation of gifted students to the endless opportunities that science holds."

Now in its 18th year, the annual competition invites winners of regional science fairs sanctioned by the International Science & Engineering Fair (ISEF) to compete at the state level. Students qualify for the state competition at the ExxonMobil Texas State Science and Engineering Fair by placing 1st, 2nd and 3rd in their respective categories at the regional science fairs. The winners of the state competition in the senior division advance to the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF), which will be held May 9-15, 2004 in Portland, Oregon.

The ExxonMobil Texas State Science and Engineering Fair also provides an opportunity for the top 10% winners to move on to the Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge, which will hold the final round of competitions in the fall. Last year after winning at the ExxonMobil Texas State Science and Engineering Fair, Elizabeth Monier from Keystone Junior High in Boerne, Texas won second place in the Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge out of almost 7,300 participants.

"A variety of science-related activities will be available for those attending the fair, including the Science Spectrum and OmniMax theatre, the Lubbock Lake Landmark archaeological site, and the Texas Tech Museum and Moody Planetarium," said Dr. Bruce Whittlesey, Ph.D., Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Texas Tech University. "As in previous years, student participants will be eligible to win a wide range of scholarships and special awards totaling several hundred thousand dollars."

ExxonMobil Foundation is the primary philanthropic arm of the Exxon Mobil Corporation in the United States. The Foundation engages in a broad range of philanthropic activities focusing on the communities where ExxonMobil Corporation has significant operations. In addition, the Foundation supports research and dissemination on selected topics of national interest to the energy industry, including: education, health and environment.

Additional information on the 2004 ExxonMobil Texas State Science and Engineering Fair is available at http://www.statesciencefair.ttu.edu/