Sometimes, it starts with a question.
Why does that work? What makes it move? Could I build something like that?
For students, curiosity can be the first step toward discovering something much bigger – a subject they love, a skill they want to develop, or a career they never knew existed.
Across Arizona, schools, colleges, nonprofits, and businesses are working together to create more of these moments.
For the Southwest Gas Foundation and Southwest Gas, that work takes many forms – sometimes starting simple: helping a student feel ready to learn.
With support from a $5,000 contribution from the Southwest Gas Foundation, Southwest Gas employees partnered with the Share the Spirit Foundation to provide 90 students from Title I schools with new shoes and socks.
From there, opportunity can grow into curiosity. Since 2024, the Southwest Gas Foundation has supported the Arizona Educational Foundation’s teachSTEM program, which provides educators with hands-on training, and resources to help inspire students to explore STEM careers.
The goal is to give students opportunities to discover a subject that makes them curious enough to ask, “Why? What if?”
The Southwest Gas Foundation has also supported the Arizona Science Center’s Girls in STEM program since 2021, introducing girls in grades 4-8 to science and engineering through hands-on activities.
As students get older, the questions can shift to “What interests me?” and “What can I do with it?”
At Estrella Mountain Community College, Southwest Gas partners with the college on a Natural Gas Program that introduces students to careers in the utility and construction industries.
That is the power of bringing passionate educators, nonprofits, colleges, and businesses together – fueling the experiences, connections, and opportunities that help Arizona students explore what’s next.
To learn more, visit www.swgas.com/ourimpact.
