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Superintendent Sandoval: “Thanks, BHP for Supporting Student Science Fair!”

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Dear Editor:

How’s this for a stocking-stuffer? Just before Christmas the Gila County School Superintendent’s Office and Gila County Education Service Agency received a donation of $5,000 from BHP Billiton. Even though this globe-spanning copper company is based in Australia, BHP continues to demonstrate commitment right here in Globe-Miami.

December is sometimes called ‘the season of giving,’ and what a wonderful expression of BHP’s support for our students in Gila County! In particular, this donation will help sponsor the annual Gila County Regional Science Fair in March, an event which engages schools from Hayden-Winkelman all the way up to Pine-Strawberry; including the San Carlos Apache and Tonto Apache school systems.  This letter is a sincere ‘Thank You’ to BHP, and also an invitation that I hope the mining company’s local chemists and engineers will accept: to come meet participating students at the Science Fair on March 5. In fact, we’d be honored to have their expertise as judges for the morning competition, which will be held at the Gila County Fairgrounds exhibit hall. If you love science and support education, please mark that date on your 2020 calendar. If you’d like to help judge our event, please call Vanessa at 928-402-8788.

Want three compelling reasons to visit on event day? For one, our science fair is well-organized and free. Secondly, you’re virtually guaranteed to learn 10 surprising new things, and thirdly, I guarantee you’ll be entertained. Last year a few of the more creatively titled exhibit entries were ‘Human Battery Life’ and ‘The Curviness of Rollerblading.’

BHP’s generous donation also offers a chance for our students to learn about a local company which continues to make Gila County a place where our graduates can put their education, and their college degrees, to work. Did you know BHP continues to maintain and improve the iconic headframe and other venerable structures at the Old Dominion Park, where the company partnered with the City of Globe, the Chamber of Commerce, and many volunteers, all working together to create trails and exhibits that teach kids today about Territorial Era copper mining here in Globe-Miami? Old Dominion Park is the most visible example of BHP’s commitment to our community. A few more examples include preserving the ‘Miami Entrance Bridge’ over Bloody Tanks Wash between Claypool and Miami, stabilizing the wash last year, and removing asbestos piping alongside the wash. BHP is truly a corporate partner helping to make a future as bright and shiny as coiled copper for our students!

~ Roy Sandoval, Gila County Superintendent of School