66 Express Contributes Judges, $10,000 Donation to Upcoming Science and Engineering Fair
Fair Sponsorship Aligns With 66 Express Operator’s Mission to Support STEM Education in Northern Virginia
Manassas, Va. March 15, 2024– On Saturday, March 16, at the Edward L. Kelly Leadership Center in Manassas, middle and high school students selected as finalists in the 2024 Prince William-Manassas Regional Science and Engineering Fair (PWMRSEF) will present their projects in hopes of winning an award in one of more than a dozen categories.
As one of the fair’s two primary sponsors, I-66 Express Mobility Partners (I-66 EMP), a global consortium of leading infrastructure firms which built and operates the 66 Express Outside the Beltway mega-project in Northern Virginia, will be on hand to support the participating students and help judge the entries.
“Our team is looking forward to seeing the hard work these students have put into their science fair projects and learning about the interesting results they’ve reached,” said Luis Vázquez, the CEO of I-66 EMP and a Master of Science in Civil Engineering (MSCE). “As a Manassas-based company that’s committed to serving this region with game-changing transportation infrastructure for many years to come, we’re excited to see so many local students grow in their knowledge and interest of science and engineering.”
In addition to providing expert judges, I-66 EMP has made a $10,000 sponsorship contribution to support the fair and to further education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in local schools.
In September of 2023, I-66 EMP contributed $23,000 to SPARK, the educational foundation for Prince William County Public Schools, to fund the installation of new STEM-oriented maker spaces at five Title I middle schools. Maker spaces are rooms, stations, laboratories, or other areas designated for hands-on experimentation and creative innovation that encourages students to develop an interest in STEM subjects.
“Encouraging STEM education is extremely important to us at I-66 EMP, so partnering with the Prince William-Manassas Regional Science and Engineering Fair is a natural fit,” said Nancy H. Smith, I-66 EMP’s Director of Corporate Affairs. “We believe that educating students in STEM fields helps secure the future economic vibrancy of our region. That’s why we’re happy to help judge the entries, and we expect to be impressed by the students’ work.”
Winners will be announced on the Prince William County Public Schools website at PWCS.edu/academics___programs/science___family_life_education/science_fair and on Twitter @PWMRegSciFair.
About the 66 Express Lanes Outside the Beltway:
Part of VDOT’s Transform 66 Outside the Beltway program, the 66 Express Lanes are a transformative 22.5-mile multi-modal mega-project featuring advanced dynamic-tolling systems to keep traffic flowing at all times. The lanes provide Northern Virginia commuters, businesses, and mass transit with a reliable option to move people, goods, and services throughout the I-66 corridor, allowing drivers to Sit Less, Live More. Visit www.Ride66Express.com to learn more, and keep up with the 66 Express Lanes on Facebook and Twitter.
About I-66 Express Mobility Partners:
I-66 Express Mobility Partners (EMP) is a consortium of leading infrastructure companies including Cintra, Meridiam, and APG. In public-private partnership (P3) with VDOT, I-66 EMP is contracted to operate the 66 Express Lanes Outside the Beltway through 2066. Connect with I-66 EMP on LinkedIn.
