By Mike Kinney
Retired San Francisco Giant leftfielder Jeffrey Leonard joined two Chevron Richmond Refinery engineers to help teach the science of baseball to youth at Nicholl Park on Wednesday.
It’s part of a partnership between Chevron Richmond and the Giants Community Fund that brings STEM education to Jr. Giants baseball programs in Richmond every year. This year, an all-girls contingent of Jr. Giants players participated. Students are taught STEM principles through the game of baseball via activities and instruction, said Lily Rahnema, community engagement manager for Chevron Richmond.
In one STEM activity, the young ball players used giant slingshots as part of a lesson on trajectory and angle after a bat strikes a ball.
“Our engineers absolutely love coming down to Nicholl Park every year to teach the Science of Baseball to our local student-athletes,” Rahnema said. “We are proud to partner with the Giants Community Fund on a fun way to inspire children to explore STEM.”
The annual event has built “a good sense of community here in Richmond, it includes everyone,” said Stephanie Vasquez, representative of the Giants Community Fund.
“We all came together like family here,” Vasquez said.
In addition to scientific principles, the kids have learned invaluable lessons in character and working as a team, added local businessman John Ziesenhenne, VP of the board of directors for the Richmond Police Activities League, which sponsors the Jr. Giants.
“Learning to be a team player is something that these young people will carry on doing as adults,” Ziesenhenne said.
