Submitted Photo Superintendent of Public Instruction Kirsten Baesler was joined by area first responders on Tuesday to assist in distribution of the Hess toy trucks at Sweet Briar School near Mandan.

BISMARCK – Hess Corporation announced on Tuesday it will donate the just-released 2020 Hess Ambulance and Rescue trucks and STEM education kits to every elementary school in North Dakota for the third straight year, totaling approximately 6,700 trucks in all.

Aligning with the state’s Strategic Vision for education, Hess has again partnered with the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction to find new opportunities for interactive teaching and learning. The STEM curriculum guide, designed by Baylor College of Medicine’s Center for Educational Outreach, uses the 2020 Ambulance and Rescue model of the iconic toy line as a learning tool that introduces elementary age students to different STEM concepts in a fun and engaging way.

One of the first schools to receive the toy truck kits will be the Sweet Briar School, a one-room rural elementary school near Mandan for students in grades kindergarten through eighth grade.

Brent Lohnes, general manager for North Dakota, said, “On behalf of all of my colleagues at Hess, we want to say thank you to all educators and first responders who are working in the COVID-19 reality of 2020. It certainly is fitting this year that the truck not only provides a strong STEM curriculum but highlights first responders.”

“Hess’ mission is to be the most trusted energy partner wherever we operate and to make a positive impact in the communities where we live and work. We are proud to play a role in North Dakota supporting education and STEM,” Lohnes added.

This year’s truck is the first-ever ambulance from Hess and pays tribute to all first responders. The heavy-duty medical transport includes an oversized passenger compartment that doubles as a carrier for the Rescue partner, an accompanying rugged on/off road pickup truck.

Lisa Strom, an emergency medical responder with the New Salem ambulance, spoke about the importance of the 2020 truck to the first responder community; “I volunteer with an amazing group of people who selflessly give every time that call goes out. These individuals go above and beyond when duty calls to help. Thank you to the Hess Toy Truck program for honoring those who choose to answer that call to make our communities safer.”

Hess will ship the toy trucks to each elementary school in November, and the STEM curriculum will be available for download or will be distributed electronically. Teachers will be able to use the materials as part of their curriculum going forward. The Hess Toy Truck has been a holiday tradition since 1964 and is one of the longest running toy brands in the U.S.