Key Points

• Marathon Petroleum’s Detroit refinery welcomed 12 students for its 2026 Grow Detroit Young Talent program, a summer workforce development experience that introduces Detroit youth to refinery careers.
• Participants will rotate through refinery departments, receive hands-on learning and take part in weekly soft skills training.
• At the end of the program, each participant will receive a $5,000 scholarship to apply toward a university, college or trade school.

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Marathon Petroleum’s Detroit refinery welcomed a new class of students to its annual Grow Detroit Young Talent program, continuing a partnership with the City of Detroit that gives local youth hands-on experience and exposure to potential career paths.

During the summer program, participants will spend time across refinery departments, learning about refining operations, safety, maintenance and other parts of the business. They also will take part in weekly soft skills training designed to help prepare them for future education and employment opportunities.

The program began with orientation and computer-based training, followed by conversations with employees who shared their own career journeys. Participants also joined 50 members of the Detroit Youth Service Corps, a refinery-supported program hosted at Wayne State University, for interview skills training and mock interviews with refinery volunteers.

“We are excited to be part of these young people’s lives and career journeys,” said Leatha Hallmark, vice president of Marathon Petroleum’s Detroit refinery. “Programs like Grow Detroit Young Talent help students explore what is possible, build confidence and see how their skills and interests can connect to meaningful careers.”

“I’m learning from people who work in these jobs every day, and it makes me think differently about what I may want to do in the future.”

Grow Detroit Young Talent is a citywide summer employment program that provides meaningful work experiences for young people. At the Detroit refinery, the program provides participants the opportunity to see the work up close and learn from employees in a range of roles. Previous participants have explored topics such as refining, welding, vehicle maintenance, safety procedures, resume development and interviewing.

“This program is helping me understand what different careers can look like and how many paths are available,” said Mariah Warfield, a 2026 Grow Detroit Young Talent participant. “I’m learning from people who work in these jobs every day, and it makes me think differently about what I may want to do in the future.”

At the end of the program, participants will receive a $5,000 scholarship to apply toward a university, college or trade school. The program supports the refinery’s broader community efforts to create opportunities for Detroit youth and help build workforce skills for the future.