eARth • n e R g y • env iR o n m e n t • - Friends and Alumni of the ...

eNergiziNg LeArNiNg
To mark the retirement of its outgoing CEO, harold Korell ’68, Houston-based
Southwestern energy Company (NYSE:SWN) made a $1.25 million commitment to
Marquez Hall, the building planned for Mines’ petroleum engineering department.
In turn, Korell and his wife, Patricia, pledged to match the company’s contribution with
their own $1.25 million gift.
The combined pledges helped Mines to close in on its
recently achieved $25 million fundraising goal for an
interdisciplinary teaching and research facility that will
house Mines’ petroleum engineering department. “The
new world is an engineer’s world, and Marquez hall will
provide an ideal physical environment for the important
task of educating the engineering talent that the energy
industry needs,” says korell, who continues to serve as
executive chairman of Southwestern energy’s board.
The company currently employs 14 Mines alumni, and
korell notes that Mines graduates bring much more
than technical competence to their careers. “They
have great analytical and problem-solving capabilities,
a solid work ethic, and a get-it-done attitude,” he says.
Outstanding professors and top-notch students make
Mines a one-of-a-kind learning experience in korell’s
view. “i’d encourage students to learn everything they
can while in the presence of such talented people as
they have the opportunity to be around at Mines.”
The korells’ contribution to Marquez hall amplifies their
remarkable commitment to the university. Starting with
a gift to The Mines fund in 1983, they have
consistently and increasingly supported
Mines ever since. They established the
korell endowed Scholarship and provided
funding for the korell Outdoor recreation
Center in 2005. harold received Mines’
distinguished Achievement Medal in
2004, and he currently serves on the CSM
foundation board of governors.
reflecting on his own experience at Mines,
korell most vividly remembers the “hard
work and challenges of it all.” heated
intramural sports rivalries provided some
diversion from the heavy academic work
load. in particular, he recalls his fraternity
team, the betas, posting regular victories
in football and basketball competitions.
“but honestly,” he says, “i enjoy Mines now
more than ever.”
inTelleCTual exChange
in KaZaKhSTan
Chevron is creating new opportunities for Mines students and
faculty, and fostering a unique relationship between the school and
Kazakhstan National Technical University through its University
Partnership Program. One of several universities worldwide
chosen for the program, Mines has received more than $1.5
million over the last two years for educational enhancement.
Chevron is also supporting basin modeling, and earth
science and engineering education programs aimed
at broadening the educational experience at Mines.
The UPP also funds the Chevron Education Center for
Study of the Earth, to be housed in Marquez Hall.
A main component of the UPP is the school’s work with
KazNTU in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Rich with oil and gas reserves,
Kazakhstan is critical to Chevron’s work across the globe and an
important tie for Mines’ petroleum engineers and geoscientists.
“We’re one of few universities nationwide that fully integrates geology,
petroleum engineering and geophysics,” says Petroleum Engineering
Department Head Ramona Graves. “That’s why Chevron chose us to
build this historic relationship with KazNTU.”
Geology Department Head John Humphrey, along with Graves and
Chevron representatives, has made several visits to Kazakhstan since
2008, including a two-week field geology trip last summer. “The field
geology trip was a phenomenal opportunity for the 10 Mines students
we were able to take, and the 18 KazNTU students and faculty we
worked with,” says Humphrey. “Without Chevron’s support, this isn’t
something we’d be able to do. And without the UPP, these students
would miss out on a truly amazing exchange opportunity.”
In addition to the UPP, Chevron committed more than $3.5 million
to support research at Mines last fiscal year. In 2003, Chevron
established a Center of Research Excellence on campus, and more
than 200 current Chevron employees worldwide earned their
degrees at the school. Last year, the company matched more than
$45,000 in employee gifts to Mines, and continued their generous
annual support for academics and student programs at the school.
Funding For
FoCuS areaS
Longtime philanthropic partner Conocophillips
pledged $1.4 million during the 2009 fiscal year. Their
contributions support Marquez Hall and substantially
increase the company’s annual support for the
prestigious ConocoPhillips SPIRIT Scholars Program,
as well as providing continued support for academic
departments and initiatives at Mines. The company
gave $40,000 through its Faculty Support Program
and $10,000 to the 2009 Oil Shale Symposium held
on campus in October. They also matched $30,500
in employee contributions to Mines last year.
“This investment reflects our continuing commitment
to Colorado School of Mines and its mission to
achieve academic excellence in the fields of science,
engineering and technology,” says Robert A. Ridge,
ConocoPhillips’ vice president for health, safety and
environment and a 1971 Mines alumnus.
Over just the last five years, the company has made
gifts and commitments of more than $2.6 million to
Mines, and sponsored research consortia and new
projects through the Colorado Renewable Energy
Collaboratory. One of the top recruiters on campus,
the company currently employs more than 170
Mines graduates.
“The Mines community is proud to count
ConocoPhillips as one of its most dedicated
corporate partners,” says President Bill Scoggins.
“And we are thankful for their ongoing
support as we work toward continued
excellence in critical fields related to earth,
energy and environment.”
handS-on
eduCaTional
enriChMenT
Generous support from Ch2M hill enabled Mines
students to visit the site where the U.S. nuclear
industry is being reborn. In October 2009, 13
graduate students in the Nuclear Materials Science
program toured the Idaho National Laboratory in
Idaho Falls, visiting the advanced test reactor, fuel
processing/fabrication facilities, material evaluation
laboratories and fuel storage area. Saleem Drera, a
PhD candidate at Mines who participated, notes, “The
INL tour showed me how many options we have for
changing the nuclear fuel cycle to meet greater and
more challenging objectives for energy generation
and safety.”
8 9
See page 13 for the latest information on the
Marquez Hall fundraising project.
CH2M HILL’s $25,000 gift provides for this and
other enrichment activities for the graduate student
physicists and materials/metallurgical engineers
enrolled in Mines’ Nuclear Materials Science Program.