Earlier this month, representatives from Phillips 66 presented OSU Institute of Technology with a $50,000 donation to support several degree programs whose graduates will, in turn, support the energy industry’s workforce.
The monies will be used to fund scholarships and other program needs in the Power Plant Technology, Pipeline Integrity Technology, Natural Gas Compression, Instrumentation Engineering Technology and Electrical/Electronics Technology programs.
“Phillips 66 wanted to help OSUIT programs as our programs match very much to their needs, and our graduates are very well prepared with technical skills and applications,” said Dr. Abul Hasan, dean of the School of Engineering Technologies and interim dean of the School of Energy Technologies.
Phillips 66 has been a strong supporter of OSUIT programs for a number of years and was even recognized with the Regents Business Partnership Excellence Award in 2016.
Rachel O’Donnell, a recruiter for Phillips 66, said the company wants to continue to support the development of students who bring a diverse, agile and highly capable skillset to the workforce.
“OSUIT is exceptionally great at working to continuously enrich their programs, and that has brought a huge value to our industry,” O’Donnell said. “Our donations aid in the development of OSUIT students and bring added resources to programs that we feel are already exceptional. We’ve valued OSUIT’s willingness and ability to partner with us and achieve highly capable individuals that come to work for us.”
The partnership between the university and the company has led to donations of equipment and funds as well as curriculum development. The Houston-based energy company also arranges guest speakers, workshops, internships and scholarships for OSUIT students.
The partnership between Phillips 66 and OSUIT also led to the development of the Pipeline Integrity Technology degree program. The company has continued to support the program through funding for the creation of an outdoor pipeline lab and the Phillips 66 Classroom.
Mike Pierce, interim assistant dean of the School of Energy Technologies, said this latest gift from Phillips 66 will be used to fund scholarships, new items for labs and projects, as well as events and training aids.
“The generosity of companies like Phillips 66 is what allows OSUIT to provide programs such as these in Oklahoma. We appreciate them and all they do for OSUIT and our students,” Pierce said.
O’Donnell said there is a large demand for students to have a little bit of knowledge about everything from electrical, instrumentation, integrity, and just a general exposure to new technologies, which is why this donation is focused on those five OSUIT programs.
“We want this to be a win across the board for everyone. Our goal is to continue partnering with OSUIT so that they can understand the changing demands of our industry,” she said. “Through that, they can enhance curriculum and build strong educational foundations that prepare students to perform in an exciting and evolving industry.”