ConocoPhillips establishes engineering endowment at UAF

April 5, 2011

UAF photo by Todd Paris. Trond-Erik Johansen, left, president of ConocoPhillips Alaska, poses with Chancellor Brian Rogers and Doug Goering, dean of UAF's College of Engineering and Mines, after Johansen announced a $500,000 endowment to CEM.

Marmian Grimes
907-474-7902
4/5/11

The University of Alaska Fairbanks and ConocoPhillips Alaska today announced a gift to support engineering education and research at UAF.

The $500,000 ConocoPhillips UAF Engineering Endowment will support students in the UAF College of Engineering and Mines by augmenting engineering laboratories, increasing the availability of academic support services and building undergraduate research opportunities.

“This grant continues our tradition of investing in quality training and education opportunities in Alaska,” said Trond-Erik Johansen, president of ConocoPhillips Alaska. “Our company is investing in UAF's engineering programs to create the workforce our state will need in the future. We hope that funding these programs at the University of Alaska Fairbanks will encourage students to stay in Alaska, work in Alaska and bring their skills, technology and innovation to the state.”

UAF photo by Todd Paris. Trond-Erik Johansen, president of ConocoPhillips Alaska, makes a presentation to the Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce, during which he announced a $500,000 endowment to UAF's College of Engineering and Mines.

UAF has been educating engineering students since 1922. ConocoPhillips has a longtime association with the UAF College of Engineering and Mines. The company offers internships to students and many of those students move on to full-time positions when they graduate. Company representatives and alumni serve on the school’s advisory board and give back to the school as volunteers and mentors. In addition, the university and ConocoPhillips have a longstanding tradition of research collaboration.

“We look forward to continuing that partnership and working together to develop the human capital needed to advance Alaska's oil and gas industry and the state's economy,” said Doug Goering, dean of the UAF College of Engineering and Mines. “This gift will help train tomorrow’s engineers and advance our knowledge base in arctic oil and gas development. By working together, we hope to help keep Alaska's oil and gas industry healthy and viable for many years to come.”

ADDITIONAL CONTACTS: Natalie Lowman, ConocoPhillips Alaska communications director, at 907-263-4153 or N.M.Lowman@conocophillips.com. Doug Goering, College of Engineering and Mines dean, at 907-474-7730 or djgoering@alaska.edu.

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