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EDUCATION:  The Woodlands High School - 2006 Colorado School of Mines, BS in Petroleum Engineering

The SPE-GCS scholarship gave me my first opportunities in this industry, and was a continuing source of much needed financial and technical support throughout 4 grueling years at the Colorado School of Mines, for which I am eternally grateful.  One of my favorite collegiate SPE memories was ATCE in New Orleans, where I was the SPE Petrobowl MVP. I was the Treasurer of the SPE student chapter at CSM, and later served as the golf chair.  After I started my career, I served on the young professional board of the San Joaquin Valley section.  No doubt the precollege internship with Anadarko between high school and college as part of the scholarship helped me to be able to work internships throughout all 3 summers in college, which was a very positive experience.  Not only do you gain valuable, real world technical experience, often times prior to your more challenging coursework, but you also have a 3-month interview, so to speak, to really get a feel for and understand the company and people with whom you’ll potentially spend your career.  It’s not all about the money; you need to understand who you are in a professional setting, and find an organization that allows you to be that person.  I graduated Cum Laude at CSM, signed with Oxy, and have worked in many different positions and geographic locations ever since.  My advice to students is to raise your hand when opportunities arise, get as much field experience as you can, and constantly push yourself out of your comfort zone.  Whether it’s manual labor, like packing wells or mixing mud, or helping with routine paperwork, you will be surprised how much you’ll draw on the experience later.  Understanding the nuts and bolts of the business will bring you a tremendous advantage over your peers who don’t.  Secondly, don’t perpetuate the arrogant young engineer stereotype.  Show up with your (hard) hat in your hand, ready to work, and really strive to listen to the many years of experience around you.  The great crew change is coming, so listen and learn as much as you can, while you can.  Before you know it, it just might be you on the brake handle.  Contact me at Brent_Vangolen@oxy.com.