LAGCOE is Fostering Education
Feb 19, 2018
For 63 years and counting, LAGCOE has nurtured countless initiatives dedicated to educating its members, the community and the next generation about the energy industry, its value and the opportunities it provides.
The creation of the LAGCOE Education Fund branches from this ongoing mission. Through the Fund, 501(c)(3) funding for projects and programs supporting educational efforts for or about the energy industry is provided. Since its establishment in 2012, the LAGCOE Education Fund has provided scholarships and endowed professorships at both the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and South Louisiana Community College.
The LAGCOE Education Fund has given 5 students $43,000 in Future Energy Professionals scholarships. These students were selected from nearly 400 students from 15 schools & 8 parishes who toured LAGCOE’s technical expositions and conferences since 2013. The purpose of the Future Energy Professionals tours is to introduce students who excel in Math and Science a chance to interact with a current undergraduate majoring in Engineering, an oil and gas industry professional who is a member of the Young Professionals of LAGCOE, as well as a variety of industry companies who exhibit at LAGCOE’s technical expositions and conferences. LAGCOE is excited to award another round of Future Energy Professionals Scholarships later this Spring.
“The LAGCOE Education Fund has provided me with incredible opportunities to gain first-hand exposure and connections to current local industry and professionals,” said Laura Manuel, Future Energy Professionals Scholarship Winner. “I look forward to continuing my participation in YPL events and all that the LAGCOE community has to offer."
In addition to funding scholarships and endowed professorships, funds from the LAGCOE Education Fund are used to host educational programs and events throughout the year, including the popular, family-friendly Light & Learn with LAGCOE event, held each December during the Oil Center’s Festival of Lights, where children of all ages and their families are invited to participate in STEM-related learning activities.
As part of the Fostering Education initiative, LAGCOE collaborated with the University of Louisiana at Lafayette School of GeoSciences and the Lafayette Science Museum to prepare a Petroleum Exhibit. The exhibit aims to educate Kindergarten through 12th grade students and teachers, as well as oilfield families and the greater Lafayette community about the science, engineering and societal benefits of oil and gas exploration, production and refining. The exhibit visually tells the story of oil and gas from geological pursuit to production.
Each year, the Young Professionals of LAGCOE (YPL) hosts the LAGCOE Sporting Clays Shoot, which serves as the chief fundraising event for the LAGCOE Education Fund. This year, the shoot is scheduled for Saturday, February 24 with a 9:00 a.m. flight and an 11:00 a.m. flight. In between the flights will be a silent auction. Limited team spots are still available and may be reserved for $250 online at www.LAGCOE.com/events/lagcoe-sporting-clays or by calling the LAGCOE office at (337)235-4055.
Donations to the LAGCOE Education Fund can be made at any time through Community Foundation of Acadiana. For more information, please contact LAGCOE Education Coordinator, Lori Gauthier, at lori@lagcoe.com.
Lori Gauthier | LAGCOE Education Coordinator