Oklahoma State University Receives $2M Gift from ConocoPhillips

Students, professors, programs and alumni to benefit from funds

Oklahoma State University has announced a gift of $2 million from ConocoPhillips designed to benefit more than 30 campus units. A check was presented recently to OSU President Burns Hargis by Debbie Adams, ConocoPhillips president of transportation and ’83 chemical engineering alumna.

“ConocoPhillips continues to be one of OSU’s best partners,” Hargis said. “Whether the economy is soaring or uncertain, whether the price of oil is rising or not, ConocoPhillips consistently makes gifts to benefit OSU students, faculty, staff and alumni. We thank everyone at the company for their ongoing support and contributions to our success.”

A long-time proponent of higher education, ConocoPhillips delivered its annual support to OSU of $2 million. The corporation’s most recent gift was unrestricted.  Its Matching Gift Program totaled an additional $90,480. That program matches up to $10,000 of each employee’s gifts to K-12 schools or universities. ConocoPhillips and its predecessors have given more than $34 million to OSU and the company remains the University’s largest corporate donor.

“ConocoPhillips hires more OSU graduates than any other company, so it is a valuable relationship for both of us,” Hargis said. “They help us create, innovate and educate with their generous gifts. In turn, we endeavor to give another generation of students the opportunity to receive the well-rounded education common among ConocoPhillips employees.”

In a letter accompanying the check, Gene Batchelder, ConocoPhillips senior vice president, chief administrative officer and ’69 OSU alumnus said, “ConocoPhillips is extremely proud of the Oklahoma State University graduates that are or have been a part of our company.  They bring a wealth of knowledge and breadth of experience that continues to create a lasting impact on our business.”

The corporation recommended the following allocation of the $2 million gift: $1 million for the ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center; $350,000 for the SPIRIT Scholars Program; $225,000 for the Spears School of Business; $192,000 for the College of Engineering, Architecture & Technology; $118,000 for diversity programs; $70,000 for other support; and $45,000 for Arts & Sciences.

The funds will support a variety of academic endeavors such as scholarships, endowed chairs, visiting speakers, graduate studies, equipment purchases, career services, multicultural development and other academic projects.

The ConocoPhillips SPIRIT (Safety, People, Integrity, Responsibility, Innovation, Teamwork) Scholars Program helps prepare students to not only be successful in the business world, but also to become effective corporate leaders. While scholarships alone can make a significant impact, the SPIRIT scholars program serves as a flagship to corporate/university relations by adding enrichment activities such as visits to executive board rooms and ConocoPhillips facilities as well as the enhancement of personal leadership skills that make the experience significant for ConocoPhillips and students.

“We continue to be enormously grateful for ConocoPhillips’ generosity and the valuable partnership this corporate leader has created with Oklahoma State University over several decades,” said Kirk Jewell, OSU Foundation President and CEO.

The OSU Foundation serves as the private fundraising organization for OSU, as designated by the OSU Regents. Its mission is to unite donor and university passions and priorities to achieve excellence.

Oklahoma’s only university with a statewide presence, Oklahoma State University is a five-campus, public land-grant educational system that improves the lives of people in Oklahoma, the nation, and the world through integrated, high-quality teaching, research and outreach.  OSU has more than 32,000 students across its system and nearly 21,000 on its Stillwater campus; with students from all 50 states and around 110 nations.  Established in 1890, OSU has graduated more than 200,000 students who have made a lasting impact on Oklahoma and the world. 

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