Photo: (L to R) Martin Olshinksy, president W.Va. Northern
Community College; Doreen Larson, president, Pierpont Community and
Technical College; Gov. Early Ray Tomblin; Gary Willingham, Senior VP,
U.S. Onshore Region, Noble Energy, Inc. and James L. Ski
Noble Energy, Inc.,
announced its partnership with the Community and Technical College
System of West Virginia March 26 for the new West Virginia Community
College Petroleum Tech Program.
Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin will make a formal announcement Wednesday
afternoon about the new program, which will to cater to the state's
petroleum and natural gas boom.
As a founding partner, NobleEnergy will invest $250,000 as a one-time
donation in the institution's one-year certifications and two-year
degree programs focused on shale exploration and production.
The WVCTCS program is one of 14 in the nation.
Gary Willingham, senior vice president of Noble Energy's Onshore
Region, will join Tomblin as well as administrators and students of
Pierpont Community and Technical College and West Virginia Northern
Community College.
Both colleges will offer the new program.
"Education and workforce development are essential when competing for
economic development opportunities," Tomblin said. "These partnerships
and the education reforms underway in West Virginia are vital to
continued workforce development programs."
Noble Energy's contribution is expected to help participating schools
purchase equipment for hands-on training; offer scholarships; and fund
recruiting efforts to attract students to the program from around the
region. In addition, Noble Energy will offer internships to students
enrolled in the program; provide field tours of operations and
facilities; and offer employee expertise in the classroom.
Willingham spoke of Noble's commitment to the area and its people.
"We're here to develop the workforce of the future and prepare them
for what lies ahead," he said. "It's important for us to have a skilled
workforce. We're glad to be able to partner with the community colleges
in the region towards that goal.
"It's a great opportunity for West Virginia," Willingham added. "Not
only Noble, but a lot of companies are expanding. There is a tremendous
resource to be developed here. It can be developed safely and provide
low cost energy to the area. And it will provide a future (for the
younger generation.) We're exciting about it."
The quarter million dollar donation will not be the end of Noble's investment in West Virginia, Willingham said.
"We have programs all over and we're always investing in the people
in the community," he said. "We have a partnership with Marshall County
Schools for energizing our youth in after school programs. We do other
programs in other areas. We continue to look for opportunities where we
can help out. We like to identify the needs in communities and figure
out what we can do to help out."
Link to source:
http://www.wtrf.com/story/25079698/noble-energy-to-invest-250000-in-college-program
