STUDENT NEWS

MEWBOURNE COLLEGE OF EARTH & ENERGY CONFERS 131 GRADUATES

Written by: Candeh Powell
The Mewbourne College of Earth & Energy held its 3rd Convocation Ceremony Saturday, May 10th, 2008. The ceremony location was, for the 2nd consecutive year, in the elegantly appointed Reynolds’s Performing Arts Center, formerly known as Holmberg Hall. Of the 131 graduates, 95 participated in this momentous event: the largest graduating class to date.

The convocation ceremony began as the pianist played "Pomp and Circumstance," the traditional musical accompaniment during graduation ceremonies. Graduates led by CPGG and MPGE faculty, dressed in their full regalia, streamed into the historic auditorium carrying School and College banners. As the banners were placed on the stage and the faculty and graduates were seated, Dr. Larry Grillot, Dean of the MCEE, spoke to the graduates and their families about the impressive accomplishments of the MCEE students and faculty
Left to Right: Bryce Ballard, Leah Parkhill, Katie Gunderson
over the past year. Following Dean Grillot, the MCEE Outstanding Seniors, Bryce Ballard and Katie Gunderson spoke in tandem delivering a speech which was both funny and inspiring. They did an outstanding job, setting a precedent for future Outstanding Senior speeches. Dr. Carl Sondergeld, Associate Dean of the MCEE and convocation enunciator, took the podium signaling that the time had come to confer the degrees upon the graduates. Beginning with PhD candidates, who were hooded by their faculty advisors, and followed by Master’s and Bachelor’s candidates, each student walked across the stage as his or her name was announced and received his or her diploma. After the last degree was conferred, Mr. John Ritz, Assisant Dean of External Relations, gave the Alumni Charge calling on the graduates to continue their involvement in the Mewbourne College of Earth & Energy.

The ceremony was followed by a lovely reception in the Molly Shi Boren Ballroom located in the Oklahoma Memorial Union. Mozart filled the air as the Rotavelle String Quartet performed. In addition, beautiful bouquets overflowing with bright and festive spring flowers adorned every table. There was plenty to eat for all, as the ballroom was filled with multi-tiered tables overflowing with an array of dishes including dips and cheeses from around the world, desserts, and meat carving stations. The reception lasted for several hours as faculty, administrators and staff joined with the graduates and their families to celebrate this special occasion.

Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy Class of 2008 and faculty

STUDENT AWARD WINNERS

The Mewbourne College of Earth & Energy Schools recently announced their student award winners.

The ConocoPhillips School of Geology & Geophysics awards went to:

Charles N. Gould Award for Outstanding Senior: Katie Gunderson (photo unavailable)
David Stearns Award for Outstanding Geology Student: Nicole McMahon (photo unavailable)
Alan Witten Award: Rika Burr
Ben Hare Prize: Ben Drenth
Student Rock Award: Vincent Heesakkers
Stan Cunningham Excellence in Teaching: Kristen Marra
Estwing Hammer Award for Outstanding Senior: Juliana Gay, Matt Hamilton

Left to Right: Dr. Elmore, Rika Burr

Left to Right: Dr. Elmore, Ben Drenth, Carol Hare

Left to Right: Dr. Elmore, Vincent Heesakkers

Left to Right: Dr. Elmore, Stan Cunningham, Kristen Marra

Left to Right: Juliana Gay, Dr. Elmore, Matt Hamilton

This year’s Mewbourne School of Petroleum & Geological Engineering Outstanding Student winners are (photos unavailable):

Outstanding Senior Award: Bryce Ballard
Outstanding Junior Award: Emad Alabbad
Outstanding Sophomore Award: Nkiruka Nweze
Outstanding Freshman Award: Katherine Rhine


CONOCOPHILLIPS SCHOOL OF GEOLOGY & GEOPHYSICS STUDENTS WIN INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION

Written by: Dr. Roger Slatt

A University of Oklahoma student team from the Mewbourne College of Earth & Energy won first place in the International Imperial Barrel Competition sponsored by the Annual American Association of Petroleum Geologists.

The team from OU’s ConocoPhillips School of Geology & Geophysics - composed of Elizabeth Baruch, Roderick Perez, Romina Portas, Carlos Russian and Carlos Santacruz, all first-year master’s students -competed against 34 university teams representing the United States, Austria, Canada, France, Russia, Scotland, England, Indonesia and Nigeria to win the first-place honor and a $20,000 award designated for student support.

The program was initiated to encourage students from universities worldwide to compete in a petroleum exploration program similar to that which they will experience when working in a petroleum company. Participating teams were provided with a complete data set from an area (Australia’s Cooper and Eromonga basins, in OU’s case), including seismic and well logs. Within a six- to eight-week period, the teams are required to analyze the data, develop a portfolio of exploration drilling prospects and present their findings in a formal presentation judged by industry exploration experts.

"The team was absolutely flawless in their science, application and presentation, which included a statistical analysis and ranking of seven drilling prospects they developed on the basis of sound geologic principles," said the team’s adviser, Roger Slatt, OU professor of geology & geophysics, holder of the Lew and Myra Ward Chair in Reservoir Characterization and director of the Institute of Reservoir Characterization in OU’s Sarkeys Energy Center.
Left to right: Roderick Perez, Elizabeth Baruch, Carlos Russian, Roger Slatt, Romina Portas, Carlos Santacruz