57 Scholarships Funded For Natural Gas Jobs

Members of the Fayetteville Shale Scholarship Fund announced a $130,000 donation to the University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton.

The donation will fund 57 scholarships to students currently enrolled in the college’s petroleum technology program. The contribution is the largest scholarship donation in the history of the petroleum technology program.

The Fayetteville Scholarship Fund is a non-profit organization made up of member companies who work in the state’s natural gas industry. The group hosts several fundraisers throughout the year to raise scholarship funds for students seeking careers in the state’s oil and natural gas industry.

“The petroleum technology program at UACCM has far exceeded our expectations,” said Donnie Bates, president of the fund board. “We continue to see graduates enter the workforce with the right skills and initiative needed in our industry. And, thanks to the Fayetteville Shale Scholarship Fund, we’re helping provide financial assistance to students interested in careers in the industry while building a strong, local workforce.”

Since the fund began in 2006, it has provided 313 scholarships totaling $530,000 to students studying the Petroleum Technology program at UACCM. Scholarships support student expenses including tuition, fees and books. The university’s scholarship committee awards scholarships to students, based on both academic performance and financial need.

Since 2006, the program’s enrollment has grown from 30 students in its first semester to approximately 147 this year, an increase of 490%. During the past year, 179 students have graduated from the program.