ConocoPhillips Gives $1 Million in Departmental Grants To The University of Texas at Austin

May 14, 2009

AUSTIN, Texas — ConocoPhillips has contributed $1 million to support academic programs at The University of Texas at Austin.

The grant benefits undergraduates and graduate students in the university's McCombs School of Business, Cockrell School of Engineering, Jackson School of Geosciences and College of Natural Sciences. The largest component of the donation is $275,000 for the SPIRIT Scholars program. Now in its seventh year at the university, the program supports scholarships, mentorship programs, enrichment activities and internship opportunities for students pursuing a career in the energy industry.

"The SPIRIT Scholars program is an incredible resource to our students in business, engineering, geosciences and computer science," said William Powers Jr., president of the university. "We're extremely grateful for ConocoPhillips' continuing investment in The University of Texas."

ConocoPhillips executive Rex Bennett, who holds an engineering degree from the university, presented the donation. It brings ConocoPhillips' cumulative giving to more than $23 million, including outright gifts and research grants.

Headquartered in Houston, ConocoPhillips operates in more than 30 countries and has more than 30,000 employees. It is the third largest integrated energy company in the United States, based on market capitalization and oil and gas reserves.

For more information, contact:  Kristin Baker, University Development Office, 512-232-7822.