Corporate Donor Spotlight : ConocoPhillips

Over the past year, ConocoPhillips has given more than $218,000 to about 25 different initiatives within the McCombs School of Business, including direct faculty support, general department and program support and student activities, including etiquette dinners and career fairs.

“ConocoPhillips has provided us with critical support to a number of initiatives that provide opportunities to students to enhance their educational experience,” said Urton Anderson, associate dean for undergraduate programs. “Experiences such as those provided by the McCombs Diversity Council events, the etiquette dinners and the Business Honors Program Symposium have helped students develop many of the skills they will need in their future careers which cannot be taught in the classroom.”

ConocoPhillips has a long history of commitment to the communities in which it operates, including a company-wide support of individual and corporate volunteerism. Additionally, more than half of the company’s annual contributions are directed into education and youth programs.

“ConocoPhillips provides more than just a financial platform for students to learn effective leadership and volunteerism. One of its many university offerings is providing volunteer mentors to work with students to better understand the best approach for them to transition into the full-time workforce through its SPIRIT Scholars program,” said Sid Bassett, director of Mid America, South Texas & Gulf of Mexico Upstream Financial Services at ConocoPhillips. “ConocoPhillips enjoys a very strong relationship with the McCombs School of Business and looks forward to being a part of similar leadership and volunteer events in the future.”

To back up the financial support, numerous ConocoPhillips employees and recruiters have dedicated their time and energy to projects within the McCombs School, including serving as event and classroom speakers and panelists, hosting recruitment events and creating mentoring opportunities through various student activities, including MBA coffees and undergraduate networking seminars.

ConocoPhillips also supports the Supply Chain Management Consortium. The mission of this consortium is to bring together executives from leading corporations with McCombs faculty and students to research and discuss best practices in supply chain management. Other industry partners include Applied Materials, Cardinal Health, Chevron, DaimlerChrysler, Dell, Ford Motor Co., FreeScale, Frito-Lay, Philip Morris and Texas Instruments.

Another school-wide project ConocoPhillips supports is the Hermes Spring Fling, an annual McCombs student appreciation event that attracts more than 2,000 people each year.

Intended to reinforce the “Hermes” tradition and foster a community awareness that leads to greater alumni participation, Hermes Spring Fling has been recognized as an exceptional and innovative student event by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. 

If you are interested in learning more about McCombs School corporate relations or how your corporation can get involved, contact Katy Nelson, director of corporate relationship management, at 512-475-8176 or katy.nelson@mccombs.utexas.edu.