School of Energy Resources Students Thrive in Industry Internship Programs

 

Students in the School of Energy Resources (SER) Energy Resource Management and Development (ERMD) program have seen a substantial uptick in mentorship and professional experiences through industry internship programs.

During the summer of 2023, many students in both the Professional Land Management (PLM) and Energy and Environmental Systems (EES) concentrations benefited from industry-led internships to gain valuable hands-on experience and forge important relationships with professionals in the energy field.

“We are very pleased with the drive of our students to secure experiential learning and internship positions in the energy sector during their breaks,” says SER Academic Director Kami Danaei. “We are also really excited by the diversity of companies that show a genuine interest in our students. A main focus of our degree program is to ensure that we are meeting the needs of the energy industry, so it is very encouraging that we are seeing our students fulfilling those needs for a variety of companies.”

Students that completed summer internships include:

— Jacob Burns, of Wheatland, Wyo. is completing his ERMD degree in the PLM concentration. During the summer, he worked for Peabody Energy at their Gillette operations in the Land Division under the Supervision of SER alumnus Fred Eden.

— Talbot Carter, of Hinsdale, Ill. worked for Peabody Energy in the Environmental Department. She is a student in the EES concentration.

— Russell Ferrell, of Green River, Wyo. is a student in the EES concentration. He worked as a Plant Safety Intern at trona mine operated by Genesis Alkalai.

–Connor Fleming, of Huntersville, N.C., worked in Lakewood, Colo. at Tallgrass Energy as a Right of Way Record Intern. Fleming is in the PLM concentration.

— Ryan Fogg, of Burns, Wyo. worked as a GIS Intern with the Wyoming Stock Growers Association. Fogg is a PLM student and is part of the 3+3 program on a trajectory towards law school.

— Jacob Schneider, of Cincinnati, Ohio worked as a Land Technician Intern with Water & Environmental Technologies (WET). A PLM student, Schneider will graduate in December.

–Kendall Klos, of Johnsburg, Ill., is a PLM student and worked as a Land Negotiator Intern for ConocoPhillips in Midland, Tex.

–Rachel Reese, of Johnstown, Colo., worked as a Land Negotiator Intern for ConocoPhillips in Midland, Tex. She is a PLM student and is also in the 3+3 program.

The Impacts of Internships

Internships are vital for growth, development and workforce success to students and employers alike. They allow students to put the knowledge and competencies learned in college into practice, while providing companies with the ability to train and test potential new hires for critical skills.

 

 

 

 

 

For EMRD students, the value of an internship is evident in the positive feedback reported about the experiences they had while working directly in the field.

“There is a lot of value in ‘learning by doing’,” says Klos. “Internships really allow us to connect what we do in the classroom with the real world. I don’t think we fully understand the significance of what we are learning in class until we apply it. I am pleased to report that I felt very well prepared.”

During the 10-week internship at ConocoPhillips, both Klos and Reese worked with their land team, running title, shadowing landmen, reading leases and agreements, and going into the field to collaborate with different team members including geologists and reservoir engineers.

“The bar is set very high now for my future experiences because I learned so much during my internship with ConocoPhillips,” adds Klos. “The confidence that was placed in the interns was inspiring. We were held to the same standard and expectations as full-time employees in the company and trusted to manage tasks and responsibilities, which I really appreciated. It really allowed me to expand my understanding of the industry and grow as a professional.”

Reese says that the opportunity to work in Texas was attractive to gain a new perspective on the oil and gas industry in another state, as well as the chance to work with other people from different regions.

“I was so impressed by the culture and caliber of ConocoPhillips,” says Reese. “Everyone was super welcoming and made sure that we had what we needed to succeed for the summer, and the projects were challenging and interesting. I confidently walked away from this experience with more knowledge about Texas oil and gas law, NRI calculations, key lease provisions, and negotiation skills, all of which I am eager to apply back in my academics. The entire experience really inspired my curiosity and further interest in the career field.”

Jacob Burns and Connor Fleming expressed similar sentiments about working for Peabody Energy and Tallgrass Energy, respectively.

“During my internship with Peabody, I was entrusted to work on one main project by myself which allowed me to use skills, but also to find weaknesses and work with leadership to ask questions and learn,” says Burns. “I felt both prepared, but also excited to rise to new challenges while working on the title side of the land profession.”

“While at Tallgrass Energy as a Right of Way Records Intern, I was able to gain an understanding of the day-to-day work that goes into managing legal paperwork for a cross-country midstream company,” says Fleming. “As a PLM major, I felt that I was more than prepared to enter this role and succeed in it but I am equally grateful to SER and the Tallgrass Land team for being available to help when I had questions or needed to fill in the gaps.”

In addition to personal success, the summer positions and programs have led to more opportunities for other ERMD students, securing positions that allow for continued learning and skill building throughout the academic year and interest from new companies.

“Internships are so beneficial because they are opening new doors and new opportunities for our students,” says Danaei. “In turn, our students are also doing a really great job representing the University of Wyoming, the School of Energy Resources and the ERMD program. In addition to bringing a strong educational foundation from their studies in the program, they are conducting themselves with a level professionalism, and a sincere desire to learn more while in these positions. We are very proud of the position feedback we have received from our employers and we hope to continue to expand these incredible opportunities for our students.”

(Pictured left to right – Jacob Burns, Rachel Reese, Connor Fleming, Kendall Klos)