Marathon Oil Gifts $1 Million to UW

February 19, 2008 — Marathon Oil Corporation, one of the world's leading energy companies, today (Tuesday) donated a gift of $1 million to the University of Wyoming that will support energy education and research programs at UW.

The announcement was made during a news conference in the Wyoming State Capitol. Making the presentation were Steve Guidry, regional vice president of U.S. Production for Marathon, Wyoming Gov. Dave Freudenthal, UW President Tom Buchanan, and other UW and Marathon officials.

Marathon's gift will be matched by Wyoming's state endowment and facilities matching funds, doubling the $1 million contribution to $2 million. Marathon's support will create valuable opportunities for Marathon employees to interact and engage with UW students, particularly in UW's areas of distinction including geology and geophysics, engineering, and other fields related to energy education and research.

"This partnership with Marathon Oil continues the unprecedented support the university is receiving to expand research and education in developing and managing Wyoming's vast energy resources," said UW President Tom Buchanan. "This gift will not only support our efforts to help bolster Wyoming's economic prosperity, it will also provide valuable academic and research experiences for our students to work in an industry that's critical to the state's economy."

"Wyoming has been part of Marathon's history going back nearly 100 years, and the state is well positioned to play a critical role in our country's energy portfolio far into the future," said Guidry. "The formation of the university's School of Energy Resources could not be better timed to educate and train students, and to serve as a focal point for critical, leading-edge research. We are pleased to support the important work being pursued by the University of Wyoming."

The gift will fund programs within the UW Department of Geology and Geophysics in the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Engineering and Applied Science, as well as the School of Energy Resources. Marathon's support will significantly enhance student internships and scholarships; student field trips, invited speakers, interaction with industry leaders; and research experiences engaging undergraduate and graduate students with practicing professionals.

The gift will establish a four-week applied field geophysical course held annually in late July through early August in the Rocky Mountain region, expand College of Engineering and Applied Science student services offerings to create a formal program facilitating internships and co-op positions, and create plans for the Marathon Interdisciplinary Fossil Fuel Research Laboratory in the School of Energy Resources.

"Marathon's major commitment to UW's energy programs is another significant industry partnership at the University of Wyoming," said UW Foundation President Ben Blalock. "Marathon's senior management team worked closely with UW faculty and administrators, directly involved with energy education and research at UW, to ensure that Marathon's support would be impacting. UW is indeed appreciative of this most important corporate gift."

The gift creates a UW partnership with Marathon to increase the extent of interdisciplinary interaction among students with engineering or geology and geophysics backgrounds.

Marathon Oil Corporation is an integrated international energy company engaged in exploration and production; oil sands mining; integrated gas; and refining, marketing and transportation.

Based in Houston, Texas, Marathon has principal operations in the United States, Angola, Canada, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Indonesia, Ireland, Libya, Norway and the United Kingdom. Marathon is the fourth largest United States-based integrated oil company and the nation's fifth largest refiner.

Photo:

Steve Guidry, regional vice president of U.S. Production for Marathon, left, meets with Wyoming Gov. Dave Freudenthal and University of Wyoming President Tom Buchanan Tuesday at the State Capitol.