College of Engineering and Physical Sciences

Chemical and Petroleum Engineering Scholarships

Rochelle Belfer Petroleum Engineering Scholarship

These chemical and petroleum engineering scholarships are provided by an endowment established by Arthur B. Belfer to honor his late wife, Rochelle Anisfeld Belfer. Mr. Belfer was the founder and managing partner of Belfer Natural Gas Company, and founder, president and chairman of the board of Belco Petroleum Corporation. He was responsible for the initial development of the vast gas reserves of the Green River Basin. Through the years he has maintained close ties to Wyoming and has generously funded an equal number of scholarships in geology.

Chemical and Petroleum Engineering Department Scholarship

The Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering has established a scholarship fund with gifts from the department's alumni. Through these generous contributions to the department, many students in chemical and petroleum engineering receive assistance.

Dr. David O. Cooney Memorial Scholarship

Dr. David Cooney joined the UW Chemical Engineering Department in 1981. He received his bachelor's degree from Yale University in 1961 and Ph.D. degrees in chemical engineering from the University of Wisconsin in 1963 and 1966, respectively. In 1993, Dr. Cooney was named UW College of Engineering Outstanding Graduate Teaching and Research Award recipient, and in 1997 he received the Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award. Dr. Cooney served as head of the Chemical Engineering Department from 1983-1990. He wrote four books and published more than 80 papers in refereed journals. This scholarship was established in 1999 by Peggy, Eric, and Jon Cooney to recognize the distinguished career of their husband and father.

Don J. Likwartz Endowment

Friends and family of Don J. Likwartz set up an endowment to honor the contributions of Don to the petroleum industry. Don retired in January, 2009, after 11 years of service to the Wyoming Oil & Gas Conservation Commission. Originally from Rock Springs, Wyoming, Don sadly passed away in 2010. He earned a B.S. in 1963, and M.S. in 1966, in petroleum engineering from UW, where he was an active member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. He was proud of his education at UW and felt that another Wyoming resident should have the same opportunities. His widow, Judy (Cox) Likwartz (B.S. Sociology 1994, B.S. Social Work 1995) currently lives in Oregon and is a Deacon in the Episcopal Church and active in community outreach activities. The endowment will first be offered to support a Wyoming resident student, and if no Wyoming resident qualifies, the support will be offered to others outside the state entering the petroleum engineering discipline.

Elizabeth McCaskey Memorial Scholarship in Chemical Engineering

Harold McCaskey (General Engineering '47) established a chemical engineering scholarship in memory of his beloved wife "Bette." Harold and Bette were childhood friends who met again many years later and married. They shared a deep love for Wyoming and commitment to the College of Engineering. Harold credits Bette for their philanthropic support. This chemical engineering scholarship is available to a student from Wyoming with a grade point average of 3.0 or better.

Harold and Elizabeth McCaskey Chemical Engineering Scholarship

Harold McCaskey, a native of Lander, WY, graduated from UW in 1947 with a degree in general engineering with a chemical engineering option. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. In 1949 he received a degree in chemical engineering from the University of Michigan. Mr. McCaskey spent most of his career in South America, Iran, the North Sea, Africa, Louisiana, and Texas as a drilling engineer and superintendent for the Gulf and Chevron Oil Corporations. A man who came from humble beginnings, Mr. McCaskey provided this scholarship endowment to assist a Wyoming native who as a good student might need assistance in completing his education and achieving his highest aspirations. Now retired, Harold makes his home in Lander and remains interested and active in College of Engineering programs and events.

Timothy J. Nugent Memorial Scholarship

To honor their late son, Timothy John Nugent, George and Bonnie Nugent of Escondido, California have generously endowed a scholarship for petroleum engineering students from Wyoming with financial need. A football player in high school and college, Tim played the game with passion, and received many All-Conference and All-State honors. He was also an avid softball player and when his children were old enough to play, he became a steadfast Little League supporter. Tim was a loving father and husband, and always ready for a challengeespecially if there was fun involved.
Tim went to work for Belco Petroleum in Big Piney in 1977 and became enamored of the industry. He loved Wyoming and the oil fields. He cared passionately for his co-workers, friends, and family, and touched many lives with his can-do attitude and his caring, helping hands.
Tim Nugent sounds like the kind of guy who would have so easily become a part of the UW Engineering Family, and we regret that we never had the opportunity to know him. However, his name will be carried forth by the students who are deserving of the scholarship that bears his name.

Policky Endowed Scholarship

This endowment scholarship was founded in 2010 to support petroleum engineering students from the Rocky Mountain Region. First preference shall be given to Petroleum Engineering students, however students pursuing studies in energy resources, such as wind, solar or nuclear energy, will also be considered. The Policky family established its roots in NE Wyoming in 1929 and devotedly supports the University of Wyoming; especially when it comes to fostering Wyoming’s energy development. When the two Policky brothers from Spearfish, SD, received their petroleum engineering degrees from UW, the eldest brother Bruce (B.S. 1978), who passed away in September 2010, and his brother Brian (M.S. 1987), they dedicated their careers to relentlessly applying Wyoming principles to the oil and gas industry. Promoting these same ideals, it only made sense to commit financial resources to establish the Policky Endowment Scholarship and help recipients that exemplify their same character, work ethic, and devotion.

Lee and Donna Shafer Scholarship

The Lee and Donna Shafer scholarship supports students in the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences chemical engineering program.

Warren and Gary Siebold College of Engineering and Physical Sciencese Scholarship

Warren and Gary Siebold, brothers and graduates of the College of Engineering at UW endowed a comprehensive scholarship benefitting different majors at the CEAS College. Their scholarship will annually be awarded to undergraduate students in Petroleum Engineering and another student in Mechanical Engineering. They would also like to help a graduate student in Atmospheric Sciences and a student with a demonstrated financial need in the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences.

Harold E. and LaRue B. Williams Petroleum Engineering Scholarship

Motivated by his father’s career in petroleum, Richard “Dick” Williams started the Harold and LaRue Williams Petroleum Engineering Scholarship. Dick Williams has had a long association with the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences that dates back to H.T. Person, Dick’s father-in-law.

Aaron Lee Yeo Memorial Scholarship

Aaron was the top junior in chemical engineering when he died of leukemia in the spring of 1986. To honor his memory, the chemical engineering faculty established this scholarship. It is awarded to a student having the personal and academic qualities represented by Aaron. Substantial contributions from the Yeo family continue to make this scholarship possible.

Merit Energy Co Endowed Scholarships

The Merit Energy Company Endowed Scholarship supports students in the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences Petroleum Engineering program.