PEP Science & Technology Scholarship Recipient Announced

The PEP Board of Directors are pleased to announce the recipient of the 2019 PEP Science and Technology Scholarship. This scholarship fund was established for employees of PEP member companies and their dependents. The fund will allow PEP to invest in and support educational opportunities in the engineering and environmental sciences to expose students to critical issues involving the Gulf Coast.

2019 Scholarship Recipient

Patrick Burden, University of Southern Mississippi
Major: Geology
PEP Member Organization: Mitsubishi Polysilicon (father employed)

Patrick is currently a senior geology student at the University of Southern Mississippi and has been accepted into the geology program at the University of Louisiana Lafayette for the upcoming fall semester (2019). After Patrick earns his MS in geology from ULL, he plans to work with a petroleum company or environmental firm to assess the subsurface – anything from exploring undiscovered petroleum systems to monitoring flooding patterns and creating environmental maps for the public’s overall safety.

Patrick says that the most influential factor that led to him becoming a geologist was his love for the outdoors. Growing up in Mobile, Alabama, it was always easy for Patrick to find something to do outside. Patrick wants to become a geologist to gain a better and deeper understanding of Earth and take that understanding and apply it to critical issues.

Interested in the PEP Science & Technology Scholarship? 

Each year, PEP will award up to three $1,000 individual scholarships to students who meet the Scholarship Criteria and are enrolled in a two or four year college or university pursuing a degree or advanced degree in:

• environmental science
• environmental planning
• environmental engineering

or other related science fields of study, including, but not limited to:

• marine science
• geoscience
• fisheries science
• forestry
• estuarine science andmanagement

PEP believes that successful business and community quality of life are dependent on innovation and an understanding and respect for our coastal environments and natural resources. To that end, PEP seeks to invest in and support educational opportunities in the engineering and environmental sciences to expose students to critical issues involving the Gulf Coast, encourage innovation in the work place, and promote further improvements of best practices that have a positive impact on our environment and resources. Local internships with our members and partners may be available to scholarship recipients. Scholarship recipients are welcome and encouraged to attend PEP events and meet experienced leaders in their fields, further encouraging the best and the brightest in these fields to remain as vital members of our Gulf Coast economy.

The Community Foundation will administer and select the recipients of the scholarships based on criteria established by the PEP Board of Directors.