As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit voice for the energy industry since 2000, the Foundation for Energy Education’s (FFEE) primary mission is exactly that: to educate youth about the energy industry. Its scholarships, programs and internships for school children in classrooms throughout Texas provide information regarding the importance of oil and gas to the global economy.
“We are integrating with other organizations such as the Offshore Energy Center Mobile Oilfield Learning Unit (MOLU) program, Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA) and Energy Institute High School of Houston that continue to accelerate these mandates in an effort to bring com-munity and industry together to build the energy industry of tomorrow,” said FFEE President Timothy Smith.
FFEE is connected to the industry through a “who’s who” of energy executives active in oil and gas, Smith said, including engineers, geologists, landmen, finance, acquisitions and divestitures, and many other members of the communities who are taking an active role in the industry’s future.
“It is very important in this current oil and gas climate to focus on reaching out to community, industry and academics to bridge the widening skilled labor gap and prepare for the ‘great crew change,’” Smith said.
The “great crew change” refers to the dwindling workforce the energy sector faces as thousands more jobs come online as a result of the shale revolution, as well as a wave of retirement of seasoned professionals making way for new blood to lead the industry.
“The ‘great crew change’ is expected to impact 50 percent of our skilled labor workforce over the next five years,” Smith explained. “It will require industry effort to inform the youth of opportunities within the sector and fuel innovation for years to come.”
A large information gap exists among communities, academics and industry, according to Smith.
“For example, many of the kids growing up in low-income areas do not know how to move beyond their current situation and benefit themselves through education and exposure to the energy industry,” he said. “It is our mandate to bridge this gap. FFEE is connecting with communities by supporting local energy education programs and creating aware-ness for the industry.”
One of the programs FFEE supports is IPAA’s Energy Institute High School based in Houston.
“The IPAA/PESA (Petroleum Equipment & Services Association) energy education program at the school includes field trips, guest lectures, competitions and teacher education,” added David Bole, FFEE chairman. “The school opened in fall 2013 with a full enrollment of 200 freshman students, and it will add 200 students each year, up to a maximum enrollment of 800 students, with all students focused on gaining knowledge about the energy industry and future careers.”
Smith is confident FFEE serves as a unique advocate in schools for the important and positive role the energy industry plays.
“Through support of key educational initiatives, targeted outreach programs and the creation of scholarship and internship opportunities for young people, we strive to awaken imagination today to strengthen our industry tomorrow, which is something I am very proud to be a part of,” he said. “Finding and keeping experienced personnel is only getting harder. The work we do at the foundation is critical so that school children can learn how important the oil and gas industry is for jobs, national security, as well as powering our society.”
For more information, visit www.foundationforenergyeducation.com.
