The San Antonio chapter of the American Petroleum Institute is investing in the university’s science technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields and other programs that support the oil industry.
Although Texas A&M-San Antonio does not have a petroleum engineering major currently, the institute is supporting possibilities for the school’s future.
Anthony Alcocer, the university’s assistant director of development, said API recognizes the prime location of the university near the natural gas fracking fields of South Texas, and wanted to help students in other majors that fit into the petroleum industry.
"The petroleum industry hires a lot of accountants and science majors can go on and get a degree related to the field so the scholarship will cover majors in the STEM related fields," Alcocer said.
Alcocer said the petroleum industry also needs cybersecurity specialists, a program which A&M-San Antonio has recently added to its IT majors.
One-fifth of API’s initial contribution of $50,000 will be awarded in scholarships right away, and the remainder of $40,000 has been placed in an endowment in combination with funds from all the other schools in the A&M System.
