Three earn scholarships from state petroleum energy society

February 14, 2012

Three Bagley College of Engineering chemical engineering students are being honored by the Mississippi section of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE-Mississippi).

At its January meeting, the organization presented each student a $3,000 scholarship to support his education. The three recipients were also recognized for this same honor last year.

Each recipient was nominated by the college and asked to write a one-page essay about the petroleum industry, which to Josh Tucker was time and effort well spent.

“This scholarship allows me to focus on school full time and get the most out of my education from this amazing university,” he said.

Most of the award recipients pointed to the positive financial impact this would have during each of their senior years and expressed their gratitude for SPE-Mississippi’s role in lightening their financial burden. Now they can finish out their education and prepare for the future without the added pressure of mounting student loan debt.

The complete list of Mississippi State’s 2012 chemical engineering major SPE-Mississippi scholarship recipients includes (by hometown):

LUCEDALE – Senior Clint Diamond is a chemical engineering major and son of Rosemary Bishop. As a co-op student he has worked with Dupont and Exxon Mobil. While on campus, he is involved with the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and the Air & Waste Management Association.

PASCAGOULA – Senior chemical engineering major John Wright is the son of John and Harriet Wright. He has worked two semesters as a co-op engineer for Exxon Mobil Chemical. As a student at MSU he holds the scholarship chair for Tau Beta Pi engineering society and is involved with the Baptist Student Union and First Baptist Church student ministry. Following his graduation, Wright says he is considering working as an engineer in manufacturing for Exxon Mobil or perhaps attending medical school to pursue his life-long dream of being a physician.

TUPELO – Senior Josh Tucker is a chemical engineering major and the son of Bruce and Leslie Tucker. He has worked as a process-engineering intern for Albemarle Corp. and ConocoPhillips and plans to work at ConocoPhillips’ Lake Charles Refinery this summer. As a student he has competed in the high jump for MSU track and field and is a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and Sigma Alpha Lambda. Following his graduation, he hopes to transition into a full-time employee at ConocoPhillips.