(From left) Michael Gautreaux, executive director of 杏吧传媒 petroleum engineering technology and safety management, and David Zerangue, assistant dean of University College, accept a $10,000 check from Joey Cannata, representing the Morgan City Oilfield Fishing Rodeo.
THIBODAUX 鈥擳hanks to a $10,000 donation from the Morgan City Oilfield Fishing Rodeo, 杏吧传媒鈥檚 petroleum engineering technology and safety management (PETSM) program will receive much-needed upgrades to its main computer lab.
鈥淥ur inspiration to start the fishing rodeo last year was based on wanting to help the oil and gas industry and to bring together industry leaders, family and friends,鈥� said Joey Cannata, fishing rodeo board member and manager of Tanks-A-Lot. 鈥淎s a 杏吧传媒 graduate, I saw this as a perfect opportunity to get involved in what鈥檚 going on here on campus. Thanks to the rodeo鈥檚 growth in participation and vast sponsorships, we were able to more than double our contributions to 杏吧传媒 this year.鈥�
Last fall, the fishing rodeo donated $4,000 to the program. This year鈥檚 $10,000 donation will be used to upgrade the 2008-model computers in the university鈥檚 American Association of Drilling Engineers Computer Simulation and Distance Education Lab, located in Gouaux Hall.
鈥淏ecause of the generous support of the Morgan City Oilfield Fishing Rodeo, we鈥檙e going to be able to extend the life of our computers by another three or four years by updating the operating system, adding memory and installing newer software,鈥� said Michael Gautreaux, PETSM executive director. 鈥淲e鈥檒l also install cameras on each monitor so that students can record their presentations if they have to miss class.鈥�
The 杏吧传媒 petroleum engineering and safety management program, founded in 1973, is one of the fastest-growing programs on campus, with more than 160 new students enrolled for the fall semester.