PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (Nov. 16, 2022) – The murder of George Floyd on May 25, 2020, had a long-standing and far-reaching impact on America, including on Prairie View A&M University and Halliburton, a global oilfield service company based in Houston.
“Halliburton was looking for a way to respond as a company to the needs of the country and the needs of the company for more diversity and equality,” said company Senior Vice President of Tax Myrtle Jones. “As a senior leader at Halliburton who happens to be Black, I felt it was important that I made my voice heard.”
Thus, the Recruiting Inclusive Students into Energy Scholars Program was born at PVAMU. With the company’s commitment of $1 million for the RISE program, the Halliburton Business and Engineering Scholarship offers eligible PVAMU students a $12,500 scholarship, Halliburton mentors, summer internships and professional development opportunities.
“This is an opportunity for Halliburton to support PVAMU and deepen our commitment to diversity and inclusion while building our pipeline of future talent,” Halliburton President & CEO Jeff Miller said. “We are excited to support PVAMU and its outstanding students, as well as build on our historical success with the Texas A&M University System.”
The Beginning of an Idea
This semester, PVAMU and Halliburton kicked off the second year of the multi-year program with a luncheon, where RISE scholars met with company executives, celebrated the conclusion of the first year and introduced the 2022-23 RISE scholars.
For Jones, the RISE program is her own life story. When she reflects on her career, from a first-generation college graduate of a rural, low-income background to an executive position at a global company, she remembers summer work study programs.
“I started thinking about that experience and the things that made me successful and helped me get to where I am today,” Jones said. “And I thought there was something to that summer job.”
That summer internship was her first office job – she worked in her high school principal’s office at Heidelberg High. It exposed Jones to the working world and the confidence to feel comfortable in an office environment.
“It made me feel good about myself, prepared me for the working world and the responsibilities of the job, and it gave me the confidence to walk into the office and know what to do,” she said. “It told me there’s a place for people like me.”
After her first summer job in the principal’s office, Jones participated in more work-study programs. She worked 15 hours a week in the Economics Department at Mississippi State University.
“Pulling all that together, it produced me, and I knew it could produce a lot more talented young people than just me,” she said. “These students will be able to see far greater than anything I’d ever imagine.”
When she approached Halliburton leadership with her idea, they believed in her vision, and the company was “all in.”
As Halliburton continued to diversify its workforce and intended to create a scholarship program, Jones said PVAMU was the company’s natural choice – it’s a Historically Black University with a strong STEM program. She said, “I know that HBCUs are where you find the most Black talent.”
The Benefits of Collaboration
The RISE program is open to eligible PVAMU juniors and seniors majoring in accounting, finance, engineering or management information systems with a minimum GPA of 2.75.
For the 2021-2022 school year, six students from PVAMU’s College of Business and Roy G. Perry College of Engineering completed the inaugural year as scholarship recipients. For the current 2022-2023 school year, joining the six scholars are 10 additional students from the same colleges at PVAMU; each received a $12,500 scholarship.
“It obviously starts with the scholarship, but it’s so much more than just money,” Halliburton Vice President of Human Resources Tracy Josefovsky said. “When we award these scholarships, we want to make sure we support these students along the way.”
RISE scholars also receive various opportunities for professional development throughout the year, including resume development, interview preparation and coaching from leadership executives.
Kennedy Dent, a senior chemical engineering major and 2021-2022 RISE scholar, said she was drawn by the promise of a $12,500 scholarship but benefited from so much more.
After professional development sessions and networking events with company leaders, her career goals have shifted. Initially, she wanted to use her chemistry degree in pharmaceuticals, but she enjoyed her internship in supply chain management so much that she now wants to explore a similar full-time position when she graduates.
Miller said that’s one of the benefits of the program for both PVAMU students and the company.
“The program gave Halliburton an opportunity to meet and hire dynamic students. We’ve met a lot of great students at Prairie View, and we look forward to hiring more of them,” he said. “For students, it gives them access to a professional business environment while they’re still in school, and I think that impacts how they think about their studies and their career long-term.”
The Rewards of Giving
Jones said she got to where she is today thanks to people from her summer internships and work-study programs who nurtured and supported her and helped her acclimate to the business world.
She was thankful for the opportunity to give back. With both hands clasped above her heart, Jones talked about the rewards of mentoring and giving back and said being able to mentor others is “a gift.”
“It was a very special experience for us [mentors], too,” she said. “It’s such an opportunity to be able to give back, to reach and to pull up.”
RJ Jenkins, senior account leader at Halliburton and RISE mentor, agreed. He talked about his strong bond with his mentee, Erron Williams, a senior chemical engineering major and 2021-2022 RISE scholar.
Jenkins said the first cohort of 2021-2022 RISE scholars exceeded their expectations, and the second cohort of 2022-2023 RISE scholars will have big shoes to fill.
Miller also looked forward to the next year, saying the program has a promising foundation and future.
“It’s the kind of program that, in my view, can last a long time,” Miller said. “This is the beginning of something that can last for years, for decades.”
By Christine Won
PVAMU’s Cohort 2 RISE Scholars (2022-23)
Lauryn Harvey-Albrow
- Computer Science – Spring 2025
- RISE Mentor – Tramaine Singleton
Kefah ‘Sonko’ Mongare
- Chemical Engineering – Spring 2024
- RISE Mentor – Richard Newsome
Kaylen ‘Kay’ Sanders
- Mechanical Engineering – Spring 2024
- RISE Mentor – Corey Sylvas
Jerina Mnyapara
- Chemical Engineering – Spring 2024
- RISE Mentor – Audrea Holmes
Craig Rothschild
- Mechanical Engineering – Spring 2024
- RISE Mentor – Terrence Bufford
Micah Stith
- Electrical Engineering – Spring 2024
- RISE Mentor – Marcus Malveaux
Jazlyn Perry
- Mechanical Engineering – Spring 2024
- RISE Mentor – Yolanda McCammon
Kui’jett ‘Jett’ Childress
- Accounting – Fall 2023
- RISE Mentor – Shari Williams
Ryan Sanders
- Finance – Fall 2023
- RISE Mentor – Chris Chapman
Fatima Perez
- Finance – Fall 2023
- RISE Mentor – Alicia Washington
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