An innovative new education opportunity is launching at Loving Municipal Schools this week in the form of summer energy internships for high school students. Using a unique design that brings energy companies to a central platform, thirteen Loving Municipal Schools students, ranging from sophomores to seniors, will be able to explore the many facets of the energy industry.
The Permian Strategic Partnership (PSP) contributed funds to Loving Schools in an effort to impact the workforce pipeline for the Energy sector in the Permian Basin. A recent study conducted by PSP and their partners, The Education Strategy Group, concluded that there are very few education programs at the high school level in the region that directly address the Energy Sector. This internship experience allows students and industry to interact in a new and unique way.
Over the next six weeks, students will learn about the various career opportunities that are available in the energy space and create a final project that showcases their learning. The internship is led by two facilitators who are teachers at Loving High School and supported by the administrative team, including Superintendent Lee White. The team will guide students through a framework that has been co-created with PSP’s member companies, with direct participation from Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Diamondback, ExxonMobil/XTO, and Oxy. Subject Matter Experts from these companies will instruct and inform the students in person as well as virtually to provide students with real-world learning experiences.
There are multiple field experiences planned for the program, including a rig tour and visits to company offices. Students will attend the EnergyPlex Conference in Hobbs and actively participate in the sessions.
This model of internship solves many of the challenges that energy companies have in engaging young people by relieving the liability of having students on-site while still providing them with robust learning experiences. “This investment in internships for high school students allows us to create a framework for replication in other districts across the region. This is an exciting opportunity for the future of our energy workforce in the Permian Basin,” said Tracee Bentley, President and CEO of the Permian Strategic Partnership.
The culminating presentations will take place at Loving High School on July 18th. The press and public are invited to attend.
The PSP is proud to partner with Loving Municipal Schools to educate students on the region’s highest impact industry sector, and to make the Permian Basin an even better place to live, work and raise families.