Devon Energy employees are helping get the word out about the oil and natural gas industry by taking their stories directly to the classroom.
About a dozen Devon employees are participating in the Oklahoma Energy Resources Board (OERB) youth outreach program known as Petro Pros. A “Petro Pro” is an industry professional who travels to schools and gives students a presentation on the oil and gas industry. Topics include oil and gas exploration and production.
The initiative teaches students about career opportunities in the oil and gas industry, as well as safety and environmental protection measures the industry undertakes with horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing.
Taylor Todd, OERB education coordinator, said teachers love having the Petro Pros give presentations in their classrooms.
“Our most popular grades (for Petro Pros) are grades 3-6,” Todd said. “They request the most Petro Pros.”
Todd said the students love the interaction they have with the Petro Pros, who engage students with classroom activities geared toward sparking interest in the energy industry. Before becoming involved in the Petro Pros program, Todd said teachers attend a workshop on how to supplement their classroom assignments with Petro Pro presentations.
She said high school classes also request Petro Pros with particular interest in career choices available in the oil and gas industry.
For the Petro Pros themselves, the greatest reward for volunteering is the satisfaction that comes from creating excitement in Oklahoma students about the oil and natural gas industry.
Devon Geoscience Technician Daniel Perna, a new volunteer to the program, is already seeing the benefits of the partnership among the OERB, Devon and Oklahoma teachers.
“It’s beneficial for everyone involved,” Perna said. “The kids get a new perspective on their state, get better informed to make career choices and, hopefully, have a little fun while they’re at it. By the same token, Devon volunteers get the good feeling of having equipped young people to be more successful.”
Reservoir Engineer Shilpa Abbitt, a Petro Pros volunteer for the last five years, said oil and gas is integrated into the lives of many Oklahomans, and it is important for students to have an understanding of the industry and the opportunities it provides.
“What better way to do it than with eager kids?” Abbitt said.
Petro Pros even has its own Facebook page with updates and photographs on classroom presentations.
As Devon continues to grow, so will our commitment to our communities. With the company’s increased oil and natural gas production in Oklahoma and across North America, Devon will continue to provide a broad range of information about what we do and how we do it.