POGAM, WIB Doante Money for School's Oil, Gas Curriculum

Members of the Pennsylvania Oil, Gas and Minerals Association have contributed $26,500 to fund a portion of the staffing requirements for the first year of Bradford Area High School's Petroleum Production Training program. The North Central Workforce Investment Board has also made a $10,000 contribution. Additional funds have been pledged by POGAM members and will be turned over to the high school.

The high school re-instituted the Petroleum Production Training curiculum for the 2008-2009 school year. The course of study was discontinued about 15 years ago due to the decline in local drilling at that time. Currently, 18 students are enrolled in the program. Three commute from Smethport.

Re-institution of the program was a response to a study by POGAM and the North Centrl Workforce Investment Board that highlighted the shortage of workers needed to support the rapid increase in oil and gas drilling activities in teh area. As a result of the findings of the study, a considerable amount of interest has been generated in all levels of the educational spectrum.

Rick Fesenmyer of Minard Run Oil Company and Jim MacFarlane of Mac Tech Mineral Management were instrumental in developming and updating the new oil and gas production program at the high school.

The high school is also in discussion with the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford to have this course work accepted toward completion of the university's new Petroleum Technology Program, which was also instituted as a result of the POGAM and WIB study.

POGAM contributors include Aiello Brothers Oil and Gas Inc.; American Refining Group; ARG Resources Inc.; Carl McCracken; Chesapeake Energy Corporation; Dallas-Morris Drilling; Double J Resources; East Resources; Keane & Sons Drilling Corp.; LJ Stein & Co. Inc.; Marathon Oil; Minard Run Oil Company; Northern Tier Inc.; Penn Gold Well Services; Pennsylvania General Energy Corp.; Petroleum Geo Services; Phillips & Dart Oilfield Services; Plants & Goodwin Inc.; Superior Well Services; and Universal Well Services.

Pictured above are, from left, Bradford Area High School Principal Ken Coffman; Bob Esch, Chairman of the North Central Workforce Investment Board; Fred Fesenmyer, POGAM Chairman of the Board; Bradford Area School Board President Tim Bean; Bradford Area School District Superindentent Sandra Romanowski; and Susie Snelick, Director of the North Central Workforce Investment Board.