2016-17 DFW AADE Scholarship Announcement
December 8, 2016
On behalf of the Dallas Ft. Worth American Association of Drilling Engineers, it is our pleasure to announce the 20162017 Scholarship Award recipients. A short bio of each of the 22 recipients, including employment/internship status,
can be found below. We strongly encourage DFW oil & gas companies to consider these and other students for
internships. We are also pleased to announce that both Texas A&M and Montana Tech are the co-champions of the 3rd
annual DFW AADE Drillers Cup, an award that recognizes the school with the most scholarship recipients out of 13
distinguished engineering schools across the country. Congratulations to all our recipients listed below!
Award Bios
Paulina Mwangi just accepted the role of Lead Laboratory Engineer II at the GE Global Research Oil & Gas Technology
Center. Her role includes building the petroleum engineering capabilities of the laboratories, as well as facilitating and
supervising experiments. Paulina's doctoral research focused on deciphering the chemical controls that govern rock-oilbrine interactions through an extensive experimental study. For the past 7 years, she worked in the Enhanced Oil
Recovery Laboratories at Louisiana State University. Paulina has B.S. in Chemical Engineering from University of
Rochester at Rochester, NY. She also holds an M.S. in Petroleum Engineering from Louisiana State University (LSU) at
Baton Rouge, LA, and will complete her PhD in Petroleum Engineering in 2017. Paulina enjoys traveling and exploring
new places with her husband and son. She is also passionate to reach out, engage, and encourage young men and
women in inner city high schools to pursue careers in STEM. [email protected]
Christopher Eustice is from Houston, TX. He attends Louisiana State University and will graduate with a degree in
Petroleum Engineering in the Spring of 2018. He is seeking an internship in the Summer of 2017. Chris loves sports of all
kinds and loves the great outdoors. His family has worked in the oil&gas industry for many years and are committed to
the industry. [email protected]
Dalton Vice is from Norman, OK. He attends the University of Oklahoma and will graduate in the summer of 2017. He is
seeking a full-time job offer. His family is all from Oklahoma and is very supportive. He spends his spare time between
classes and school work training his German Shepherd Dog, Rockefeller with his father. [email protected]
Mike Haggerty is from California City, CA. He's the fourth Montana Tech alumni in his family and will graduate with his
Masters in Petroleum Engineering in December of 2017. He is currently seeking an internship or field work for the
summer of 2017. His greatest enjoyment comes from making memories with his family in the mountains. Mike loves to
hunt, fish, ski, and snowmobile. [email protected]
Syed Taiyab is from Plano, TX. He attends Texas A&M University where he serves as Treasurer of the AADE chapter and
will graduate with a degree in Petroleum Engineering and a minor in Business in the May 2019. He is seeking an
internship in the summer of 2017. Syed wishes to put his skills to practice as a drilling engineer. [email protected]
Keith F. Michael Wentz IV is from Tulsa, OK. He attends the University of Tulsa and will graduate with a degree in
Petroleum Engineering with a Geosciences minor in the Spring of 2017. He is seeking a full-time job or learning position
in the summer of 2017. He is excited to join and grow with the energy industry. [email protected]
John Grill is from upstate New York. He is a sophomore at Montana Tech majoring in Petroleum Engineering. Last
summer he was working in Horizontal Directional Drilling and prior to attending college involved with geothermal
drilling. He is seeking a full-time internship position for the summer of 2017 and will be attending our conference this
April. [email protected]
Patrick Schrim is a student at Marietta College in his senior year of petroleum engineering, graduating in May of 2017.
He is likely going into the Air Force after graduation to serve his country and gain leadership experience. His career goals
in the oil and gas industry is to work part of his career offshore before he has a family and then travel wherever needed.
Drilling and Completions is his primary interest. He has wanted to be an engineer since the eighth grade. At Marietta
college, he started the Kammok MOB Adventure Cub (gaining an affiliation with a Texas based outdoors company) and
cares much about the environment and wants to positively affect the industry's practices and public relations. He comes
from a family of 7 in central Pennsylvania and has interests in travel, disaster relief, and humankind.
[email protected]
Blake Ereaux is from Fort Benton, MT. He attends Montana Tech of the University of Montana and will graduate with a
Masters of Science in Petroleum Engineering in the fall of 2017. He will be interning with SM Energy in Houston, TX
during the summer of 2017. He enjoys outdoor recreational activity in the forms of fishing, hunting, hiking, and water
sports. He is an eagle scout that enjoys giving back to the Boy Scouts of America in the forms of time and chaperoning.
[email protected]
Nehaal Kathuria is from Powder Springs, GA. He attends the Louisiana State University and will graduate with a degree
in Petroleum Engineering in the summer of 2019. He is seeking an internship in the summer of 2017. He likes to actively
make people happy by playing music, as he DJ's as a part-time job. Nehaal also loves to spend time playing soccer with
his family when he is not studying for his degree. [email protected]
Kihoon Bohle is from Houston, TX. He is a senior from Texas A&M University, majoring in Petroleum Engineering, and
set to graduate in May 2017. He is hoping to work in drilling or completions upon graduation. [email protected]
Joshua Mirabdolbaghi is from Butte, MT. He attends Montana Tech of the University of Montana and will graduate with
a degree in Petroleum Engineering in the spring of 2018. He currently serves as the SPE Chapter Vice-President at his
school and is an active member in the AADE Chapter. He worked as an environmental engineering intern last summer
for Pioneer Technical Services and will be interning as a reservoir engineer for BP in Anchorage the summer of 2017. He
will be seeking full-time employment upon graduation in the spring of 2018. In his free time, he loves to go skiing and
mountain biking. He also loves spending time with family and playing his guitar. [email protected]
Kale Baker is from Dillon, MT. He attends Montana Tech of the University of Montana and will graduate with a degree
in Petroleum Engineering in December 2016. Most of all he enjoys spending time with family and anything active or
outdoors. [email protected]
Stephen Bedford is from Baton Rouge, LA. He attends Louisiana State University, and will graduate with a degree in
Petroleum Engineering in the spring of 2017. He is seeking a full-time position in the oil and gas industry starting in the
summer of 2017. Stephen served in the United States Marine Corps from 2007-2012 and enjoys LSU sports.
[email protected]
Grant Stokes is from Wooster, OH. He attends West Virginia University and will graduate with a degree in Petroleum
Engineering in the spring of 2017. He will be seeking a full-time job in the spring of 2017. He enjoys fishing and golf and
is a loyal Cleveland sports fan. [email protected]
Cody Dobbs is from Marietta, OH. He attends Marietta College and is pursuing a degree in Petroleum Engineering. He
will graduate in the spring of 2018. He is pursuing a summer internship through several companies currently for the
summer of 2017. He is a motivated leader in the community excelling in both academics and philanthropy, all while
leading his fellow fraternity brothers to do the same in guidance and support. He is the son of Jennifer Dick.
[email protected]
Tristan Kozel is from Connellsville, PA. He attends Marietta College and well graduate with a degree in Petroleum
Engineering and a minor in Finance in May of 2018. He will be interning with Chevron in the Houston, TX office in the
summer of 2017. In Tristan's free time, he enjoys shooting competition sporting clays and skeet, and is an avid antique
collector. [email protected]
Jesse Villarreal is a second generation Mexican-American originally from Surprise, Arizona. Jesse attends Texas A&M
University and is on pace to graduate in December of 2018 with a degree in Petroleum Engineering along with a minor in
both Mathematics and Geology. Jesse has secured an internship with Chesapeake Energy where he will be sent on
location to an active oil-rig during the summer of 2017. As the only child of five to graduate from high school and attend
an institution of higher learning, Jesse is very passionate about ensuring that he is able to make a positive impact on the
world we live in. Upon graduating high school, Mr. Villarreal originally had thoughts of studying to become a
cardiovascular surgeon, but ultimately felt that his skill set would be better put to use while attempting to satisfy the
rising global demand for energy. In his free time, Jesse really enjoys cooking for his family and friends.
[email protected]
Walker Shirley is from Dallas, TX. He attends the University of Texas at Austin and will graduate with a degree in
Petroleum Engineering in the spring of 2017. He has spent his summers interning with Parker Drilling-Houston, ApachePremium and EOG Resources-Denver. He is the son of Tom and Julie Shirley who both attended the University of Texas,
and he is the brother of Austin Shirley who is a sophomore in the Petroleum Engineering program at UT. Walker's
favorite hobbies are fly-fishing, snow skiing and spending time with family and friends. Walker is a three-time recipient
of the DFW Scholarship. [email protected]
Jon Hinson is from Cleveland, Ohio. He attends Marietta College and will graduate in May of 2018 with two bachelor's
degrees: Petroleum Engineering and Finance. He will be interning with Chesapeake Energy for the summer of 2017. He
enjoys spending his free time rowing, keeping up with Cleveland sports, and visiting friends & family.
[email protected]
Stephen Turney is from San Angelo, Texas, where he graduated top of his class at Texas Leadership Charter Academy.
He has two older sisters, a younger brother, and loving parents. His family not only understands his goals for his future
in the Petroleum Engineering industry, but are in full support. He is currently pursuing a degree in Petroleum
Engineering from the Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engineering at Texas A&M University and plans to
graduate in the summer of 2019. Stephen is a member of the Texas A&M Men's Rugby Club, the AADE, and the SPE, and
is seeking an internship or full time employment for the summer of 2017. [email protected]
Rysen Shirzadi was raised in Katy, TX, where his interest in petroleum engineering was fueled by the booming oil
industry in the neighboring city of Houston. He is a Petroleum Engineering student at Texas A&M University, and a proud
member of the class of 2019. He is seeking an internship for the summer of 2017. As the heir to a petroleum engineer,
Rysen has lived in oil communities in all continents and intends on continuing his global exploration through his career.
[email protected]
Since 2010, The DFW AADE chapter has awarded a total of $390,000 scholarships to 204 students.
Scholarship applicants were evaluated on 8 Grading Components: accuracy in following application instructions, GPA,
Part Time Work Hours, Industry Experience, Leadership, Philanthropy, Financial Need, and Essay.
The DFW chapter would like to recognize the service of this year’s committee members Dra’ Parr (Enduro Resources),
Jordan Hollier (RigUp), Adam Wise (Range Resources), Billy Chapman (Range Resources) in addition to past chairman
John Bell, and former committee members Rodney Littleton, Mitch Whatley, David Gautreaux, Ryan Braxton, Keith
Brents, Zac Marshall, James Franks, Scott Lowry, Don Muth, and Cody Roark.
The American Association of Drilling Engineers (AADE) is a non-profit (IRS 501-6C), volunteer organization founded in
New Orleans in 1978 and is made up of an affiliation of independent chapters licensed and governed by a National
Board. AADE offers a forum for the exchange of information, among its members and guests, specifically on drilling
related topics. AADE chapters generally meet once a month where programs are presented by knowledgeable industry
leaders in an informal luncheon or dinner environment.
Mission
To provide the forum for the dissemination of practical drilling technology to those employed or interested in the drilling
industry.
Vision
To be a leading forum for the dissemination and interchange of drilling practices and technology.
Values
To promote professionalism and respect within the drilling industry, the community, and the environment in which it coexists.