OGE Energy Corp. Foundation helps fund $2 million Energy Technology Chair at OSU
Friday, September 26, 2008
Company endows chair to help build more competitive, efficient energy technology program
in engineering college
View Full List of Endowed Faculty Chair Announcements 
The position will make OSU’s College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology one
of the top energy research-related schools, allowing the university to recruit the
most eminent scholar and teacher in energy technology. The gift also will equip OSU
to recruit and retain outstanding scholars and teachers in an area of research relating
to energy storage, energy sustainability, alternative energy production and distribution
modeling.
Once fully matched dollar-for-dollar by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
as well as T. Boone Pickens’ $100 million chair match commitment, the OGE chair will
provide $2 million in endowed funds.
“OGE has once again stepped forward to make a major impact on a vital area of study
at Oklahoma State University,” said OSU President Burns Hargis. “We sincerely appreciate
everything OGE has done for OSU and higher education in our state. This latest gift
will expand OSU research and benefit our students, industry and our nation.”
The creation of the OGE Chair in Energy Technology will build on OGE’s past investment
at OSU and enhances the university’s ability to provide highly educated employees
for the company.
“It is critical that Oklahoma energy companies support state higher education, because
it is only through well-focused research that we will resolve today’s energy challenges
and build a sustainable future,” said Pete Delaney, chairman, president and chief
executive officer of OGE Energy. “Oklahoma State University is extremely well positioned
to help understand critical energy issues, develop workable solutions and lead implementation
of breakthrough technologies. We are pleased to support that effort.”
The OGE Chair in Energy Technology will generate valuable research and stimulate continued
program growth within the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology. With
this leadership gift, the program will eventually include additional faculty, undergraduate
energy-related majors and graduate students at masters and doctoral levels.
In order to take full advantage of the state’s dollar-for-dollar match, and make the
most significant impact on OSU academics, OGE made the gift prior to the July 1 change
in the state’s endowed chair matching program. This gift is part of the $68 million
in endowed faculty gifts OSU announced this summer.
Endowed professorships and chairs are academic designations which provide support
for faculty salary, graduate assistantships, equipment and research needs, as well
as other support. These endowed faculty positions allow a university to attract and
retain the best and the brightest academic minds in the world.
OSU also is pleased that OGE is the official game-day sponsor for Saturday’s OSU football
game against Troy at Boone Pickens Stadium. OGE will be recognized in a pre-game
ceremony.