OSU College of Arts & Sciences Honors Natural Gas Executive

Monday, May 3, 2010

Vaughn O. Vennerberg II, the president of one of the largest producers of natural gas in the United States, was named 2010 Distinguished Alumnus for the College of Arts & Sciences at Oklahoma State University on April 23.

Vennerberg, a 1976 psychology graduate, was presented with the distinction at the college’s honors and awards banquet where more than 200 students were recognized.

He is president and director of Fort Worth, Texas-based XTO Energy Inc. and has been instrumental in acquiring oil and gas properties that propelled the company to the top of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).

The Midwest City, Okla., native stressed the value of past, present and future relationships in his keynote speech.

Called the “Vennerberg Hall of Heroes,” he reflected on some of his top relationships who include his sister Pam Olson, a former CNN White House correspondent and a member of the Oklahoma Women’s Hall of Fame; Bob Hamm, professor emeritus in marketing at OSU now special projects for the OSU Foundation; Robert Kamm, former OSU president and a member of the Oklahoma Educators Hall of Fame; and Bob Simpson, founder and chair of XTO Energy Inc.

His fifth and top-ranked hero is Vennerberg’s youngest child, a 5-year-old son born with a genetic disorder. “Genetic research is an issue that is very close to my heart and something that has affected my family personally,” said the father of three.

In 2008, Vennerberg created three endowed faculty positions in the departments of microbiology and molecular genetics, art and psychology at OSU.

During his career, Vennerberg has received many awards including being named Professional Landman of the Year by the 11,000-member American Association of Professional Landmen in 2008. “However, very few honors measure up to receiving one from the college you graduated from,” he said.

National scholarship recipients are Alesia Hallmark, Stillwater junior with a double major in botany and zoology, Morris K. Udall Scholarship; Brooke Hill, Hooker junior psychology major, Morris K. Udall Scholarship; Jennifer Lawmaster, Norman senior with a major in Spanish, Fulbright Teaching Fellowship; Brandon McVey, Tulsa senior with a triple major in accounting, finance and German, Fulbright Research Fellowship; Lydia Meador, Broken Arrow junior with a triple major in biochemistry, botany and microbiology, Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship; and Blake McMahon, Tulsa senior in political science, National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship.

Top 10 Seniors are Stacey Brandhorst, public relations and Spanish, Weatherford; Virginia Cannon, English, Glenpool; Elaine Enix, Spanish, Fort Collins, Colo.; Jessica Fernandes-Flack, political science and sociology, Lawton; Gregory File, political science, Perryton, Texas; Janina Graves, Spanish, Frederick; Jessica Hamm, public relations and sports media, Frederick; Sarah Stockdale, political science, Springfield, Mo.; Kathleen Thill, biology, Pawhuska; and Robert Wittrock, zoology, Edmond.

The annual honors and awards banquet is coordinated by the OSU Arts & Sciences Student Council who serve as the voice for undergraduate students in the college. To learn more visit http://cas.okstate.edu.