BRADFORD, Pa. – National Fuel and Seneca Resources have endowed a new scholarship to benefit energy and engineering students at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford.

            The National Fuel Gas Company Foundation made a gift of $25,000 to create the National Fuel and Seneca Resources Scholarship in honor of the natural gas utility and its exploration and production company, Seneca Resources.

            Students studying petroleum technology or engineering at Pitt-Bradford will be given first preference for the scholarships. Second preference will be given to students majoring in other energy-related disciplines or children of current employees who are attending Pitt-Bradford.

            “It is an important and rewarding opportunity for us,” Carly Manino, senior director of corporate communications at National Fuel, said of the company’s support of Pitt-Bradford. “Not only does the university offer numerous programs consistent with the education, skills and training needed at National Fuel, students are learning in the heart of our service territory.”

            Those programs include an associate of science degree in petroleum technology and bachelors’ degrees in energy science and technology and energy engineering technology.

            “Seneca Resources has a long history of partnering with Pitt-Bradford,” said Lauren Adair, representative, stakeholder relations at Seneca. “Students in energy-related programs regularly tour Seneca and National Fuel’s operations. Seneca Resources gave the university a decommissioned pump jack, separator, heater treater and storage unit that comprise a mock oil production pad that provides hands-on learning experience on campus. And touring our operations offers a great overview of the industry.”

            Dr. Ovidiu Frantescu, director of the petroleum technology and environmental science programs, said, “For students in these majors, scholarships are especially appreciated because what they are learning is technical and takes time to master. Scholarships can free up time from needing to work and give them much-needed hours to study.”

            During the 2022-23 school year, Pitt-Bradford awarded $824,473 in donor scholarships like the National Fuel and Seneca Resources Scholarship.

            To learn about creating a scholarship at Pitt-Bradford, contact the university’s Office of Philanthropic and Alumni Engagement at 814-362-5091 or visit upb.pitt.edu/giving.