April 8, 2008

  • Members of Marathon Oil Corporation Executive Leadership and LSU Administration at the gift announcement. (L-to-R) Eileen Campbell, Kevin Carman, Zaki Bassiouni, Astrid Merget, Bill Jenkins, Clarence J. Cazalot, Jr., Henson Moore, John Lombardi, Bill Bowdon, Rich Bedell, Garry Peiffer
  • CoE Diversity Programs receive generous support from Marathon. (L-to-R)Cathy Dodge, Director of Development; Vaneshette Henderson, WEP; Eileen Campbell, Vice President Human Relations Marathon Oil; Astrid Merget, Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost; Julie Harris, MEP; Kelly Rusch, Associate Dean Diversity Programs; and Jessica Kemp, W/MEP.

In a news conference held at LSU on April 8, Marathon Oil Corporation (NYSE: MRO) announced a $2.5 million gift commitment to LSU, supporting programs in the LSU College of Basic Sciences and the College of Engineering. This philanthropic gift to LSU represents a continuation of a valued relationship between Louisiana’s flagship university and one of the world’s leading energy companies. Marathon’s total donation of $2.5 million is directed toward two of LSU’s most distinguished colleges, the LSU College of Basic Sciences, $1.5 million, and the LSU College of Engineering, $1 million.

The $1 million gift to the LSU College of Engineering is itemized as follows:

  • $300,000 to support the Marathon XCITE! (Exploration Camp for Inspiring Tomorrow’s Engineers) Pre-Engineering Camp for Girls, to aid LSU in the recruitment of talented female engineering students to LSU.
  • $200,000 to establish the Marathon High School Teacher Engineering Awareness Program, a series of workshops aimed at enhancing the engineering literacy and awareness of education professionals at the high school level.
  • $100,000 for Marathon Engineering Diversity Undergraduate Scholarships.
  • $160,000 for Marathon Engineering Diversity Graduate Fellowships.
  • $90,000 to establish the Marathon Diversity Awareness in Engineering Education Seminar Series, aimed at developing the skills of LSU Engineering faculty related to inclusiveness and team-building in the classroom.
  • $150,000 toward the construction of the Marathon Oil Corporation Chemical Engineering Laboratory.

Zaki Bassiouni, dean of the LSU College of Engineering, said, “The College of Engineering thanks Marathon for its vision and commitment in providing transformational funding to our Office of Diversity, especially to the new Women in Engineering Program, and in supporting our efforts to construct a new Chemical Engineering building. This is a great step forward in strengthening engineering education overall and in making it more accessible and beneficial to our students and faculty.”

“This major gift by Marathon Oil Corporation exemplifies true visionary leadership and a corporate commitment to diversity in the STEM areas at LSU. They recognize that cultural inclusion is paramount. We are delighted that Marathon has joined us in such a significant way to promote our diversity agenda,” said Katrice Albert, LSU vice provost for equity, diversity & community outreach.“

Marathon is very pleased to make these contributions to the Colleges of Basic Sciences and Engineering in support of the Forever LSU campaign,” said Marathon Oil Corporation President and CEO Clarence P. Cazalot Jr. “We are confident that this funding will help advance the outstanding work being undertaken by the university to expand and enhance key programs that will prepare our future leaders in disciplines that are critical to the well-being of our country and the world.

”The donation earmarked for the College of Basic Sciences’ Geology & Geophysics department represents the largest corporate donation to the College of Basic Sciences in its history. The $1.5 million gift to Geology & Geophysics reflects not only a corporate commitment from Marathon, but a personal commitment from Marathon President and CEO Clarence Cazalot, an LSU alumnus, and his wife, Ann. Of the total $1.5 million, $750,000 originates as a personal gift to LSU from Clarence and Ann Cazalot. The remaining $750,000 is contributed by Marathon.

The gift to LSU’s Geology & Geophysics department itemizes as follows:$890,000 to establish the Marathon Geoscience Diversity Enrichment Program (Marathon GeoDE), which will fund up to 20 undergraduate scholarships and five doctoral research fellowships aimed at attracting high-achieving students from underrepresented groups into the undergraduate and graduate programs within the LSU Department of Geology & Geophysics. This gift also supports travel and laboratory expenses for these scholarship and fellowship recipients.

  • $200,000 to establish the Marathon Oil Corporation Distinguished Speaker Series, which seeks to attract prominent leaders in the geoscience industry and academia to LSU as guest lecturers.
  • $410,000 to renovate the atrium of the Howe-Russell Geoscience Complex, to be known hereafter as the Clarence P. Cazalot, Jr./Marathon Oil Corporation Atrium.

The relationship between Marathon and LSU has provided untold opportunity and benefit for LSU’s students and Louisiana’s workforce. Prior to the $2.5 million donated, Marathon Oil Corporation and its related business units have given more than $1,375,000 since the beginning of the Forever LSU campaign.

Marathon’s gift also has an impact on the goals of the Forever LSU campaign, a comprehensive fundraising effort with the mission of raising $750 million in support of LSU by the end of 2010. To get involved with this historic campaign for LSU, visit www.foreverlsu.org. The Forever LSU campaign helps the university achieve the goals of its National Flagship Agenda. Visit www.lsu.edu/flagshipagenda to discover how this academic plan of action will transform LSU for generations to come.

Marathon Oil Corporation operates across the globe and is one of the world’s leading integrated energy companies. Marathon’s production operations supply crude oil and natural gas to the growing world energy market. Located in seven countries, worldwide production operations are currently focused in the United States, Africa and Europe. Marathon ranks as the fifth-largest crude oil refiner in the United States and the largest in the Midwest. Strategically located to serve major markets, Marathon’s operations include a seven-plant refining network with 1,016,000 barrels per day of crude oil refining capacity, a comprehensive terminal and transportation system and extensive marketing operations. For more information on Marathon Oil Corporation, visit www.Marathon.com.

Article excerpted from April 8th press release by Scott Madere, director of public relations for the LSU Foundation. For more information regarding the April 8 announcement, contact Madere at 225-578-3826 or e-mail him at smadere@lsufoundation.org.

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