Scholarships, industry connections, and hands-on experiences are helping one UTPB student turn her career goals into reality. Discover how Rachel Sparks is building her future in the energy industry through opportunities both on and off campus.
Opportunities don't always come knocking. Sometimes, you have to create them for yourself. For Rachel Sparks, that initiative has opened doors both inside and outside the classroom.
Rachel, a junior studying Energy Land Management at The University of Texas Permian Basin, hopes to build a career as a landman in the Midland-Odessa area. Like many UTPB students, her path to higher education looked a little different than expected.
Before enrolling at UTPB, Rachel spent several years as a stay-at-home mom. As her daughter grew older, she began thinking about what the next chapter of her life could look like.
"I sought higher education because I knew with my daughter getting older, I no longer wanted to stay home. I also knew that I didn't want to go back to a retail position. I wanted to take advantage of the local oil and gas industry, and I knew I needed a degree," Rachel said. "I heard about the Energy Land Management program from a former UTPB student, and I found it interesting and decided to jump on it. It has been the best decision I could have made for myself."
Earlier this year, Rachel began searching for scholarships to help offset the cost of college and ease the financial burden on her family. She dedicated time to researching opportunities and submitting applications, hoping her hard work would pay off.
It did.
Rachel was awarded scholarships from both the Denver Association of Professional Landmen and the Permian Basin Landman Association, helping make her educational journey more affordable and allowing her to focus on her studies and career goals.
In addition to receiving scholarship support, Rachel recently had the opportunity to participate in a rig tour hosted by the Women's Energy Network. The opportunity came through Energy Land Management Program Coordinator Katharine Harrell, who also serves as Rachel's academic advisor and recommended her for the experience.
The tour offered Rachel a firsthand look at industry operations while allowing her to connect with professionals from across the energy sector. She also had the opportunity to meet and learn from a practicing landman in the Permian Basin, giving her valuable insight into the career she hopes to pursue after graduation.
"Many of the women on the tour were engineers, business owners, and even accountants who all work in the oil and gas industry who wanted to learn more. Getting to learn about the rig alongside other women in the industry made the experience better," Rachel said.
For Rachel, opportunities like scholarships, networking events, and industry experiences are helping turn classroom lessons into real-world connections. As she continues pursuing her degree at UTPB, she is building the skills, knowledge, and professional network needed to achieve her goal of becoming a landman and making her mark in the energy industry.
Rachel, a junior studying Energy Land Management at The University of Texas Permian Basin, hopes to build a career as a landman in the Midland-Odessa area. Like many UTPB students, her path to higher education looked a little different than expected.
Before enrolling at UTPB, Rachel spent several years as a stay-at-home mom. As her daughter grew older, she began thinking about what the next chapter of her life could look like.
"I sought higher education because I knew with my daughter getting older, I no longer wanted to stay home. I also knew that I didn't want to go back to a retail position. I wanted to take advantage of the local oil and gas industry, and I knew I needed a degree," Rachel said. "I heard about the Energy Land Management program from a former UTPB student, and I found it interesting and decided to jump on it. It has been the best decision I could have made for myself."
Earlier this year, Rachel began searching for scholarships to help offset the cost of college and ease the financial burden on her family. She dedicated time to researching opportunities and submitting applications, hoping her hard work would pay off.
It did.
Rachel was awarded scholarships from both the Denver Association of Professional Landmen and the Permian Basin Landman Association, helping make her educational journey more affordable and allowing her to focus on her studies and career goals.
In addition to receiving scholarship support, Rachel recently had the opportunity to participate in a rig tour hosted by the Women's Energy Network. The opportunity came through Energy Land Management Program Coordinator Katharine Harrell, who also serves as Rachel's academic advisor and recommended her for the experience.
The tour offered Rachel a firsthand look at industry operations while allowing her to connect with professionals from across the energy sector. She also had the opportunity to meet and learn from a practicing landman in the Permian Basin, giving her valuable insight into the career she hopes to pursue after graduation.
"Many of the women on the tour were engineers, business owners, and even accountants who all work in the oil and gas industry who wanted to learn more. Getting to learn about the rig alongside other women in the industry made the experience better," Rachel said.
For Rachel, opportunities like scholarships, networking events, and industry experiences are helping turn classroom lessons into real-world connections. As she continues pursuing her degree at UTPB, she is building the skills, knowledge, and professional network needed to achieve her goal of becoming a landman and making her mark in the energy industry.
