Oil industry giant Donald Mosing got a chance Thursday to see how his contributions have helped the University of Louisiana at Lafayette develop one of the fastest-growing engineering programs in the nation.
The former president of Frank’s Casing, and his son, Keith Mosing, president and chief executive officer of Frank’s International, were on hand for a dedication ceremony. They clipped a big red ribbon on the doors of the office of the new Frank and Janice Mosing Endowed Engineering Student Career Development Program. That office was built using residual funds from a $2.83 million gift Donald Mosing gave to the University’s College of Engineering in 2012.
Dr. Mark Zappi, dean of the University’s College of Engineering, said 1,175 students were enrolled in 2006. By the Fall 2014 semester, the college’s enrollment had more than doubled – to 2,800.
“When you track our numbers, Mr. Donald, they go right along with when your gifts came in, because we were able to do so much with recruiting and keeping these students enthused,” Zappi told Mosing.
UL Lafayette’s petroleum engineering program is the third largest in the country, tied with Texas A&M’s. “We’re 120 students from No. 1,” Zappi noted.
University officials said the new Frank and Janice Mosing Endowed Engineering Student Career Development Program is being used to recruit students and help them gain valuable experience.
LaShaun Bordelon is outreach coordinator for that program.
Students in engineering leadership programs – “the best of the best” – meet in the program office, she said. Other engineering students stop by to ask about internships and career opportunities.
“I talk with students all day long,” Bordelon said. She also meets with company representatives who want to learn more about the University’s engineering students and programs.
UL Lafayette President Dr. Joseph Savoie expressed appreciation to Donald Mosing for the career development program. “This is really bringing together our past for the present and building for the future,” he said.
Zappi announced that the $1 million Donald and Janice Mosing/Board of Regents Chair in Mechanical Engineering is expected to be filled by the Fall 2015 semester.
A $600,000 gift from Donald Mosing was matched with $400,000 from the Louisiana Board of Regents to create the endowed chair. Endowments gifts are perpetual sources of revenue since the prinicipal is invested and only a portion of the interest earned is spent.
Money generated by the endowed chair will be used to supplement the salary of a mechanical engineering professor who will be added.
Donald Mosing graduated from UL Lafayette in 1950 with a degree in mechanical engineering and holds more than 40 oilfield-related patents.
Shown, from left, are LaShaun Bordelon, Donald Mosing, Keith Mosing, Dr. Joseph Savoie and Muhiad Elsanousy.
Photo by Amy Windsor