A conversation with Carolyn '05 and John Fenn Jr. '05, former students in the Texas A&M University College of Engineering.
Carolyn and John Fenn Jr. have established the Carolyn '05 and John Fenn Jr. '05 Endowed Engineering Scholarship to support freshman first-generation students in the College of Engineering at Texas A&M. Their generous gift, made through the Texas A&M Foundation, will help bolster students as they break barriers and become the first in their family to obtain a college degree.
Q. What inspired you to give back to Texas A&M and the College of Engineering?
A. We've continued the tradition of giving back via the Association of Former Students that we started upon graduation. However, we lived in Doha for five years and our up-close experience with Texas A&M University at Qatar inspired us to give in a more focused way via the Texas A&M Foundation to support the development of Aggie engineers with a focus on global issues. After moving home, we were able to support Dr. Mark Weichold and the Global Engineering Program and have been tremendously impressed with how impactful they are with donor support. Fortunately, we both work for ExxonMobil, which provides an outstanding matching contribution to educational donations.
Q. Why did you choose to focus on supporting first-generation freshmen?
A. We recognize that going to college is a huge transition for everyone, but it can be especially tough for freshmen who haven't had a voice speaking to that experience in their family. Anything that we can do to help with that transition and help an Aggie make it through that rough first year is great. Plus, bringing in a first-generation student means that we're growing the Aggie family.
Q. What have you been doing since graduation?
A. We have both worked for ExxonMobil since graduation. We've had the amazing opportunity to travel to a variety of places (Nigeria, Alaska, Papua New Guinea, China, Australia, etc.) and have lived overseas in both Doha and Singapore, as well as back home in Houston. This experience of the benefit of a global perspective further reinforced the criticality of making sure today's Aggies are learning how to succeed in a global workplace.
Q. How did your experience at Texas A&M influence or impact your career?
A. It is impossible to overstate how essential Texas A&M was to our careers. First off, the College of Engineering was a rigorous training ground that forced us to learn how to work hard. But it also challenged us to grow intellectually and find new, creative ways to solve challenges. While we both have gone into the commercial side of the oil and gas business and the engineering specifics haven't applied in a while, the exercises in learning how to think analytically and dig into the core of an issue apply far more broadly. Then, add the instant connection you have with other members of the Aggie family and the fact that the Aggie family is huge in Houston and the global oil and gas business, it's easy to say that the skills we honed at Texas A&M — put to use through the Aggie network — have been an invaluable asset to both of our careers.
How to give
The College of Engineering is one of the leading engineering programs in the United States, ranking first in undergraduate enrollment and ninth in graduate enrollment. Endowments supporting the students in the college have an immeasurable impact on their education. If you are interested in supporting the College of Engineering or would like more information on how you can give, please contact Haley Jennings, director of development.