By Kristin Baker
May 13, 2008
ExxonMobil has given $929,091 to The University of Texas at Austin as a three-to-one match of gifts made by the company's employees and retirees in the past year.
A majority of the donation benefits programs in business, engineering and geosciences, reflecting the primary academic background of ExxonMobil's personnel. The company matches higher education gifts three-to-one for academic programs and one-to-one for cultural programs.
"This support means a great deal to us," said Rick Eason, the university's vice president for development. "All the more so because it shines a light on the great generosity shown by ExxonMobil's employees and retirees."
With total cumulative giving to the university of $38 million, ExxonMobil is the university's most generous corporate partner. The company has also made $7.7 million in research grants. Rex Tillerson, ExxonMobil's chairman and chief executive officer, graduated in 1975 with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from The University of Texas at Austin, and many other executives and employees are alumni of the university.
Headquartered in Irving, Texas, ExxonMobil is a leading international energy company whose subsidiaries have operations in about 150 countries and territories.
About the Cockrell School of Engineering:
The Cockrell School ranks among the top ten engineering programs in the United States and aspires to move into the top five. With the nation's fourth highest number of faculty members elected to the National Academy of Engineering, the Cockrell School's more than 7,000 students work with many of the world's finest engineering educators and researchers. This environment prepares graduates to become engineering leaders and innovators working for the betterment of society.