From left, BP representative Kathy Thomas, President Beth Lewis, Board Chair Wayne Miles, BP Government and Public Affairs Director Maria Viso and Vice President for Institutional Advancement Mary Ann Amelang

A $15,000 donation from BP will assist College of the Mainland students through upgraded equipment and scholarships.

Continuing support since the Process Technology Program’s inception more than 20 years ago, BP donated $5,000 for Process Technology Program student scholarships, $5,000 for equipment upgrades and $5,000 for COM Collegiate High School.

“As technology changes, the program changes with it. If you have a 20-year-old cell phone, you will want to upgrade,” said COM Process Technology Program Coordinator Jerry Duncan. “The scholarships help working students work fewer hours to pay for school so they can graduate and enter the workforce faster.”

The COM Process Technology Program takes about two years to complete and prepares graduates to work in many industries.

“BP has supported the Process Technology Program since its inception and is proud to see the continued quality and high skills of its graduates,” said Pete Nowobilski, BP’s Texas City Chemicals plant manager. 

The growing COM PTEC program, among the first in the nation, had its largest class ever, 510 students, in fall 2015. It recently hired a full-time faculty member, Jonathan Leacroy, to assist with offering more classes.

For more information about the COM PTEC program, visit www.com.edu/ptec or call 409-933-8536.

For more information about the COM Collegiate High School, visit www.com.edu/chs or call 409-933-8169.