SIPES FOundation
History
The SIPES
Foundation
The SIPES Foundation was chartered in Texas in November 1981 to be the charitable and educational arm of the Society. In addition to awarding annual earth science scholarships, and conducting an annual educational seminar at the convention, the Foundation maintains a video library with films of technical programs that have been presented at past conventions.
Donations are always welcomed by the SIPES Foundation to continue scholarship awards, seminars and educational programs. Your gift may be made in honor of or in memory of a family member, friend or business colleague. All gifts receive written acknowledgment. The SIPES Foundation is a 501c3 organization.
Foundation Leadership
Thomas G. Pronold
President -Wichita, Kansas
Tom Pronold lives in Wichita, KS and is the manager of Bitter Spar LLC, an exploration and development company specializing in Kansas conventional drilling prospects. He has been an active member of the SIPES Wichita chapter for more than 10 years. He graduated from SMU with a Master’s degree in geology. Tom is a member of AAPG.
Steve M. Smith
Vice President - Houston, Texas
Steve is the managing partner of SMS Exploration, LLC in Houston and is generating conventional prospects in the Gulf Coast. He has 45 years of geoscience experience and has been an exploration manager for Cody Energy, Linc Energy and Trek Oil & Gas. Steve has an MBA from the University of St. Thomas and a BS in Geology from Baylor. He is a past Secretary of the SIPES Houston chapter and currently is chair of the Foundation Scholarship committee.
TBA
Secretary
Bio coming soon...
Robert C. Leibrock
Treasurer - Houston, Texas
Bob Leibrock was an independent oil & gas operator in the Permian Basin for many years and continues to participate there as an investor. He is a petroleum engineer and graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He served as chapter chairman of both the Midland and Fort Worth SIPES chapters and is a prior president of the SIPES Foundation.
Directors
Matt Boyce
Houston, TX
Thomas M. Kirby
San Antonio, TX
Christopher H. Reed
Tyler, TX
our contribution
Scholarships
The Foundation awards scholarships annually to upper-division and graduate students studying earth science. Since its inception in 1981, the Foundation has awarded more than half a million dollars to 291 outstanding students. Applications are accepted each year from students majoring in any earth science, geophysics, petroleum or geological engineering who are enrolled in a U.S.-based university or college, have an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher and are U.S. citizens. Application forms are available online in January.
Previous Scholarship Recipients
See the winners from the last 5 years and click to view the press releases.
2021
2020