CSUB receives $560,000 gift from California Resources Corporation

Funding will establish scholarship, CRC Energy Transition Lecture Series

By California State University, Bakersfield

August 10^th, 2022

Oil and gas company California Resources Corporation is donating $560,000 to California State University, Bakersfield as part of an effort to create a more sustainable future.

The funding will establish the CRC Carbon TerraVault Scholarship as well as a CRC Energy Transition Lecture Series. The series will focus on several topics and issues relating to carbon capture and storage as well as other technologies that will help achieve net-zero emissions.

“CSU Bakersfield is thankful for this gift and looks forward to the ongoing partnership with CRC,” said CSUB Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations Heather Pennella. “This lecture series will cover topics that are important to our region and will strengthen our relationships with our industry partners, the community, all of which ultimately benefit our students.”

The donation is part of CRC’s $2.5 million pledge to fund carbon management-related initiatives in Kern County.

“CRC is pleased to partner with CSUB to develop the CRC Energy Transition Lecture Series and establish the CRC Carbon TerraVault Scholarship,” said Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Shawn Kerns. “We are deeply committed to the energy transition and higher education, and believe these opportunities will advance the energy conversation and provide students with pathways to a sustainable energy future.”

The gift will help fulfill CSUB’s priority of supporting future leaders and fostering academic excellence as part of the university’s first-ever comprehensive fundraising campaign, which was publicly announced in October 2021.

The goal of the campaign is to raise $55 million by July 2024 to transform the university.

Dr. Jianyu Dong — CSUB’s new dean of the School of Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Engineering — said she’s excited to see how CRC’s gift will impact students.

“We deeply value our partnership with CRC and highly appreciate their support,” she said. “The sponsored lecture series will be instrumental to foster conversations and drive collaborations on innovative energy solutions for a sustainable future among researchers, educators, industry and community partners. The CRC Carbon TerraVault Scholarship will be vital to help students who would like to pursuit their careers in STEM areas, many of whom are first-generation students.”

CSUB receives $560,000 gift from California Resources Corporation

ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN

Runners on the Rise is the first-ever comprehensive fundraising campaign at California State University, Bakersfield. The campaign is centrally focused on what is most important at CSUB: students. This ambitious effort aims to raise $55 million by July 2024, helping our students — and, in turn, the entire region — reach new heights of success. Join us on this upward trajectory atcsub.edu/rise.