Chevron provides third installment of pledge

Representatives from the Chevron Companies recently were at Mississippi State to make the third installment on a six-year, $600,000 pledge to the university's major gifts campaign.

Graham Somerville, general manager of the Chevron U.S.A. Products refinery in Pascagoula, presented President Donald Zacharias a check for $105,000. The company made an initial gift of $75,000 toward the commitment in 1993, and is providing an additional $105,000 annually through 1998.

Of the $600,000 total, $250,000 is designated for Chevron's existing Community Pride Program with the Mississippi Cooperative Extension Service. The program provides grants and awards to communities, schools, clubs, and groups to stimulate local initiatives in environmental education and environmental improvements.

The remaining $350,000 is designated for the College of Engineering to support the departments of chemical engineering, civil engineering, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering. The funds will be used to meet the departments' priority needs, including scholarships and programs that promote minority involvement in engineering.

Chevron made another substantial gift to the engineering college last year when the Pascagoula refinery donated equipment for use in instruction and research. The equipment was originally valued at $1.5 million.

The Campaign for Mississippi State, the university's first major gifts effort, has received more than $95 million in commitments since it began in July 1992. The five-year campaign, now in its fourth year, seeks $110 million in support of university priorities.