JSOM Scholarship Breakfast Raises Money Toward Campaign, Scholarships for Students

The current energy boom can help the nation achieve something once thought impossible: energy independence, said Charles (Chuck) Davidson, chairman and CEO of Noble Energy during the recent Naveen Jindal School of Management Scholarship Breakfast.

“In my view, the United States is more energy secure today than it has been in many, many decades,” he said. “The United States could become energy independent very quickly.”

Davidson MS’80 spoke about the future of energy in his keynote address at the scholarship event at the Westin Galleria Dallas. He and his wife, Nancy Gundy Davidson BS’80, longtime Jindal School supporters, visited with students in the Davidson Management Honors Program after the breakfast.

Davidson began his career in the oil and gas business in the 1970s when a gas shortage led to rationing and long lines at the gas pumps. He contrasted that time period to the current energy boom, which he said stems from technology that has “unlocked huge resources in this country.”

“The last five years have had more change, more impact on our country than I’ve seen over that whole four-decade period,” Davidson said. “It truly is transformative. It has changed energy in America. I can’t be more excited about what it means for our country and for all the people in this country.”

The annual Scholarship Breakfast event raised $101,000, which will result in 40 Jindal student scholarships being awarded in the spring semester. The annual event has generated more than $400,000 and funded nearly 200 new scholarship awards since it began in 2009.

This year, telecom company Ericsson served as presenting sponsor of the breakfast, which also was backed by 26 event sponsors.

The funds raised through the Scholarship Breakfast count toward the Jindal School’s $50 million campaign goal as part of the University’s $200 million Realize the Vision: The Campaign for Tier One & Beyond. More than $41 million has been raised so far for the Jindal School.

UT Dallas President David E. Daniel told the audience that the scholarships help students who increasingly face challenges paying for their college educations.

“Our students are hardworking students. Many of them have part-time jobs,” Daniel said. “They greatly value internships. They’re hugely thankful when they get a job.”

Dr. Hasan Pirkul, Jindal School dean and Caruth Chair of Management, highlighted Jindal School students’ recent achievements, including a team of full-time MBA students’ first-place prize in the Turnaround Management Association’s Carl Marks Student Paper Competition and another group of full-time MBA students’ first-place win in the national Humana Healthcare Case Competition.

“We are really proud of our students,” Pirkul said.

Davidson said that he was pleased to see the school’s growth and accomplishments. The Davidsons made the first major alumni gift toward construction of the building that now houses the school. They also have made gifts to establish four endowed faculty research positions and a joint $30 million gift with Naveen Jindal MBA’92.

“For Nancy and I, we know that our education has made a difference in our lives, and I think most would say that education can make a huge difference in our lives,” Davidson said. “For the students: take advantage of it. It will be something you can lean on, depend on and grow from for the rest of your lives.”

Addison Kim, global business and finance junior in the Davidson Management Honors Program, said he was grateful for the opportunity to meet the donors who made the honors program possible.

“I think it was great to put a face to the name and see who Mr. Davidson was and interact on a personal level,” Kim said. “I feel like being surrounded by a group of students helps empower you and encourage you to get the fullest out of your education and also builds a great network of smart people that gives you a great base for going into the workforce.”