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January 24, 2008

Gift to support new Energy Institute at UPB

American Refining Group (ARG) and Halloran Philanthropies have given $500,000 to the Bradford campus for energy-related studies.

Half of the gift is endowed, and funds generated from the endowment will support scholarships and energy-related projects.

The other half will be used to assist in the development of an Energy Institute at Pitt-Bradford.

“The Energy Institute will provide educational opportunities, project development and support for economic development in the traditional oil and gas fields, as well as in alternative energy,” said Harry R. Halloran Jr., CEO of ARG.

The Energy Institute will foster the study of both traditional fossil-fuel applications and renewable energy sources for the benefit of student learning, commercial projects and the regional economy.

Potential projects include creating biodiesel fuel or lubricants from plant oils, gasification technology, experimental wind turbines and converting municipal solid waste into energy.

The ARG/Harry R. Halloran Jr. Scholarship created by the gift will provide scholarships to Pitt-Bradford students with a preference for those enrolled in the petroleum technology program or involved with other energy initiatives.

ARG purchased Witco Corp.’s Bradford refinery in 1997, and has continued a tradition of support that dates back to a gift of land by Witco/Kendall (the previous owner of the Bradford refinery) in 1967. That gift is the site of the UPB campus.

In recent years, ARG donated 130 acres on West Corydon Street that doubled the physical size of the Bradford campus.

Profits from future sales of timber on the land will benefit a scholarship fund for children of ARG employees.


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