42 Mike Gaskins grew up on a farm between two small Oklahoma towns, Beggs, with a population of about 1,500, and Slick, population 150. Growing up in a poor community led him to believe his career options were limited, he says. Gaskins’ Brand of Success But they weren’t. “The things I learned at OSU opened doors I never would have had open to me,” says Gaskins, a 1980 geology graduate and geosciences technical manager with U.S. Production of ExxonMobil. “I’ve had an incredibly successful career at ExxonMobil. My degrees at OSU made the difference. I’ve felt so grateful for that. That’s why my wife and I feel strongly about giving back to the school.” By taking advantage of ExxonMobil’s three to one charitable gift program, Gaskins and his wife, Sue, quadrupled their donations to OSU. Add T. Boone Pickens’ $100 million challenge gift — which doubles qualifying scholarship gifts — and the Gaskins’ donations will multiply by eight. Once matched by Pickens, this endowment, the Michael and Susan Gaskins Geology Graduate Fellowship Fund, will produce $10,000 per year in fellowships for graduate students in the Pickens School of Geology, Gaskins says. “My wife and I decided that would be a great way to help support the school and the students.” I’VE HAD AN INCREDIBLY SUCCESSFUL CAREER AT EXXONMOBIL. MY DEGREES AT OSU MADE THE DIFFERENCE. I’VE FELT SO GRATEFUL FOR THAT. THAT’S WHY MY WIFE AND I FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT GIVING BACK TO THE SCHOOL. Jacob Longan ’05 WORDS courtesy PHOTO
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