For nearly a century, UT PGE has educated leaders who have shaped the oil and gas industry. In 2010, we created the Distinguished Alumni Ceremony to recognize the best among them — company executives, technological innovators and astute entrepreneurs with unmatched industry expertise and a continued commitment to our UT PGE community.

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Congratulations to our 2025 Distinguished Alumni Recipients:

Mark Agnew
BSPE 1989

Dr. Hossein Kazemi
BSPE 1961, PhD PE 1963

Dr. Tony Podio
BSPE 1963, MSPE 1965, PhD PE 1968

Mike Riley
BSPE 1974

Francis Sommer
MSPE 1986
(Deferred until 2026)

Tara Sharma
BSPE 2015
(Rising Star Award)

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Thank you to our 2025 event sponsors:

Platinum
EOG Resources
Hildebrand Fund
Mike and Linn Riley
Gary and Gaylon Thomas

Gold
Folger Energy, LLC
Hossein Kazemi

Silver
Anonymous
EOG Resources
Jerry and Cherry Windlinger

Bronze
Anonymous
David and Carol Christian
Helge Hove Haldorsen and Anne Synnøve Ekern
C. Susan and Hal Howes
Larry Lake
Dr. Martha MacDonald
Strand Energy
Paul Woodul

Tailgate
Avenue 9 Premium Cocktails
Diamondback Energy
Quail Tools
Mike and Linn Riley

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See photos from the 2025 Distinguished Alumni event:
Distinguished Alumni Ceremony and Dinner
UT PGE Tailgate: UT vs. Sam Houston State