News :: Petroleum Engineering Alums Honored as Outstanding Young Engineers

The College of Engineering honored four engineering alumni as Outstanding Young Engineers at the May 20th commencement, including two PGE grads among the four honorees; congratulations to Barbara Canales (BS 1989) and John Weinzierl (BS 1990). This award is given to engineers aged 40 and under for distinguished contributions to their field, their communities and to the College of Engineering.

Earning a bachelor's degree from PGE in 1989, Barbara Canales went on to law school in Houston. After graduation, she became a co-owner of BNP Petroleum, a company that develops natural gas resources in south Texas. While at BNP, she helped the company expand operations along the Padre Island national sea shore and surrounding Laguna Madre waters. Canales Exploration LLC was started by Barbara in January of 2005; the company leases thousands of south Texas acres, and assists in developing natural gas prospects, and in the drilling, completion, and downstream marketing of gas products. She is involved in a wide range of community activities, including serving on the board of governors of the South Texas Institute for the Arts, the advisory board of UT's Marine Science Institute, the Texas Land Commissioner's Coastal Initiatives 2004 board, as well as being a former member of the division of the American Cancer Society known as VICTORY. Barbara supports the College as a Friend of Alec, and is a Life Member of the Texas Exes.

John Weinzierl earned a bachelor’s degree in petroleum engineering in 1990 and an MBA in 1998. After six years with Conoco Inc. as a petroleum engineer, Weinzierl joined Natural Gas Partners (NGP), a private equity firm in the energy industry where he became managing director in 2005. John concentrates on the company's transaction analysis and execution, and on supporting its active-portfolio companies with corporate strategy and investment analysis. In addition to involvement with NGP's oil & gas producers, Weinzierl and his family support charities that include Habitat for Humanity and the community outreach program of the Junior League of Dallas. He is a long-standing Friend of Alec and a Life Member of the Texas Exes.

At the College of Engineering luncheon honoring the Outstanding Graduates, Canales and Weinzierl both mentioned faculty members who had influenced their careers at UT. Barbara Canales remembered Ekwere Peters for his encouragement, and John Weinzierl spoke of Larry Lake as the sort of professor who can "make the light go on."  Congratulations again, to our Outstanding Engineers. We are proud of them, and of our role in their success.