On October 9, the PESA Energy Educators Committee hosted its first annual Shoot for the Stars Marksmanship Tournament: Supporting STEM Energy Education Programs. PESA members and customers gathered at Athena Gun Club for a half-day of networking and friendly competition.
The event proceeds support the IPAA-PESA Petroleum Academies, PESA/Rice Fellowship Program, and IPAA – PESA Middle School STEM Career Exploration Initiative, including targeted middle and high school programs in Midland, Odessa, Houston and Ft. Worth. The event’s strong turnout demonstrates PESA members’ dedication to education.
Several operators donated their time to the event, including Al Hirshberg, ConocoPhillips; John Mingé, National Petroleum Council; Alvin Shaffer, Equinor; and Alan Smith, Rockcliff Energy. PESA would like to thank them for their attendance.
PESA Board Member and Energy Educators Chair Galen Cobb, Vice President, Industry Relations, Haliburton, kicked off the marksmanship tournament by welcoming attendees and thanking the teams entered in the tournament.

Second-place team, Halliburton. Curtis Blount, ConocoPhillips; Galen Cobb, Halliburton; Russell Croley, Halliburton; Al Hirshberg, ConocoPhillips; and Carl Shaw, Halliburton.
Competing in rotations through three bays, event sponsor DistributionNOW’s team placed first with a score of 1,113: Clent Rawlinson, Jared Payne, Chris Hirsekorn, and Andrew Glasoe.
Event sponsor Halliburton’s team followed in second place with a score of 1,083: Curtis Blount, ConocoPhillips; Galen Cobb, Halliburton; Russell Croley, Halliburton; Al Hirshberg, ConocoPhillips; and Carl Shaw, Halliburton.
The third place team finished with a score of 989: Dan Bearden, ConocoPhillips; Kris Givens, Schlumberger; Bruce Kitchel, ConocoPhillips and Tom Moyers, Schlumberger.
The top individual score of 283 was from Kyle Ramachandran, Solaris Oilfield Infrastructure.
Mike Kowalski, Sunbelt Steel, won a crossbow in a raffle.
The marksmanship tournament allowed PESA member companies and customers to cultivate relationships.

Third-place team. Dan Bearden, ConocoPhillips; Kris Givens, Schlumberger; Bruce Kitchel, ConocoPhillips and Tom Moyers, Schlumberger.
“Thank you to all marksmanship tournament players for supporting PESA’s strong commitment to STEM and excellence in energy education. Your support today is integral to developing the next generation of industry leaders,” Cobb said.
PESA thanks sponsors DistributionNOW, Gardner Denver, Halliburton, Mewbourne Oil Company, Oceaneering, and WPX Energy for making this event possible.