UW Receives $1M Endowment to Support Petroleum Engineering Students

The University of Wyoming has received a major gift from Joseph and Stephanie Leimkuhler, who have pledged $500,000 to support UW petroleum engineering students.

The gift will be matched by the state of Wyoming to $1 million to establish the Joseph and Stephanie Leimkuhler Fund for Student Success in Petroleum Engineering.

This endowment will support graduate students in UW’s Department of Energy and Petroleum Engineering, furthering the university’s commitment to producing highly skilled professionals in this essential field.

“This funding directly supports the department’s ‘Top 5 in 5’ initiative, aimed at boosting our program’s national and global reputation,” says Vamegh Rasouli, the LeNorman Endowed Leadership Chair of Petroleum Engineering in the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences. “The new students joining us will be key in shaping the future of technology for developing Wyoming’s shale plays and will help supply the state’s petroleum industry with its future workforce — a crucial role in a state where oil and gas drive the economy.”

The new fund will focus on providing educational and enrichment opportunities for students pursuing master’s degrees in petroleum engineering, with an emphasis on those specializing in drilling engineering.

This endowed fund also will allow the department to support graduate assistantships, scholarships, research, travel and conference participation — empowering students to gain real-world experience and develop expertise that contributes to the energy industry’s growth.

To maximize the impact of this gift, the Leimkuhlers’ contribution was matched dollar-for-dollar through the 2024 state matching endowment appropriation. This matching opportunity doubles the endowment’s potential, amplifying its support for petroleum engineering students and extending the university’s reach in developing a strong workforce for the energy sector. In addition, the Leimkuhlers’ commitment to UW will be recognized through a charitable gift annuity.

Joseph “Joe” Leimkuhler, chief operating officer of Beacon Offshore Energy — with offices in Houston, Texas and Covington, La. — has deep ties to UW. After earning his bachelor’s degree in geology and forestry from the University of Montana, he went on to receive his master’s degree in petroleum engineering from UW. In recognition of his professional accomplishments and commitment to his alma mater, he was named a Distinguished Alumni in 2022.

Leimkuhler serves on the Dean’s Advisory Council for the UW College of Engineering and Physical Sciences and the Petroleum Engineering Industrial Advisory Board. Alongside his wife, Stephanie, they also have established the Joseph and Stephanie Leimkuhler Petroleum Engineering Dean’s Excellence Fund, supporting undergraduate scholarships, graduate stipends, student enrichment opportunities and faculty awards.

While he was a master’s student in petroleum engineering at UW in the 1980s, a state teaching assistantship enabled the Leimkuhlers to support their family and was fundamental to a successful career. It is their goal for this fund to provide similar opportunities to other UW students.

“UW and the state of Wyoming were there for us when we needed help, and this gift, along with the state match, will ensure the same opportunity is there for future students as well,” Leimkuhler says.