The Alaska Native Utilization program: Alaska Natives are assured educational opportunities and jobs, a result of a 1974 agreement between Alyeska Pipeline Service Co. and the Department of Interior.

• Author: Morgan, Barbara

The Alaska Native Utilization Agreement was developed and implemented so that Alaska Natives would benefit through training and jobs from construction of the trans-Alaska oil pipeline, and continuing through the operation and maintenance of the pipeline, which crosses lands owned by Natives.

VECO Alaska Inc., a prime contractor to Alyeska Pipeline Service Co., is one of many businesses that help meet the Section 29 commitments so that Alaska Natives have opportunities to work on the pipeline.

VECO SCHOLARSHIP/ INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS

In conjunction with its engineering contract with Alyeska, VECO developed a comprehensive Alaska Native program during 1996 that included recruiting, employment, internship, mentoring and scholarship components. VECO's program has continued through these past eight years with the primary focus on Alaska Natives pursuing careers in the engineering, design and drafting fields. A secondary focus has been toward Alaska Natives seeking careers in project controls, accounting, safety, quality, human resources and other support fields required by Alaska's oil industry.

VECO maintains a close alliance with the Alaska Native Student Engineering Program (ANSEP) at the University of Alaska in Anchorage and Fairbanks. Through this association, VECO has been able to provide a significant number of internships and scholarships for engineering students in the ANSEP program. Interns have been able to gain valuable, hands-on experience, participating in project teams performing engineering services for either the major producers in Alaska or for the Alyeska Pipeline Services Co. Some interns have had the opportunity to work rotational positions on the North Slope through VECO's operations contract. In all cases, VECO selects mentors within its management organization to work closely with the interns to insure that their experiences are meaningful.

Many VECO interns have subsequently received scholarships through the VECO/Alyeska scholarship program. Scholarship recipients also have included Alaska Native students pursuing their educational goals in the Lower 48. VECO recently awarded 35 scholarships for the 2004/2005 school year. Seventeen of this year's recipients are pursuing degrees in civil engineering. Other awardees are pursuing degrees in chemical, electrical, mechanical and petroleum engineering; process technology; computer science; and business administration.

VECO is proud to be an active partner within the oil industry...