Pecten Scholarship for International Studies at the University of St. Thomas
This scholarship was established to assist students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies at the
University of
St. Thomas.
For 2013-14, there are two scholarships of approximately $2,600 each.
To be eligible, a student must be:
1. Full-time, undergraduate student.
2. Major in international studies or international development.
3. Junior standing and completed at least one academic semester at UST.
4. In good academic standing with a GPA of at least 3.0.
5. Attend a luncheon in your honor the week of April 1, 2013
DEADLINE: March 15, 2013. You will be notified by March 25, 2013.
To apply, please complete the application form, submit a 600-700 word essay and submit 2 recommendation letters .
Pictured to the right are the recipients of the Pecten Scholarship for the 2008-2009 school year: Dr. Linda Pett-Conklin, Marilyn Ullrich, Hiba Haroon, Allison Thomas and Don Ullrich.
Please see below for prior year recipients.
Employees of Pectin Chemicals, Inc. initiated the Pecten Scholarship at the
University of
St. Thomas in 1989 to aid students enrolled in the International Studies program. The Pecten Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Shell Oil Co., was responsible for the international marketing of chemicals produced by Shell Chemical Co. Initially, a golf outing funded the scholarship and provided an opportunity for present and former employees to gather for a day of relaxation. The employees decided that in addition to relaxing they could help deserving students in an area of study that was of great interest to Pecten.
The Pecten management team Russ Simmons, Larry Cooksey, Steve Steele and David Litton, vice presidents of marketing; Dan Klebeck, treasurer; Buddy Medley, vice president of logistics; John Petrosky, manager for planning and development; and Don Ullrich, president were schooled in disciplines other than International Studies. In fact, no one in the company had participated in an international studies or international affairs program. They realized the need for a better collective understanding of international politics, economics and geography.
Beginning in 1995 they were able to provide financial assistance to International Studies majors and since then the Scholarship has aided many students with financial resources to support their studies at UST.
Not surprisingly, all initial founders from Pecten have retired and have expanded fundraising efforts to include an annual dinner and silent auction. They now include a wider range of Shell employees who were somehow connected with Pecten’s international marketing activities. As of June 2004, Pecten contributed $170,000 in scholarship funds and will continue donating each year until the scholarship reaches the fully endowed status. The Pecten people have enjoyed being part of helping students at the
University of
St. Thomas achieve their scholastic objectives and find it gratifying to be able to pass something along to the next generation of internationalists
 Pictured to the left are the recipients of the Pecten Scholarship for the 2008-2009 school year: Stephanie Rivera, Thomas Mendez, Marilyn and Don Ullrich, Deanna Soileau and Maurielle Balczon
 Pictured to the right are Claudia Espinosa, Mrs. Marilyn Ullrich, Bindu Jose and Cheryl Castillo recipients of the Pecten Scholarship for the 2007-2008 school year with Dr. Robert Ivany, Mr. Don Ullrich, Dr. Gustavo Wensjoe and Professor William Cunningham.
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