Nineteen Fort Worth ISD students each have won $1,000 scholarships through their studies in the District's Gold Seal Program of Choice preparing them for careers in petroleum, engineering and technology.  They attend the unique Southwest Academy of Petroleum, Engineering and Technology, a school within a school at Southwest High School.

The students were honored at the 2012 Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA) Externship Banquet on Wednesday, July 18.

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As "Baby Boomers" retire -- some estimates say at the rate of 10,000 workers a day -- the United States must produce employees to take their place.

Fort Worth ISD's Gold Seal Programs of Choice and Gold Seal Schools of Choice are designed to do just that -- prepare students for college and career so they may meet the growing demand for an educated and skilled work force.

This was the theme on Wednesday evening, July 18, at the Fort Worth Petroleum Club, as Fort Worth ISD SAPET students were honored for their studies and willingness to step into the workplace, especially during their summer vacation.

Speaker after speaker extolled the need for such a program, and students and parents alike praised the program for the "win-win" proposition it presents to everyone concerned.

Among those in attendance were local and statewide leaders in the petroleum industry, as well as Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price, School Board Trustees Dr. Ann Sutherland and Mrs. Christene Moss, and educators, parents and students.

Students in this Gold Seal program have the opportunity to visit a drill site, observe a university’s engineering department and meet geophysicists, geologists and petroleum engineers. They hone skills in public speaking, participate in energy-related field trips, learn from guest speakers and use technology and software related to current industry data.

The scholarship recipients are:

 Andrew Anthony
 Alexis Barron
 Cody Davis
 David Hoang
 Matthew Houston
 Torrean Johnson
 Rebecca Kim
 Matea Markovic
 Ashley Menendez
 David Ontiveros
 Alex Pimentel
 Isaac Ramirez
 Nathan Rangel
 Anna Rodriguez
 Diego Rodriguez
 Joseph Rosenzweig
 Azra Turajlic
 Dexter Wilson
 Tanbira Zahir