Alumni, Where Are They Now?: David Van Wagener

David Van Wagener speaking at a conference.

Q&A with alumni scholarship recipient David Van Wagener. Find out how SWM helped him become a successful engineer.

What is your position and where is your job?
In September I started as an associate engineer at ConocoPhillips in Bartlesville, Oklahoma

What do you do for this position?
I am a research engineer in the CO2 Capture & Avoidance group; one of the components within ConocoPhillips working on Sustainability technologies.

Do you like your new job and why?
The job is great!  The research follows the subject matter that I became an expert in during graduate school.  I really helping an energy company work to be more sustainable.

How did you get the job or find out about it?
I found out about this job through the career center at my school (The University of Texas at Austin).  I applied to the job through the engineering careers web site, interviewed on-campus, and then I attended an on-site visit in Bartlesville for a second, full-day interview.

What did you learn by participating in Swim with Mike that helped you to get this job, or helps you to do this job?
Swim with Mike taught me that although getting into a school/job can seem like a monumental task due to whatever challenges lie ahead (physical disabilities, required qualifications, etc.), it’s important not to immediately pass on certain opportunities because you think they might not work.  Relocating to Bartlesville seemed absurd for a quadriplegic like myself with many needs, but so far things have been doing great.

Anything else you want to say your mention?
Swim with Mike was a great support for me throughout eight years of undergrad and graduate school.  I hope that continued support can help influence more young adults to return to school in order to place themselves in a great job!