Marietta's Morgan Rich named finalist for AAPL's Outstanding Graduate award

Sarahsville, Ohio, native interning at Artex Oil in Marietta

by Tom Perry

Marietta, Ohio (02/28/2018) — Morgan Rich '19 (Sarahsville, Ohio) wasn't too disappointed when she learned she wasn't named the American Association of Professional Landmen Outstanding Graduate.

Finishing in the top four was rewarding enough.

"It is great to know that my college career, as well as my experiences, have been recognized by the national organization of professional landmen," she said. "The AAPL is one of the largest organizations in the oil and gas industry and it is still hard to believe I was given this opportunity."

Rich, a graduate of Shenandoah High School, learned she was a finalist a few weeks before attending the NAPE meetings in Houston Feb. 13-15 - where she was interviewed for the award. Marietta is one of 13 AAPL-accredited program, but the College just recently earned the designation.

Rich is excited about the attention Marietta's program is receiving.

"As one of 13 accredited programs, the AAPL, as well as the local chapter (Michael Late Benedum Chapter) have proved very valuable to Marietta's students," she said. "From scholarships, free meeting/dinner registration, and tons of networking with industry professionals, none of these opportunities would have been as significant if Marietta College was not AAPL accredited. We have also had the pleasure of meeting students from other AAPL accredited schools and even volunteering side by side with students from West Virginia University at MLBC events. It is nice being able to feel like a part of a group and being AAPL accredited we get to enjoy just that."

Tina Thomas, Director of the Land & Energy Management program, said Rich is the type of student every program wants to have.

"Not only is she very intelligent, she has common sense and a driven work ethic," Thomas said. "Morgan has shown leadership and initiative in MCLA, Marietta's student land man organization and MLBC, the local professional organization. Her accomplishment of qualifying as one of four finalists among all land management students across the country speaks volumes for Morgan's personal achievement and Marietta's program. Morgan will be a very successful landman and I am proud to have her as a student in Marietta College's Land & Energy Management program."

Rich, who commutes for Sarahsville, Ohio, said Marietta's program is doing an outstanding job of preparing future landmen.

"Overall, the program has been remarkable at preparing students for the role as landmen," she said. "It has given us all a chance to go into this line of work, with knowledge of what it is we will be doing. Many landmen, have not been fortunate enough to have such experience when they started their careers."

Rich is interning at Artex Oil Company in Marietta and plans to start her career there after graduation.

"I also plan to become more involved with the Michael Late Benedum Chapter of AAPL and also work toward getting my 'registered landman' certification, followed by my 'certified professional landman' certification in years to follow," Rich said.

Located in Marietta, Ohio, at the confluence of the Muskingum and Ohio rivers, Marietta College is a four-year liberal arts college. Tracing its roots to the Muskingum Academy back in 1797, the College was officially chartered in 1835. Today Marietta College serves a body of 1,200 full-time students. The College offers 45 majors and is consistently ranked as one of the top regional comprehensive colleges by U.S. News & World Report and The Princeton Review, as well as one of the nation's best by Forbes.com. Marietta was selected seventh in the nation according to the Brookings Institution's rankings of colleges by their highest value added, regardless of major.

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