Valdez Students Learn about Alaska’s Energy Sector

Hilcorp Energy Company launched its first-ever high school internship program, Fuel the Future, in the summer of 2025. The program selected eight students from across Alaska for two, two-week rotations on the North Slope, where they toured more than thirty facilities, shadowed a variety of technical roles, and gained firsthand insight into careers within Alaska’s oil and gas industry.

As Hilcorp expands its statewide outreach, initiatives like Fuel the Future are helping close the gap between classroom learning and career exploration—giving students a clearer sense of direction and an early start on building careers in Alaska’s energy sector. One of those opportunities unfolded in Valdez, where Konrad Schruf, Hilcorp’s Technical Outreach Coordinator, met with Valdez T3 Alaska students over a pizza lunch. Schruf shared information about Hilcorp’s process technology careers and training pathways, and eight students eagerly took part in the conversation. The meeting offered a meaningful chance for students to ask questions, build connections, and explore what a future in Alaska’s energy industry might look like.

Schruf leads Hilcorp’s process technology outreach efforts, engaging students from across the state—especially those living near or interested in North Slope career pathways. His work aligns closely with T3 Alaska’s objectives to provide students with hands-on opportunities and pathways to future careers.