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Win One FOR THE GIFFER |
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Giff Nielsen
May 2008
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Today I had an enjoyable assignment to travel to south Texas and speak at the 2008 Sweeny High School Scholars luncheon. These are students who will lead our country in the future and I got the impression that everything was going to be okay. Their bright eyes and infectious smiles convinced me that although there are many crazy things going on the in the world right now, we've got great leaders being developed. How refreshing! A major oil company made it all happen. I couldn't help but ask the General Manager of the ConocoPhillips Sweeny Refinery Tom Rich about oil prices and how much we are all paying for gasoline. It's a hot topic for everyone right now. He told me the gas situation was a complicated issue. There is not time to go into all of the reasons for the fuel hike but he made it clear, honoring these students was not a hard thing to do.. He told the young people to continue to put forth a strong effort concerning their studies and they would have jobs at ConocoPhillips waiting for them after they graduate. He's a smart man. Who wouldn't want these kids. They are hard workers who have their priorities in the right place. So for Sergio, Kevin, Kim, Kit, Gregory, Jessica, Nichole, Jeremy, Jordan, Kristen, Gabriella, Holly, George, Christopher, Katy, Abby, Michael, Christopher, April, Alec, Alyssa, Brandi, Dakota, Jessica, Alton and Marsh congratulations! I told them they were examples. Just like they look up to someone else, others are watching their every move. I also told them they have no idea what will happen to them in the future but to be prepared when their time comes to take it to the next level. These are 26 of the finest young people in the extended Houston area. There are many more like them in our local High Schools. As we wind down another school year, those of you paying the price in the classroom, take a bow. You are smarter than you think! 7 CommentsLeave a comment |
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Giff Blogs Sports!
Giff Nielsen blogs what he knows best, and that's sports. As a former player for BYU and a quarterback for the Houston Oilers during the "Luv Ya Blue" era, Giff gives you insight into the world of sports that most can't. |
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Dear Giff,
It was an honor having you speak at our annual Sweeny Scholars Banquet in Sweeny. The high school students really enjoyed it as well as the parents, local dignitaries and fellow ConocoPhillips employees. The message that you presented was well received for all in attendance. Thank you very much!
Angela Young
Thanks again Mr. Nielsen for your kind words and recognition for our students!!!! Very nice of you to say what you did in the blog, we do appreciate it.
Les P. Kluttz
Asst. Principal
Sweeny High School
Thanks for such a good report on Sweeny and the young students. We are certainly proud of the students and our town.
This was the third scholars luncheon I've had the pleasure of attending in the past 4 years and I have to say your speech was the most entertaining and the most inspirational. My daughter is headed to UofH in the fall to study Mass communications, so she was thrilled to have you as the keynote speaker. Thank you for making this such a special event for the students.
Thank you so much for this. We all really appreciated you coming down and the speech you gave. I am honored that you would come to our small town to present us with the awards. Thank you.
Hi, I'm the 2nd Christopher on that list, and I'd like to take the time to thank you for attending this event for us. Also, I'd like to tell you that it is Holly, not "Holy". Right after I left the ceremony, I went and taught a Junior Achievement class to an eager group of 3rd graders. Since I was so dressed up, they thought at first that I was a reporter. Then when they found out I had met you, they wished I had gotten them autographs, but I told them they had to settle for a picture since you had already left. It was fitting in a way because I was teaching them about the newspaper business that day, and they had thought I was a reporter. At the end of class, I showed them the Sweeny Scholars plaque and encouraged them by saying that 26 out 140 students in my graduating class had received the award, and there was only 18 of them. I told them that if they worked hard, there was a very good chance that each and every one of them could one day also be a Sweeny Scholar.
And we LOVED having you Giff! Thanks for the words of wisdom to send our kids on their way. I know meeting you and hearing you speak will be something they will carry with them on their journey. Many thanks from a parent for taking time to make the afternoon memorable to us all. I will be tuning in to Channel 11 more often :)