Nathan Farlow

Nathan Farlow did not let much grass grow under his feet during his time as a student at University of Maryland, College Park. Nor has he let any grass grow since he graduated magna cum laude in the spring of 2010 and was hired by ExxonMobil and relocated to Houston, TX. Nathan is a Cost Engineer at the largest petroleum and petrochemical complex in the United States, known as the ExxonMobil Baytown Area.

Nathan’s interest in engineering combined with his desire to learn business skills resulted in earning a degree in mechanical engineering. He had opportunities during his college career to test the waters of his career choice, and spent a semester of his junior year working full-time with ExxonMobil at the Torrance Refinery in Southern California. Nathan acted as an “owner’s representative,” overseeing and managing subcontractors retrofitting a large boiler.  He also spent the summer before his senior year completing an internship at the ExxonMobil office in Fairfax, VA.

Since he started work at the Baytown Area facility, Nathan has been involved with several projects, including leading a team to review available resources and devise a plan to improve integration of these resources within the Baytown Area Projects work group. Recently, he received a new assignment in the chemical company product division that involves the strategic allocation of personnel between projects and work groups.

Nathan received The Alan J. Linton, Jr. Scholarship for two years.  “The scholarships I received were instrumental in my success today,” said Nathan. “When I attended college, I could focus on my studies and also have time to participate in extracurricular activities, such as the University Student Judiciary, rather than work to pay for college. I am grateful for all these opportunities.”

What advice does Nathan have for scholars entering college? “The semester I spent working at the Torrance Refinery was amazing. Every scholar should try and find an opportunity to get real work experience while still in school. Also, pick an activity at your school and invest significant time in it. It really helps you develop as a person. Look at the big picture, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Last but not least, have fun!”