Sources: Michael Chilton, 785-532-4357, mchilton@k-state.edu
Yar M. Ebadi, 785-532-7227, yebadi@k-state.edu
News release prepared by: Melanie Horton, 785-532-7227, mhorton@k-state.edu

Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2010

MANAGEMENT PROFESSOR AWARDED CONOCOPHILLIPS FACULTY SPONSORSHIP

MANHATTAN -- Michael A. Chilton, associate professor of management at Kansas State University, has received $25,000 from the ConocoPhillips faculty sponsorship program.

The award will go toward supporting Chilton's efforts to expand his existing curriculum and incorporate new, advanced technologies to enhance the management information systems program at K-State.

"We're excited to have Dr. Chilton as one of the elite award recipients this year," said Rand Berney, ConocoPhillips senior vice president of corporate shared services and the executive liaison for the K-State relationship. "We value the partnership that exists between K-State and ConocoPhillips, and we are pleased to offer this program as a means of exploring new possibilities and growth."

"The candidates are subject to a rigorous review and approval process," said Barb Sheedlo, ConocoPhillips manager of recruiting and staffing. "We want to partner with those faculty members who will most actively engage with us and with whom we share a strategic interest."

In 2010 ConocoPhillips awarded 10 sponsorships for $25,000 each to faculty at 10 different U.S. universities.

"Mike Chilton is among the college's most innovative faculty members," said Yar M. Ebadi, dean of the College of Business Administration. "We're proud of his accomplishments and pleased that ConocoPhillips has recognized him as a recipient of their prestigious program. Dr. Chilton's work in management information systems is outstanding and demonstrates the importance of technology in developing creative thinking skills in our students."

"I'm deeply honored to have been chosen for this award from ConocoPhillips, and I'm grateful to the K-State alumni who nominated me for this award," Chilton said. "Over the next year I intend to embark on a research program of business analytics and data mining that will eventually help ConocoPhillips and others in their decision-making processes. It should be a very exciting year."

The ConocoPhillips faculty sponsorship program was created in 2008. The nominations are based on a variety of criteria, focused primarily on their strategic relevance and alignment with ConocoPhillips' key focus areas and core values. The awards are intended to support a variety of programs and activities that stimulate interest and professional development among students and faculty in disciplines recruited by ConocoPhillips.