From left to right: Jerome Richter, executive vice president, Terry Pilling, dean, and Shelly Lambertz, daughter of Harold Hamm and executive vice president, chief culture & administrative officer of Continental Resources, discussing hands on, innovative learning in the newly named Hamm School of Engineering.
The Hamm School of Engineering H
arold Hamm is passionate about education and the difference it can make in someone’s life. “I am probably inspired more by students than anything else,” Hamm said. “Students today spend a lot of time working hard to get the education they need to pursue their dreams. That’s very inspiring to me and hopefully, I can provide that same inspiration back to them. Education freed me up from the poverty cycle, and I want every person in North Dakota to know it can do that for you too.” Hamm grew up in rural Oklahoma and went to work in the oilfields as a teenager. In 1967, at the age of 21, Hamm 2
Momentum
established Continental Resources. This grassroots startup turned into one of the top ten oil producers in the United States lower 48. A national leader in promoting health, education, and energy industry advocacy, Hamm has devoted much time and resources to championing a healthy and secure future for all Americans. Hamm is devoted to preparing the next generation of energy industry leaders, which is why the Harold Hamm Foundation has made a $10 million philanthropic gift to the University of Mary, along with an additional $2 million gift from Continental Resources. It is the largest donation in the school’s history
and believed to be the largest-ever charitable gift given for education in the footprint of the Bakken Shale Formation of western North Dakota and eastern Montana. $10 million from the Harold Hamm Foundation goes toward naming the Hamm School of Engineering, while Continental Resources has specifically earmarked the additional $2 million to endow a Chair of Engineering, naming it the “Continental Resources | Monsignor James Shea Chair of Engineering.” This gift also launches Phase II of the University of Mary’s $272 million Vision 2030 Capital Campaign. The goal for Phase II is $87 million.
