Overview
PDC Energy Weekend is an activity-filled weekend on campus for high school seniors intended to provide a taste of Western Colorado University’s Energy Management program. With all expenses paid for, students arrive on campus welcomed with an overview of a real-world problem presented by PDC Energy, the sponsor of the 2023 event. Students have the night to work through the problem in groups before presenting their outcomes to a panel composed of PDC representatives, as well as Western staff and faculty. Students are also individually interviewed for a chance to receive additional academic scholarships. Scholarships allocated to this weekend program range from $30,000-$60,000, and students are later treated to a dinner in Crested Butte as well as a complimentary day pass to Mt. Crested Butte for skiing and snowboarding. Attendees are also given the choice of an alternative activity, appealing to students with a wide range of interests allowing them to fully explore the Gunnison valley. Students can walk away from this trip with scholarship funds and an exciting glimpse of the Western community and the Energy Management program.
Date: 3/31/23-4/2/23
Location: Gunnison, CO
Schedule
5 p.m. – Arrival and check-in on Western’s Campus at Borick Business Building
5:30 p.m. – Welcome dinner with PDC Energy, current Energy Management students, staff and faculty. PDC will present the challenge for the 2023 Energy Days competition at this time.
7:30 p.m. – 12 a.m. (or later) – PDC Energy Days Challenge work-through time at Borick Business Building
6 a.m. – Breakfast at Holiday Inn
7 a.m. – PDC Energy Days Challenge continues at Borick Business Building
9:45 a.m. – Slides due from teams; Judges pre-meeting (without students)
10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. – Presentations (15 minutes each – Room 204)
11:30 a.m. – Judges post-meeting (without students)
11:30 a.m. – Lunch (box lunches)
12 – 5:30 p.m. – Western staff and PDC Energy conducts individual student interviews (schedules will be posted) Free time and access to the Mountaineer Field House available when not interviewing. This is a great time to grab coffee in downtown Gunnison with a Western student and ask them any questions about what it’s like to go to school here. Reach out, they are all excited to have you here and want to share their experience!
5:30 p.m. – Shuttle to Crested Butte for Awards Dinner
7 a.m. – Breakfast at Holiday Inn
7:30 a.m. – Shuttle leaves from Holiday Inn to Crested Butte Mountain Resort. The PDC Energy Days fund will pay for equipment rentals (does not include clothing) and a day pass on the mountain to ski or ride.
8 a.m. – Alternative activity (all equipment needed will be provided)
2 p.m. – Event Formally Ends, applicable Shuttles will leave from Crested Butte and Gunnison
Questions?
If you have questions about Energy Weekend, email event coordinator Veronica Wilde at vwilde@western.edu.
Register Here*NOTE: This is a student-only event