My name is Cherish Chukwu and I am a final-year petroleum engineering student from the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria.
I joined SPE in 2023 as a first-year petroleum engineering student. Initially, I viewed it as the professional society within my department. Over time, it became the platform through which I developed interests in technical research, professional service, leadership, and scientific communication.
My involvement in SPE began through volunteer service. I supported chapter activities as an usher, participated in membership outreaches, assisted with event logistics, and later served as lead programs moderator. During this period, I was recognized as one of the chapter’s most active volunteers of the year. These experiences strengthened my communication skills, introduced me to professional service, and provided opportunities to work with student leaders and industry professionals.
Like many students, my journey also included setbacks. During my third year, I ran for a leadership position within the chapter but was unsuccessful. While I had hoped for a different outcome, I came to appreciate that although titles may amplify impact, they do not create it. I continued to volunteer, support chapter activities, and remain actively engaged in the opportunities SPE provided.
One experience during my undergraduate internship later shaped my research journey. While interning at a thermal power plant, I observed how natural gas supply constraints affected electricity generation. That observation developed into a technical question that stayed with me long after my internship ended. I became interested in understanding how reservoir engineering and sustainable energy research could contribute to improving energy availability through innovative approaches to depleted subsurface assets.
Although I initially considered developing the idea into a conference paper, I set it aside because I doubted I could do it justice within the available time. That changed after joining my university’s SPE research team, where students were encouraged to submit abstracts for the 2026 SPE Nigerian Council Students Technical Symposium and Exhibition (STSE). The encouragement from my mentors gave me the confidence to revisit the idea, and my abstract was accepted.
The most demanding phase followed. Developing the manuscript coincided with my final-year first-semester exams, requiring me to balance literature review, technical writing, presentation preparation, and exam revision. Many nights were spent alternating between research and coursework, and on one occasion, I submitted my presentation slides before heading directly to an exam.
STSE provided an opportunity to present my research, receive valuable technical feedback, and engage with experienced professionals and fellow students. I emerged as the winner of the 2026 SPE Nigerian Council Student Paper Contest for my paper Reactivating Depleted Gas Reservoirs for Biogenic Methane Production: A Microbial Stimulation Framework Integrating Monod Kinetics and Finite-difference Reservoir Simulation.
Winning the national competition qualified me to represent my country at the 2026 SPE Africa Regional Student Paper Contest in Nairobi, Kenya.
Traveling to Nairobi was an enriching experience. It provided the opportunity to engage with exceptional students from across the Africa region, exchange technical ideas, and gain new perspectives on energy challenges across the continent. Beyond the competition, it reinforced the value of collaboration and the global professional network that SPE continues to build.
While the award marked an important milestone, it also reminded me that growth is a continuous journey, shaped by curiosity, disciplined learning, generous mentorship, and opportunities to serve. I remain deeply grateful to SPE and to the many mentors, colleagues, and friends whose encouragement has shaped my journey.
Today, I have the privilege of representing the SPE Africa Region at the 2026 SPE International Student Paper Contest at the 2026 Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition in Houston. I look forward to learning from outstanding students, researchers, academics, and industry professionals from around the world while sharing my research and continuing to grow as a petroleum engineering student and young professional.
Looking back, my SPE journey has been shaped by volunteer service, mentorship, technical research, and opportunities to contribute beyond the classroom. Each experience has strengthened my technical competence, scientific communication, and appreciation for collaborative problem-solving within the energy industry.
As I prepare to represent the SPE Africa Region in the International Student Paper Contest, I remain grateful to SPE for creating opportunities that enable students to grow technically, serve professionally, and engage with the global energy community. I hope my journey encourages other students to embrace those opportunities and contribute meaningfully to the future of our industry.