Beating the Buzzer to Prepare Future Petroleum Engineers

For Kevin Cunningham ’84, the path to becoming a well-traveled engineer started with a love for basketball and a last-minute decision that would shape his future. Born and raised in Houston, Kevin grew up immersed in sports, with no particular tie to engineering. That all changed when a friend’s father introduced him to the world of petroleum engineering—a discussion that would ultimately take him to Texas A&M University and around the globe.

Kevin’s journey to Aggieland did not happen overnight—after graduating high school, he spent a year at Temple Junior College playing basketball while taking pre-engineering courses. But he soon realized that to pursue an engineering degree, he needed to make a hard choice. Kevin transferred to Texas A&M, walking onto the basketball team for his sophomore season.

“I was really torn on whether I wanted to keep playing basketball or focus on engineering,” Kevin said. “Trying to do both was challenging, so after that first year, I committed fully to engineering.”

Though he eventually stepped away from collegiate competition, basketball remained a part of Kevin’s life. He and his friends would spend countless hours playing pickup games at the “third-floor gym” on campus, balancing intense coursework with the sport he loved.

Graduating in 1984 with a degree in petroleum engineering, Kevin faced a tough job market but secured a position with Chevron. That job would take him across the country and beyond, from New Orleans to Houston, San Francisco to Perth, and even Angola in West Africa.

“I think the most important lesson I learned was to be open to opportunities,” Kevin said. “There were times I didn’t get the job I thought I wanted, but something better always came along.”

During his time abroad, Kevin worked on major offshore projects, helping develop some of the world’s largest energy resources. While living in Australia, he and his wife, Bonnie, embraced the travel opportunities, visiting New Zealand, Malaysia and Indonesia.

“We tried to do as much as we could while we were there,” he said. “My wife made lifelong friends and got into tennis, and I had the chance to work on projects that really challenged me.”

After retiring in 2018, Kevin reflected on the impact Texas A&M had on his life. As a student, he had received a small scholarship that made a difference, even in the days of lower-priced tuition. That memory, combined with a desire to support future engineers, led Kevin to establish the Bonnie and Kevin Cunningham ’84 Von Gonten Endowed Scholarship for petroleum engineering students.

“College is so much more expensive now, and I just wanted to help give someone else that opportunity,” Kevin said. “Maybe it allows a student to focus on school instead of working a second job. Whatever the case, I wanted to give back.”

Kevin chose to name his scholarship in honor of Dr. Douglas Von Gonten, a former Professor and Department Head who left a lasting impression on him.

“Dr. Von Gonten was just a great person—very friendly and outgoing with students,” Kevin said. “I had always thought that if I ever had the chance to give back, I wanted to do it in his name.”

Though retired, Kevin remains involved in his community, volunteering and spending time with his family, including his children and grandchildren. Kevin still follows Aggie basketball and occasionally returns to campus, reconnecting with former teammates and friends.

Looking back, he hopes his journey inspires students to embrace the unexpected.

“My advice to students is to stay open to different opportunities,” Kevin said. “Don’t go in with a rigid plan—be flexible, because you never know where the best experiences will come from.”

From a high school athlete unsure of his next step. to a global engineer and now a donor—Kevin’s story is a testament to the power of adaptability, perseverance and giving back to the place that shaped him.