One Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) scholar attending the 2025 Leadership Institute said he went from not having a network to leading multi-million dollar projects in the energy sector.
Kamron Wright, a senior mechanical engineering major at Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) and first-generation college student, grew up in Dallas with very few mentors or examples of engineers or entrepreneurs who looked like him.
“I went to an all-white school for as long as I could remember,” Wright said.
At age 12, he joined a program that taught him how to use sports and discipline as a tool for leadership and personal growth. He was led by his first mentor, Chris Glenn, someone Wright said he now dedicates his life to.
“He taught me how to lead, how to learn, how to listen,” Wright said. “Those experiences gave me a vision to not only build a career but to create opportunities for others.”
Leadership Institute, he said, is the perfect environment to sharpen his skills, expand his network and continue building that vision.
“I want to learn from top leaders in industry and government about what it takes to create lasting impact, while also connecting with mentors and decision-makers who can open doors for internships, full-time roles and future partnerships,” Wright said.
He said he’s looking forward to the workshops on leadership, innovation and entrepreneurship, as well as the opportunity to practice building relationships with executives and recruiters in a professional setting.
“I want to get into the mind of today’s Black leaders,” Wright said.
He hopes to connect with energy, aerospace and technology companies—especially those focused on sustainability, advanced manufacturing and space exploration. Wright is also looking for partners who support community-building and leadership development initiatives.
Wright is a Halliburton RISE Scholar at PVAMU, interning in completion tools research and development where he designs and verifies new energy solutions. In 2024, he led a project at Diamondback Energy that forecasted a multi-million dollar PV10 gain. PV10 is a method of estimating an energy company’s potential future earnings based on its reserves of oil and gas.
Outside of school and work, Wright is the founder of Iron Roots Collective, a nonprofit that uses martial arts to build discipline, community and opportunities for young Black men.
Attending PVAMU has been an awesome experience for Wright, giving him the technical foundation, mentorship and leadership opportunities to succeed at a high level.
“Being surrounded by a community that believes in excellence has empowered me to step confidently into boardrooms, oil fields and innovation labs,” he said.
He plans to pursue a master’s degree in engineering or business at a top school, eventually leading his own energy and technology company focused on building solutions for extreme environments and underserved communities.
“I am committed to using my skills to create pathways for the next generation of engineers, leaders and entrepreneurs—starting with my peers and extending into the broader community,” Wright said.
Finding help along the way, he tapped into opportunities that accelerated his ascent. Hopefully it will inspire others.
“My story is one of resilience—going from having no network or mentors to leading multi-million-dollar projects and creating spaces for others to grow,” Wright said.
