The University of Houston’s Energy Coalition celebrated a major milestone last week at its 10th Annual Energy Banquet—an evening honoring a decade of student leadership, collaboration, and the university’s growing reputation as The Energy University®.
Held at the Hilton Hotel on campus, the event brought together students, faculty and industry professionals for an evening of celebration and forward-looking conversation. Since its founding, the Energy Coalition has become the largest energy-focused student organization in the country, uniting more than 5,000 students from across disciplines, including engineering, business, law, and more.
“What makes this year’s banquet so special is how personal the connections feel,” said Gerardo Angulo, a junior political science major and current chair of the Energy Coalition. “Students aren’t just networking, they’re getting to know each other across disciplines and across interests. That’s where real collaboration begins.”
Angulo, who first joined the Coalition after attending its Energy 101 event in 2023, referenced how the organization’s diversity is what drives its strength. “We’ve got board members studying everything from biotechnology to psychology, from engineering to law,” he said. “That diversity allows students to see the energy space from multiple angles—and find their unique place within it.”
As the energy industry undergoes rapid transformation, Angulo emphasized the Coalition’s role in preparing students for that shift.
“We help students bridge the gap between what they learn in class and what’s happening in the field,” he said. “They meet engineers, scientists, policymakers, business leaders, and they start to understand where they can make an impact.”
The Energy Coalition’s mission of uniting energy-minded students and providing access to professional development has never been more relevant. As the global energy conversation continues to evolve, UH students remain at the forefront—energized, collaborative, and ready to lead.