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Naresh Vashisht, founder of Omimex Group, shares his journey, philanthropy at Texas A&M, and advice for immigrants
His generous donation to Texas A&M’s College of Medicine, the largest endowed gift it's ever received, resulted in the renaming of the institution to the Naresh K. Vashisht College of Medicine.
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Naresh K. Vashisht / Image- Josh Lewis/Texas A&M Foundation
Indian American founder of Omimex Group and a prominent figure in the oil and gas industry, Naresh Vashisht, who recently made a sizeable donation to Texas A&M University shared insights into his philanthropic contributions, his journey from India to the United States, and his advice for immigrants.
His generous donation to Texas A&M’s College of Medicine, the largest endowed gift it's ever received, resulted in the renaming of the institution to the Naresh K. Vashisht College of Medicine.
In an interview with New India Abroad, Vashisht detailed the allocation of his donation. "The gift I have given to them is for four things: full tuition scholarships, a dean's fund, research, and rural doctors recruitment,” he said.
The dean's fund will be used for strategic purposes, such as providing financial aid to students in need, while the research funding will support the university’s strong focus on space and other innovative areas. The rural health initiative aims to recruit students from underserved communities, encouraging them to return and serve their local areas after completing their education.
Vashisht’s connection to Texas A&M goes back to 1971, when he arrived at College Station to pursue his master’s in petroleum engineering. Reflecting on his choice, he said, “I chose Texas A&M because it was the number one ranked school for petroleum engineering at that time, and it still is.”
Recalling his journey from Fagwada, Punjab, to the U.S., Vashisht shared, "I didn’t come as a student, I came as an immigrant," explaining how he first worked in Oman with Shell after graduating from the Indian School of Mines (now IIT Dhanbad) before eventually continuing his education in the U.S.
Vashist later went on to build a successful career in the oil and gas industry, founding Omimex Resources, an energy and fertilizer group of companies engaged in the exploration, development, acquisition and operation of oil and gas properties across the U.S., Canada, and Colombia.
Future of Fuel
As an industry expert, Vashisht also shared his perspective on the evolving role of the oil and gas industry in light of climate change, drawing parallels between the decline of coal and the future of oil.
“Oil and gas is going to follow the same path as coal,” he noted, adding that alternative energy sources like hydrogen, wind, and solar are gaining traction. He has also contributed to research in this area by establishing a hydrogen and carbon capture technology center at IIT Dhanbad.
Embrace hard work and continuous learning: Advice for new immigrants
Offering insights from his own journey as an immigrant, urged newcomers to the U.S. to "remove the rose-colored glasses" and be ready to put in the hard work and continuous learning needed to succeed in the United States.
When he first arrived in 1971, Vashisht shared that the U.S. Consulate handed him an article titled "They live on hot dogs and hopes," which captured the challenges faced by early Indian immigrants. Despite those obstacles, Vashisht emphasized that dedication, resilience, and perseverance pave the way to success, pointing to the impressive achievements of Indian Americans across various sectors.
Looking ahead, Vashisht expressed optimism, remarking, “Our community has done very well, and the younger generation is carrying on that legacy.”
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