Congratulations! 2015 AIPG Student Scholarship Winners!
The AIPG Executive Committee is pleased to announce the awardees for the 2015 Student Scholarships. AIPG has awarded thirteen scholarships this year. The first ever, AIPG William J. Siok Graduate Scholarship went to Karen Vyverberg, University of Florida. The undergraduate recipients are Anna Stanczyk, University of Alaska, Anchorage; Christopher Kremer, Stanford University; Taylor Krabiel, University of Nevada, Reno; Nathaniel Foote, University of Nevada, Reno; Eint Kyi, Oberlin University, Ohio; Hannah Johnson, Kent State University, Ohio; Kevin Townsley, University of Idaho; Stephanie Kitowski, University of North Dakota; Franklin Wolfe, Washington and Lee University, Virginia; Vanessa Fernandes, Hofstra University, New York; Chloe Ivanoff, University of Alaska Anchorage, sponsored by the AIPG Alaska Section; and Jasmine Stefansky, Central Michigan University, sponsored by the AIPG Michigan Section. Part of the scholarship application is to submit an essay titled, ‘Why I want to be a Geologist’. Below are the essays submitted by the scholarship winners.
The scholarships are made possible by the support of the Foundation of the American Institute of Professional Geologists and the AIPG members’ voluntary contributions.
Karen Vyverberg, SA-6287
The planet is one of the few things that all seven billion of its inhabitants have in common. Consequently, I believe it is criti- cal for humans to understand how the Earth works if we are to live with it, and ultimately, with each other.
My desire to become a geologist began after an undergraduate class field trip to a local cave.
Wearing helmets and headlamps, we belly-crawled through pitch black tunnels and sticky muck – I loved it. Exploring the cave brought the material we learned in the class room to life, and I realized that was the great thing about geology – the entire planet was an example of what is in the textbooks, and that I could walk out into it. Subsequently, several experi- ences contributed to my decision to become a geologist. These included a field course exemplifying how scientific research can have direct benefits at the community level, my own sea- level rise research, and outreach activities where I discussed scientific ideas with the public.
In considering my post-graduate academia pursuits, one of my goals is to be engaged in science policy. This field focuses on science’s “big picture,” rather than the technical problems solved along the way to an advanced degree. Science policy professionals are tasked with understanding how advances in a range of fields are applied for society’s betterment, and I believe that geology is one of those fields.
As a senior undergraduate, I took a graduate level field course, Geology of the Bahamas. The class consisted of weekly discussions about Bahamian geology, culminating in a week- long field trip to the island of San Salvador, Bahamas. This trip allowed me to apply my independent research skills towards a pressing current issue: potable water availability. I found
it immensely rewarding to design an experiment, collect field data, and develop conclusions about the island’s subsurface geology from chemistry alone with potentially important impli- cations for the island’s residents. This experience provided a real-world example of how geologic research can inform important decisions like resource management and so provide benefits to a broad group of individuals.
Now, I am extremely passionate about my doctoral research on sea-level rise. I believe that understanding the stability of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets in a world where the majority of an increasingly large population lives in coastal areas is vital. Being a geologist allows me to apply my love of science and learning to the real-time issue of sea-level rise.
Finally, as a volunteer for one of my department’s public outreach program, “GeoGators,” I have come to love com- municating science to young learners and sparking their enthusiasm for science. Not only does volunteering my time for outreach give me personal satisfaction and fulfillment, but I have learned valuable communication, organization, and time- management skills that I now apply to my graduate research and coursework. I believe the most important aspect of my outreach work, besides honing my communication abilities, is the excitement I experience and create when discussing science with other scholars and the public.
These experiences have taught me that geology is a sci- ence which not only can teach us about our how our planet evolved and functions, but how it will change in the future and, therefore, our way of life. I want to be a geologist in order to understand, and to educate others, about Earth’s future, to ensure that we are a part of it.
Anna Stanczyk, SA-6099
They often say that the best suited career is the one you dreamed of as a child. But like so many statements that attempt to assign a truth to the population as a whole, this saying has descended into the realm of clichés where it can eas-
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