UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS
Ian Wynn SA-8150
Georgia Southwestern State University
Georgia Section
I had always been a diligent student throughout grade school, but I never really had a response to the question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” I floated around from subject to subject, such as chemistry, geography, anthropol- ogy, and so on, but nothing really gripped me as something I really wanted to do with my life. I was primarily online schooled throughout this time, so my education was almost always my own responsibility, and subsequently I never really had an impactful school experience. I had the motivation and ability to do well, but there was no external force to impassion me about any of my studies. For this reason, school was more of an annoyance at times.
This all changed when I started high school and took an introductory geology course through dual enrollment at Georgia Southwestern. My professor, Dr. Weiland, had such a profound impact on me, fundamentally changing within me my idea of what school could be. He lectured with such enthusiasm and childlike joy every class, that I was left no choice but to share his enthusiasm. To further fuel my curios- ity, I learned that geologic studies implement techniques from many other disciplines, such as chemistry, physics, biology, etc. This was alluring to me, as I would no longer have to choose between my many interests, which was a fact that repulsed me from considering my future career up until that point. Furthermore, his emphasis on climate and environmen- tal issues enlightened me to the sheer importance of geologic understanding. I was truly made aware of the evidence and impacts of climate change. I was particularly interested in
measurements of atmospheric CO2 and its impacts on other meteorological systems. Essentially, I was shown climate issues from a scientific, rather than political, perspective.
Soon after finishing this course, I was sure I was going to major in geology. I was so certain, in fact, that when my family and I traveled to western China in the following sum- mer, I designed and carried out data collection for a project concerning industrial efficacy of sediments in an economically challenged Gansu province, China. The main goal of this project was to highlight an abundant resource in a locally underutilized industry of ceramic arts, where the sediments have great potential as a low cost, high return industry for the poor region of China. Upon my return, Dr. Weiland then assisted me with analysis of mineralogical composition of the samples in X-Ray Diffraction and X-Ray Fluorescence, all of which he did in the summer, for a high schooler who was not even an official major yet. I would not have been able to accomplish something like that if it were not for his guidance, personal instruction, and (most of all) enthusiasm, which he passed on to me. I have since written and completed the project as a senior thesis for my undergraduate degree and intend on publishing it soon. I am profoundly grateful to him for introducing me to this field, one in which I truly feel like I can make a difference.
In essence, there are three main reasons for wanting to become a geologist. Firstly, it encompasses a wide range of disciplines, which is attractive to someone like me, who
30 TPG •
Jul.Aug.Sep 2021
simply wants to learn as much as possible. Secondly, I had a very enthusiastic and kind professor who successfully guided me into this field, and early on facilitated my becoming a professional geologist. Finally, even if I as an individual do not directly make an impact on climate issues in my career, I shall, at least obtain awareness and appreciation for the earth we all take for granted.
In essence, there are three main reasons for wanting to become a geologist. Firstly, it encompasses a wide range of disciplines, which is attractive to someone like me, who simply wants to learn as much as possible.”
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Colorado Section Sponsored Scholarship
Mable Hagans SA-10975
Western Colorado University Colorado Section
From a young age, I have been captivated by how the Earth worked. It started when I was nine years old, in third grade; we had a unit on geology. It was love at first sight. After telling my parents how exciting it all was, rambling about different rock types and tectonics, they took me to a hardware store where we purchased a small hammer, chisels, and a head lamp. At the time, girls my age had posters of the Jonas Brothers and Justin Bieber, but my walls were plastered with posters of different layers of the Earth, the three rock types, and pre- cious gemstones. Needless to say, I found my passion early on.
In a world where you can be anything you want to be, there were a few reasons why I knew since I was a kid, I aspired to be a geologist. As I continue to grow and learn more about the field, my list of motives increases in size. Out of all of them, my main motivation for wanting to be a geologist is to be able to take what we know about the past to build a better future, become a role model for others, and travel the world.
As a student studying both geology and environmental sustainability, I want to be able to use my knowledge in both areas to create a better future for generations to come. Humans have forgotten how to live within an environment. We have a tendency to think about the natural world as an inconvenience or something that is so different from the world as we know it to be. After natural disasters, there is an emotional after- shock as if there was no way to foresee such devastation. As a geologist, it is one of my goals to help bring humans back to our origins of living within and amongst nature. Part of this
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