Undergraduate Student Awards

Distinction in the Major Charles D. Woodhouse Award for Scholarly Excellence
Outstanding Academic Achievement Robert M. Norris Prize in Field Geology
Outstanding Graduating Senior William Bushnell Memorial Scholarship
Venoco Field Award Department Field Award
Webster Field Award Coast Geological Society Award
Mineralogical Society of America Women in Mining

 

Distinction in the Major

Distinction in the Major is awarded by individual departments and programs in the College of Letters and Science to members of departmental honors programs who complete a senior honors project or thesis with distinction.

Recent Recipients:

  • 2020-2021: Valerie Aguilar, Emily Gates, Hanyue Lin, Brian Mo, Max Morrison, Camille Preece, Jack Rager, Allyson Randall, Ted Wheat
  • 2019-2020: Layia Asakawa-Ekeland, Maxilian Britt, Khalil Droubi, Kayla Leal, Ari Powell, Jim Schatz, Beth Shallon
  • 2018-2019: Nicole Aikin, Valeria Jaramillo Hernandez, Samson Lozano, Scott Peimann, Brent Phillips, Alaina Rosenthal-Guillot, Cole Sitar, Sally Stevens
  • 2017-2018: Jackson Cook, Paige Hoel, Christian Lemler, Alexandra Nicklin, Carl Swindle, Garrett Zeff
  • 2016-2017: Nikki Arnush, Ian Baxter, Mason Gonzales, Lauren Haas, Joshua Inga, Elisa Medri, Justin Newmann, Marit Wyatt.
  • 2015-2016:  Keith Chancey, Christopher Harron, Audrey Pyle, Elizabeth Spacone, Michael Truong
  • 2014-2015: Adam Arce, Alexa Everson, Justin Steinmann
  • 2013-2014: Olivia Anderson, Nolan Blackford, Colin Eckert, Paige Granneman, Mark Korte-Nahabedian, Christopher Older, Angela Roman, Jason Womer
  • 2012-2013: Julian Stahl, Michael Kenney, Evan Monroe, Kyle Moulton, Jason Schmidt
  • 2011-2012: Camille Collett, Kathryn Fry, Robert Maksimow, Jonathan Munnikhuis, James Proffitt, Nathaniel Stover
  • 2010-2011: Helen Thomas, Christie Villanueva, James Worthington
  • 2010-2009: Matthew Zane, Timothy Gross

 

 

Charles D. Woodhouse Award For Scholarly Excellence

Douglas Woodhouse portrait photo

The Woodhouse Award is given to a senior major for merit, scholarship, and promise of success in the profession as determined by the faculty, in memory of Charles Douglas Woodhouse, Professor of Geological Sciences (1938-1955).

Recent Recipients:

  • 2020-2021: Jeremy Francoeur
  • 2019-2020: Khalil Droubi
  • 2018-2019: Cole Sitar
  • 2017-2018: Carl Swindle
  • 2016-2017: Marit Wyatt
  • 2015-2016: Michelle Dunn
  • 2014-2015: Justin Steinmann
  • 2013-2014: Olivia Anderson
  • 2012-2013: Julian Stahl
  • 2011-2012: James Proffitt
  • 2010-2011: James Worthington
  • 2009-2010: Marina Foster

 

 

Outstanding Academic Achievement

Awarded to graduating seniors with an outstanding academic record in upper-division courses within the major.

Recent Recipients:

  • 2020-2021: Valerie Aguilar, Julia Dennis, Jeremy Francoeur, Emily Gates, Jonas Kaare-Rasmussen, Eliana Richter, Hanyue Lin, Alejandra Lopez, Keli McGuire, Brian Mo, Jack Rager, Allyson Randall, Kevin Raver, Ian Rueda, Bonnie Su, Daniel Swartz, Ted Wheat, Joneel Zinto
  • 2019-2020: Layia Asaka-Ekeland, Maxilian Britt, Everest Damaschino, Khalil Droubi, Sara Kovalsky, Kayla Leal, Samantha Lin, Callie Little, Charlotte Mahoney, Douglas McDonald, Michael Moore, Ari Powell, Jim Schatz, Beth Shallon, Yuchen Song, Mia Wafer, Kaira Wallace
  • 2018-2019: Nicole Aikin, Valeria Jaramillo Hernandez, Gin Li, Sydney Maguire, Xidani Moreno, Bryant Pahl, Aidan Patterson, Scott Peimann, Cole Sitar, Sally Stevens
  • 2017-2018: Sam Bell, Anthony Caruso, Monica Garity, Kasey Pinter, Noah Polek-Davis, Carl Swindle, Garrett Zeff
  • 2016-2017: Ian Baxter, Evan Bosinger, Zilian Dong, Elisa Medri, Cassidy Meehan, Justin Newmann, Aaron Small, Marit Wyatt
  • 2015-2016: Michelle Dunn, Augustine Houlemard, Jiong Wang
  • 2014-2015: Adam Arce, Alexa Everson, Julian Hiltbrand Consoli, Floyd Jaggy, Justin Steinmann
  • 2013-2014: Olivia Anderson, Colin Eckert, Mark Edwards, Theresa Fagnan, Paige Granneman, Christopher Harron, Ashley Kamment, Mark Korte-Nahabedian, Daniel Lliteras, Israel Magana-Cardenas, James McNeil, Christopher Older, Trevor Smith, Katherine Wentz, Jason Womer. 
  • 2012-2013: Andres Lapostol, Jason Schmidt, Michael Kenney, Kyle Moulton, Brian Juarez, Evan Monroe, Julian Stahl, Allison Kimbrough
  • 2011-2012: Eryn Burkhart, Camille Collett, Kathryn Fry, Kelli Johnson, Robert Maksimow, Luke Merrill, Lauren Mosley, Jonathan Munnikhuis, Jacob Poletti, James Proffitt, Brenna Quigley, Nathaniel Stover
  • 2010-2011: Joseph Dargel, Joshua Nobel, Helen Thomas, Christie Villanueva, Kyle White, James Worthington, Katherine Zeig
  • 2009-2010: Robin Gee, Marina Foster, Bryan Norman, Timothy Gross, Jake Sahl, Alicia Sherrin

 

 

Robert Norris smiling during a field tripRobert M. Norris Prize in Field Geology

The Norris Prize is awarded to an outstanding undergraduate student in the introductory field geology course, in honor of Robert M. Norris, Professor Emeritus of Geological Sciences (1952-86).

Recent Recipients:

  • 2020-2021: Michelle Chambers, Max Rodman
  • 2019-2020: Brian Mo, Hannah Shabtian
  • 2018-2019: Emily Gates, Callie Little
  • 2017-2018: Nicole Aikin
  • 2016-2017: Carl Swindle
  • 2015-2016: Isaac Scott
  • 2014-2015: Keith Chancey
  • 2013-2014: Olivia Nicholson
  • 2012-2013: Olivia Anderson
  • 2011-2012: Eryn Burkhart
  • 2010-2011: Robert Maksimow
  • 2009-2010: Marina Foster, James Worthington

 

 

Outstanding Graduating Senior

Awarded to a graduating senior for demonstrated consistent academic excellence, the honored student will have sustained a high GPA in upper division earth science courses. A medallion and a cash award are awarded to the recipient and the honoree's name is engraved on a perpetual plaque.

Recent Recipients:

  • 2020-2021: Emily Gates, Eliana Lechter, Ted Wheat
  • 2019-2020: Layia Asakawa-Ekeland, Maximilian Britt
  • 2018-2019: Nicole Aikin, Gin Li
  • 2017-2018: Gerrett Zeff
  • 2016-2017: Evan Bosinger, Justin Newmann
  • 2015-2016:  Augustine Houlemard, Jiong Wang
  • 2014-2015: Julian Hiltbrand Consoli
  • 2013-2014: Mark Edwards, Daniel Lliteras, Katherine Wentz
  • 2012-2013: Andres Lapostol, Evan Monroe, Allison Kimbrough,
  • 2011-2012: James Proffitt, Kelli Johnson
  • 2010-2011: James Worthington
  • 2009-2010: Marina Foster

 

 

William Bushnell Memorial Scholarship

Bill Bushnell eating cake during a field trip

The Bushnell Scholarship is awarded to deserving geology students for Summer Field Geology, in memory of William Bushnell, a former staff member in Earth Science.

Recent Recipients:

  • 2020-2021: Jack Rager
  • 2019-2020: Emily Gates
  • 2018-2019: Dylan Buggenhagen
  • 2017-2018: Margarita Mcinnis
  • 2016-2017: Elisa Medri
  • 2015-2016: Samuel Worman
  • 2014-2015: Zachary Nelson
  • 2013-2014: Alexa Everson
  • 2012-2013: Christopher Older
  • 2011-2012: Jonathan Munnikhuis
  • 2010-2011: Robert Maksimow
  • 2009-2010: Joshua Noble

 

 

Venoco Field Award

Scholarship awarded to undergraduate students attending summer field course.

Recent Recipients:

  • 2014-2015: Audrey Pyle
  • 2013-2014: Christopher Older, Angela Roman
  • 2012-2013: Angela Roman
  • 2011-2012: Camille Collett, Kathryn Fry
  • 2010-2011: James Worthington
  • 2009-2010: Marina Foster

 

 

Department Field Award

Scholarship to assist students participating in summer field defer costs. Funds for this award were donated to the Webb Fund, the Art Sylvester Summerfield Fund and the general Field Instruction Fund.

Recent Recipients:

  • 2020-2021: Valerie Aguilar, David Amaya Lopez, Jason Haisler, Max Kalber, Alyssa Lindsey, Keli McGuire, Kimberly Mendoza, Max Morrison, Gaby Navarro, Camille Preece, Allyson Randall, Kevin Raver, Maceo Rizzo, Thae Ruangsak, Ian Rueda, Jim Schatz, Ryan Silver, Ted Wheat, Isaac Yanez-Navarro, Joneel Zinto
  • 2018-2019: Nicole Aikin, Layia Asakawa-Ekeland, Maximilian Britt, Ted Brown, Kendra Castañeda, Erica Cung, Khalil Droubi, Nick Hatsios, Eric Joerger, Soren Kringel, Sidney Maguire, Jeremy Montes, Scott Peimann, Ari Powell, Colton Seward, Mia Wafer, Jeremy Zeveh
  • 2017-2018: Justin Borchert, Stephen Dargie, Christina Gallo, Tristan Goedert,  Sarah Grimes, Valeria Jaramillo Hernandez, David Kerner, Jeffrey Oechsli, Riley Rohrer, Alaina Rosenthal-Guillot, Cole Sitar, Sally Stevens, Carl Swindle, Xin Tan, Eric Theil, Magali Toc, Ian Vandevert
  • 2016-2017: Michelle Carter, Caroline Chang, Austin Geiser, Alex Guzman, Joshua Hoeflich, Nicholas King, Christian Lemler, Shayan Navayan, Jonathan Pinko, Lanette Renz
  • 2015-2016: Sebastien Bricka, Brandon Esser, Anthony Fuentes, Mason Gonzales, Joshua Inga, Justin Newmann, Isaac Scott, Elizabeth Spacone, Jeremy Steketee
  • 2014-2015: Nicole Arnush, Michael Black, Keith Chancey, Leathon Femmel, Dylan Friesen, Kenneth Hudson
  • 2013-2014: Olivia Anderson, Adam Arce, David Betran, Nathan Dickey, Colin Eckert, Joshua Franck, Erin Heimburge, Alexis Iwasiw, Jenni Jenkins, Mark Korte-Nahabedian, James McNeil, Angel Monarrez, Olivia Nicholson, Addison Sani, Michael Stein, Justin Steinmann, Jason Womer.
  • 2012-2013: Jonathan Cuong, Cameron Dobbs, Geoffrey Hardaway, Allison Kimbrough, Matthew Lewis, Kyle Moulton, Jason Schmidt, Kaelyn Schwartz, Alexander Wood
  • 2011-2012: Alejandro Flores, Beau Gentry, Connor Hansen, Michael Kenney, Mary Elizabeth Klink, Dominic Mariano, Evan Monroe, Jacob Poletti, Julian Stahl
  • 2010-2011: Brett Bonotto, Luke Merrill

 

 

Webster Field Award

 Recent Recipients:

  • 2016-2017: Adam Kershner
  • 2015-2016: Damaris Wyatt
  • 2014-2015: Marius Vilkas

 

 

Undergraduate Leadership Award

 This award honors an undergraduate student who has shown unusual leadership and initiative with respect to departmental activities and goals. The recipient should be someone who has helped catalyze activities that have furthered departmental goals, such as the coherence, enthusiasm, and commitment of our undergraduates, mentorship of others, outreach to schools and visitors, the beautification of the department, or other activities that enhance our department. This prize is only awarded when an undergraduate exhibits unusual leadership; it will not necessarily be awarded yearly. (Created by Doug Burbank for June 2012)

Recent Recipients:

  • 2020-2021: Brian Mo, Allyson Randall
  • 2019-2020: Valerie Aguilar
  • 2018-2019: Valeria Jaramillo Hernandez
  • 2017-2018: --
  • 2016-2017: Marit Wyatt
  • 2015-2016: Elizabeth Spacone
  • 2014-2015: Alexa Everson
  • 2013-2014: Nathan Dickey
  • 2012-2013: not awarded
  • 2011-2012: Connor Hansen

 

 

Coast Geological Society Award

The Coast Geological Society recognizes academic excellence in the geological sciences every year with its Scholarship Awards Program. This award is based on department recommendation of academic excellence and commitment to pursuing a geology-oriented profession.

Recent Recipients:

  • 2020-2021: Allyson Randall
  • 2019-2020: Khalil Droubi
  • 2018-2019: Valeria Jaramillo Hernandez
  • 2017-2018: Nicole Aikin
  • 2016-2017: Marit Wyatt
  • 2015-2016: Lauren Haas
  • 2014-2015: Floyd Jaggy
  • 2013-2014: Olivia Anderson
  • 2012-2013: Julian Stahl
  • 2011-2012: James Proffitt
  • 2010-2011: James Worthington

 

 

Mineralogical Society of America

Recent Recipients:

  • 2020-2021: Michelle Chambers
  • 2019-2020: Odalys Callejas, Ian Rueda
  • 2018-2019: Ranpeng Li, Felice Lugos
  • 2016-2017: Maria Fennell, Marit Wyatt

 

 

Women in Mining, California Chapter

Recent Recipients:

  • 2016-2017: Nikki Arnush