Department of Geology
Honors and Awards
Undergraduate Honors
A variety of honors are bestowed on students by the Geology Department in recognition of excellence in coursework and research. The first of such awards is made to the geology student with the most outstanding performance in the Introduction to Earth System Science class: the David Bucke Award. In subsequent years, excellence in research is rewarded by the Hawley, Mudge and Pieratti Awards. At the culmination of a student’s academic career, the geology faculty award the Doll Award to the most outstanding geology graduate. Students additionally have the opportunity to join the Geology Honor Society. Admission to this is grade-contingent. The list of recipients of these past awards includes the names of many current outstanding professional geologists.
Arthur J. and Claire Heiser Joseph B. Tinker Memorial Grant
Thanks to a generous donation from Arthur J. and Claire Heiser the UVM Geology Department bestows the annual Arthur J. and Claire Heiser Joseph B. Tinker Memorial Grant to a deserving undergraduate geology major. The award, established in 2008, is an approximately $1,000 scholarship to be applied towards UVM tuition. Recipients have demonstrated both excellence in academic performance, and activity in the UVM Geology Department community. Such activities may include, but are not limited to, the GeoClub, Sigma Gamma Epsilon, Departmental work study, TAAs, independent research, and Perkins Museum guide.
2013 Tinker Memorial Grant winner: Molly Conroy
Previous Tinker Memorial Grant Recipients:
2008 Rebecca Hammer-Lester
2009 Graham Hagen-Peter
2010 Maggie McMillan
2011 Matthew Sweeney
2012 Abigail Ruksznis
Sigma Gamma Epsilon, UVM Chapter of SGE is Eta Kappa
Sigma Gamma Epsilon, the national Geology honor society, was established in 1915 to recognize scholarship and professionalism in the Earth sciences. Its objectives include scholastic, scientific and professional advancement of its members and the extension of relations of friendship and assistance among colleges and universities which are devoted to the advancement of the Earth Sciences. The general average required for admission to Sigma Gamma Epsilon is a minimum overall average of 2.67 (out of 4.00). A 3.00 grade point is the minimum requirement for all courses in the Earth Sciences.
Sigma Gamma Epsilon Inductees 2013: *Senior
- Julija Cubins
- Anne Gombosi
- Anthony Haigh *
- Danielle Hill
- Tyler Mogk
- Elizabeth Olliver *
- Abigail Ruksznis *
- Henry Schmid *
- Christina Marie Strathearn
- Jeffrey Tinklepaugh *
- Eric Weber *
Senior Sigma Gamma Epsilon Inductees 2012: *Senior
- Sarah Coon *
- Sandra Cronauer *
- Jacob Menken *
- Elizabeth Ann Olliver
- Emily Siegel *
Senior Sigma Gamma Epsilon Inductees 2011: No recipients
Senior Sigma Gamma Epsilon Inductees 2010: *Senior
- Sarah Coon
- Sandra Cronauer
- Elysia Anne Korbet *
- Gregory Parrish *
- Michael Patrick Tobin *
Senior Sigma Gamma Epsilon Inductees 2009: *Senior
- Robert David Charnock *
- Edward Greiner *
- Rebecca Hammer-Lester *
- Gary E. Peters
- Angel Marissa Saccente *
- Kirsten Elise Stokes *
- Michael Patrick Tobin
Charles G. Doll Award
The Charles Doll Award is given to the most outstanding graduating senior in geology. Charles Doll was the state geologist and he began teaching full-time at UVM in 1927. He was chairman of the department of geology from 1946 until his retirement in 1964. He also produced the first state bedrock geologic map. The selection criteria for the Doll Award is based on a combination of overall grade point average, grade point average in geology, undergraduate research and service to the department. The department faculty makes the selection of the Doll winner during the spring semester. The recipient of this award receives a gift and their name is engraved on a plaque that hangs in the department seminar room. The list of Doll Award winners is a distinguished one and includes individuals who have gone on to significant professional achievements.
2013 Charles Doll Award winner: Abigail Ruksznis
Previous Charles G. Doll Award Recipients:
- 2012
- Sandra Cronauer
- 2011
- Maggie McMillan and Laura Wilson
- 2010
- Granam Hagen-Peter and Hal Earle
- 2009
- Robbie Charnock
- 2008
- Karen Derman and Maartje Melchiors
- 2007
- Lydia G. Smith, Robert K. Zimmermann
- 2006
- no recipient
- 2005
- Andrew Duling
- 2004
- Leila Pascale
- 2003
- Alysa Snyder
- 2002
- Lyman Persico
- 2001
- Andrew McKinney
- 2000
- Sarah Fuller
- 1999
- Simon Rupard
- 1998
- Brad Rosenheim
- 1997
- Tanya Unger
- 1996
- Jeremy Hourigan
- 1995
- Kristine Bryan
- 1994
- no recipient
- 1993
- Kristan Doolan
- 1992
- Matt Robinson
- 1991
- Del Martin
- 1990
- Jesse P. Hunt
- 1989
- Thomas X. Homzo
- 1988
- no recipient
- 1987
- Kevin A. Silva
- 1986
- M. Alisa Borre
- 1984
- Becky Dorsey
- The David Bucke Award for Excellence in Introductory Geology
- The David Bucke Award is given to the student with the highest grade point average in the Introductory Geology class. The award is named after Dave Bucke, who devoted his career at UVM to the "intro" class. The recipient receives a set of geology field gear (hammer, compass, hand lens, field notebook) and their name is engraved on a plaque that hangs in the Department Seminar room.
2013 Bucke Award winner: Kaitlyn Vitez
Previous David Bucke Award Recipients
- 2000
- Benjamin Cichanowski
- 2001-2002
- no recipient
- 2003
- Robert Zimmermann
- 2004
- Jessica Kuonen and Andy Boyle
- 2005
- no recipient
- 2006
- Rebecca Hammer-Lester
- 2007-2008
- no recipients
- 2009
- Amanda Northrop
- 2010
- Abigail O'Donnell and Sandra Cronauer
- 2011
- Douglas MacLeod and Travis Dawson
- 2012
- Derek Vines
The Hawley Award
The Hawley Award is given to current UVM geology majors, minors and environmental science geology concentrators who seek funds to undertake research with the approval of a faculty mentor and the Department Chair. The award is named after a distinguished stratigrapher and sedimentologist who conducted research in, and became a Vermont resident upon his retirement from the petroleum industry.
2012 Hawley Award winner: Douglas MacLeod, Elizabeth Olliver, Jeffrey Tinklepaugh, Eric Weber
- 1990
- Sarah McFeeters, Donna Gerace
- 1991
- Audra Brown, Lindsay Gannon
- 1992
- Kristan Doolan
- 1994
- Kristine Bryan
- 1995
- Erin Golec, Parker Hackett
- 1996
- Christopher Valin, Ethan Escowitz, David Shaw, Tanya Unger
- 1998
- Joya Tetreault, Darrin Santos, Megan Duni, Matt Mudge, Jim Parker, Jeremy Malczyk
- 1999
- Megan Duni, Brad Rosenheim, Krista Polley, Megan Hoffeller, John Crockett, Erin Taylor, Dan Eurich, Meg Modley, Sarah Fuller, Patrick Keane
- 2000
- Ian Hodgdon, Laura Troeger, Lyman Persico, Dale Walker, Andrew Bosley, Andrew McKinney
- 2001
- Ben Cichanowski, Paul Meilillo, Alyssa Snyder, Nathan Toke
- 2002
- Megan McGee, Keith Musselman, Nathan Toke
- 2003
- Deborah Shulman, Serena Hollmeyer, Maria Hayes
- 2004
- Elizabeth Mann, Robert Zimmermann
- 2005
- Danielle Eastman, Kristin Katoski, Tristan Hansell, Aaron Hartman, Sean Leavitt, Robert Zimmermann
- 2006
- Grace Cameron, Jessica Kuonen, Molly Ogden, Lydia Smith
- 2007
- Karen Derman, Maartje Melchiors
- 2008
- Ian Donovan, Marissa Saccente, Christy Leonard, Edward Greiner
- 2009
- Hal Earle, Sam Schultz, Kirsten Stokes
- 2010
- Coleman Adams, Alyssa Findlay, Rachel Gregory, Donald Hefferon, Maggie McMillan, Laura Wilson
- 2011
- Sandra Cronauer, Amanda Northrop
Previous Hawley Award Recipients
Mineralogical Society of America (MSA) Undergraduate Prize:
The program recognizes outstanding students who have shown an interest and ability in the discipline of mineralogy. Each student was cited by his or her department for outstanding achievement in mineralogy-related courses. The MSA Prize allows MSA to join with the individual faculty to formally recognize outstanding students. Each student is presented a certificate at an awards ceremony at his or her university or college. In addition, each recipient receives a student membership in MSA with access to the electronic version of American Mineralogist, and a Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry or Monograph volume chosen by the sponsor, student, or both.
Presented for the first time in 2012 by the UVM Geology Department, since the MSA Undergraduate Prize 1985 inception, for a student’s excellent performance in the course Earth Materials. Recipient also received a letter of congratulations signed by MSA President, and UVM Professor of Geology, John M. Hughes.
2012 First UVM recipient: Maxwell Nottke
The Mudge Award
The Mudge Award, established to support undergraduate research in the Geology Department, is given to current UVM geology majors, minors and environmental science geology concentrators who seek funds to undertake research with the approval of a faculty mentor and the Department Chair. The family of recent UVM geology alumnus Matt Mudge donates funds for the award.
2013 Mudge Award winners: Abigai Ruksznis and Elizabeth Olliver
Previous Mudge Award Recipients
- 2000
- Angela Conlan, Laura Troeger
- 2001
- Dayna Adelman
- 2002
- Richard Morse, Ashley Desmond
- 2003
- Greg Van Gilder
- 2004
- Sean Leavitt, Paul Montane
- 2005
- no recipient
- 2006
- Zach Swander, Jed Greenberg
- 2007
- Rachel Lomonaco, Maartje Melchiors
- 2008
- Robbie Charnock
- 2009
- no recipient
- 2010
- Michael Ingram
- 2011
- Maggie McMillan
- 2012
- Emily Aldrich, Catherine Jenkins, Taylor Kravits, Elizabeth Olliver, Abigail Ruksznis
The Pieratti Award
The Pieratti Award is made to undergraduates seeking financial support for summer field studies. The award may be applied to expenses for attending a formal field camp or for expenses related to field experiences arranged between a student and faculty sponsor. Funds for the award are provided by Ms. Denise Pieratti, an alumna of the UVM Geology Department (MS, 1976).
2013: No recipient
Previous Pieratti Award Recipients
- 2000
- Laura Troeger
- 2001
- no recipient
- 2002
- Alysa Snyder, Christyanne Melendez
- 2003
- no recipient
- 2004
- Rachel Lomonaco
- 2005-2007
- no recipients
- 2008
- Christina Leonard, Rebecca Hammer Lester
- 2009-2011
- no recipients
- 2012
- Samuel Hellman
Last modified May 16 2013 11:04 AM