FAR WESTERN SECTION AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS

Award groupings found on this listing are:

Outstanding Earth Science Teacher Awards NAGT-FWS Scholarship Recipients

NAGT-FWS Outstanding Earth Science Teacher Awards

2004 Outstanding Earth Science Teacher -- Noah Hughes

The recipient of the 2004 Outstanding Earth Science Teacher Award from the Far Western Section is Noah Hughes, a physical science teacher at Sonora High School in the Sierra Nevada foothills of central California. Noah's students benefit from a variety of pedagogical techniques including cooperative learning, project-based learning, multi-media, and off-campus field trips. He regularly groups students into "research teams" so that they can work cooperatively and solve scientific problems in class. By using these strategies, Noah successfully accommodates students with varying abilities and learning styles in his classes. One colleague commented: "Noah is always trying to build a better pedagogical mousetrap."

Noah has developed two innovative, small-group research projects. In one case, students analyze the water chemistry of the creek that flows through campus. Collaborating with students in a biology class, Noah's students also collect information on aquatic life in the creek. In the second project, students research an energy resource, its advantages and disadvantages. In both cases students must present their results and conclusions using Power Point technology. These projects allow students to develop their information retrieval, data collection, and observational abilities as well as developing interpersonal, communication and critical thinking skills.

Noah also works with special needs students at Sonora High School. His willingness to believe in these disadvantaged and troubled youth and to spend time with them outside the classroom, has had a significant impact on many of their lives. By going the extra mile Noah has made the community a better place.

A member of the Geological Society of America, Noah earned his B.S. at the University of Colorado, Bollider and his M.S. in geology at the University of Montana. An avid kayaker, when he is not interacting with students, Noah can often be found studying Sierra Nevada geology while kayaking down the Tuolumne or Stanislaus Rivers.

[Noah Hughes on Hawaii Field Trip]
Noah in Hawaii

2003 Outstanding Earth Science Teacher -- Joan Hacken Carter

The recipient of the 2003 Outstanding Earth Science Teacher Award from the Far Western Section is Joan Hacken Carter, an earth science teacher at Branham High School in San Jose, California. Colleagues report that Joan's deep concern for her students, her passionate interest in earth science, boundless energy and exceptional instructional skills transform her classroom into an extraordinarily invigorating, meaningful learning environment. She uses multiple learning experiences to both enliven her classes and address multiple learning styles of students, successfully accommodating students with highly variable skills, backgrounds and needs.

Joan took a leading role in developing the earth science curriculum at Branham High School, now in its fourth year of operation. Her freshman earth science class, developed to address National and California science standards, uses Problem-Based Learning pedagogy where students work collaboratively to solve real problems. Using problems based on local issues and concerns, web-based technology, field experiences and hands-on exploration, students not only acquire an understanding of earth science concepts but also develop critical thinking skills.

Joan

Prior to joining the faculty at Branham, Joan taught at Westmont High School in Campbell, California. She helped develop an interdisciplinary program linking English, Algebra and Earth Science for 9th grade students and was recognized statewide for developing a simulated Space Shuttle Program that took six students on a "mission" lasting 60-72 hours each spring.

Joan earned a B.S. in Microbiology at Brigham Young University and recently completed her M.A. in Natural Science at San Jose State University. Joan regularly attends professional conferences and workshops that explore new pedagogical approaches and instructional materials and generously shares her skills and knowledge with other teachers. This year she is serving as "Teacher-In-Residence" helping prepare future teachers at San Jose State University. The Far Western Section is proud to recognize and honor this distinguished colleague.

2001 OEST Award - Tom Hollis

Tom Hollis from Los Osos, California is the recipient of the NAGT-FWS Outstanding Earth Science Teacher Award for the year 2001. Tom holds both BS and MS degrees in geology from CSU-Long Beach. He worked for ten years doing "yank-a-tank" geology for an environmental firm before entering teaching. He took a big cut in pay to satisfy his long term desire to try teaching. After five years at Atascadero High School, he says, "If you throw in the two classes that I teach for Cuesta College, I am almost back to where I was five years ago, but no one goes into teaching for the money. I really love doing what I am doing and being around the kids."

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NAGT-FWS Scholarship Recipients

Congratulations to our 3 NAGT-FWS Scholarship winners for 2005:

Matthew Smith (Field Camp scholarship, USC), Tricia Collins (Field Camp scholarship, CSU Bakersfield), Matthieu Miller (Community College scholarship, Santa Rosa CC/Sonoma State)

Matthew Smith has just graduated from USC, and plans to attend the University of Washington to get a graduate degree in Planetary Geology. He started USC as an engineering major, but resisted the dark side of the force and changed his major to geology. He will attend field camp with Southern Utah State.

Tricia Collins graduated last year from Cal State Northridge, and has been working on her MS at CSUB since last fall. Her thesis topic will involve examining the evolution of magnetic fabrics and microstructures along well-defined finite strain gradients within a fold-thrust belt in Baja California. She will be attending field camp with the University of Missouri.

Matthieu Miller has just completed his studies at SRCC, and will begin at Sonoma State in the fall. His interest is hydrology, and with the enthusiasm that has been described by his professors, he is likely to find smooth sailing in his future.

Congratulations to our 3 NAGT-FWS Scholarship winners for 2004:

Kim Theis (Grad scholarship, CSU Stanislaus), Heath Williams (Grad Scholarship, Cal Lutheran University), and Teresa Butler (Field Camp scholarship, CSU Sacramento)

Kim Theis is currently a student at CSU Stanislaus and plans to continue her grad work there. She has been active in NAGT for some time, and is known to members as a very upbeat, friendly student. Kim has presented at GSA, and has maintained a high GPA while being married and having two children.

Heath Williams has just finished his degree at Cal Lutheran University, and plans to continue his graduate education at Colorado School of Mines. His experience is very diverse, being involved in such things as water polo, Eagle Scouts, and operating the family cattle business.

Teresa Butler, a student at CSU Sacramento, will be attending field camp with UN-Reno. Teresa has been helping with a geologic consulting firm while going to school, and her experience describing lithologies and such will help her in the field.

Congratulations to our 3 NAGT-FWS Scholarship winners: Jenise Honesto (UOP), Rachael Peavler (UC Santa Cruz), and Kelly Lynn Allen-List (CSU Sacramento). The three 2003 scholarships are for field camps.

Jenise Honesto is a geology major at the University of the Pacific in Stockton where she is in her junior year. She will be attending Boise State's field camp in Idaho.

Rachael Peavler is an earth science major at UC Santa Cruz is in her senior year. She will be attending the UC Santa Cruz field camp based at Big Pine, California.

Kelly Allen-List is a senior geology major at Cal State Sacramento. She will be attending the South Dakota School of Mines Field Camp. Kelly is married with a family of two children.

Scholarship Winners for 2002

Dottie Stout Field Scholarship is awarded to Ms. Anna Foutz from CSU Los Angeles. At CSU Los Angeles Ms. Foutz is regularly on the Dean's List and received the Alumni Certificate of Honor. She became the proud mother of a baby boy in December. She will attend CSU Hayward's field course in Montana while Dad takes care of the parenting duties.

Ms. Debra Waters has been an outstanding student at Modesto Junior College where she was named the Geology Student of the Year, the College Certificate of Achievement in chemistry, and was the recipient of the Mother Lode Mineral Society geology scholarship. She plans to attend either CSU Stanislaus or the University of the Pacific next Fall.

Ms. Denise Hills is a graduate student at the University of Hawaii, Honolulu. Her Ph.D. research involves seismic analysis of the south flank of Kilauea Volcano and the Nankai subduction zone off Japan. Ms. Hills is the department expert on 2-dimensional prestock depth migration work on seismic data and teaches this complex technique to her fellow students. Both the American Geophysical Union and Geological Society of America have published her research. She plans to complete her Ph.D. in 2003 and she is considering teaching as a career.

Congratulations to our three NAGT-FWS Scholarship winners for 2001, Gina Johnson, Otto Figueroa, and Aron Taylor.

Gina Johnson transfered from Modesto JC to UC Davis. She aims for a BS in Geology, an advanced degree in Paleontology, and a career in teaching earth history. She also maintains a household as wife and mother of two children.

Otto Figueroa continues his MS studies in environmental geology and hydrogeology at CSU Fullerton. He plans to pursue a PhD, continue environmental geology consulting and, ultimately, part time teaching at a community college.

Aron Taylor follows a high school record as valedictorian with a summa cum laude graduation from CSU Fullerton. He plans graduate study and a carreer in environmental geology.

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