The
The Mineralogical Society of America’s Undergraduate Prize (formerly American Mineralogist Undergraduate (AMU) Award) 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 allow 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 Elements, as well as a Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry or Monograph volume chosen by the sponsor, student, or both.
Recipients of the MSA Undergraduate Prize
Along with their Sponsors since its 1985 Inception
- Lauren Sauley, University of Wyoming, Sponsored by Dr. Simone E. Runyon
- Miriam Wolfley, University of Wyoming, Sponsored by Dr. Simone E. Runyon
- Taryn S. Adam, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Sponsored by Dr. John P. Hogan
- Saif Alhajri, The University of Texas at Austin, Sponsored by Dr. Elizabeth Catlos
- Caitlin Bates, California State University Fullerton, Sponsored by Dr. Vali Memeti
- Mia Boothroyd, University of Otago, Sponsored by Dr. J. Michael Palin
- Michelle Chambers, University of California Santa Barbara, Sponsored by Prof. Roberta Rudnick
- Leo Champagne, Mount Royal University, Sponsored by Dr. Michael Clark
- Sarah Copertino, University of Wyoming, Sponsored by Dr. Simone Runyon
- Kathryn Cordeiro, University of California Santa Barbara, Sponsored by Dr. Matthew Rioux
- Logan T. Dickson, University of Oklahoma, Sponsored by Dr. Andrew S. Elwood Madden
- Braden R. Fox, University of Oklahoma, Sponsored by Dr. Andrew S. Elwood Madden
- Zephyr Girard, University of California Santa Barbara, Sponsored by Dr. Matthew Rioux
- Matt R. Gordon, Towson University, Sponsored by Dr. Michelle Casey
- Hannah Haleigh Jackson, Williams College, Sponsored by Prof. R. A. Wobus
- Josephine Jorgensen, University of California Santa Barbara, Sponsored by Prof. Roberta Rudnick
- Logan T. Little, Appalachian State University, Sponsored by Prof. Sarah Carmichael
- Thomas McCoy-Bruce, Furman University, Sponsored by Prof. Suresh Muthukrishnan
- Victoria E. D. McLoughlin, Smith College, Sponsored by Dr. Sarah E. Mazza
- Ericka McMahan, Florida State University, Sponsored by Prof. Mainak Mookherjee
- Madeline R. Mennenga, Grand Valley State University, Sponsored by Dr. Virginia L. Peterson
- Wil Munro, University of Victoria, Sponsored by Prof. Dante Canil
- Paige (Laura) Murray, University of Victoria, Sponsored by Prof. Dante Canil
- Amber Nguyen, The University of Texas at Austin, Sponsored by Prof. Jung-Fu Lin
- Aaron Paynter, The University of British Columbia, Sponsored by Prof. James S. Scoates
- Sarah Pimentel, The University of Tennessee Chattanooga, Sponsored by Dr. Amy Brock-Hon
- Clara Sismondo, The University of British Columbia, Sponsored by Dr. James Scoates
- Kathleen Usary, Towson University, Sponsored by Dr. Wendy R. Nelson
- Sarah Beethe, The George Washington University, Sponsored by Prof. Richard P. Tollo
- Emma Belanger, The George Washington University, Sponsored by Prof. Richard P. Tollo
- Abigail B. Boak, Mt. Holyoke College, Sponsored by Dr. Steven R. Dunn
- Sophie Bonnington, University of Otago, Sponsored by Dr. J. Michael Palin
- Stephen D. Clapp, Florida State University, Sponsored by Dr. Mainak Mookherjee
- Anthea Coleman, University of Otago, Sponsored by Dr. J. Michael Palin
- Nadia Dworian, University of Wyoming, Sponsored by Dr. Simone Runyon
- Matteo Ferri, University of Victoria, Sponsored by Prof. Dante Canil
- Isabelle Troutman Harris, Furman University, Sponsored by Prof. William A. Ranson
- Caleb Isaac, University of British Columbia, Sponsored by Prof. James Scoates
- Liviya Kovacevic, The University of Vermont, Sponsored by Prof. Julia Perdrial
- Zoe Leuba, Towson University, Sponsored by Dr. Wendy Nelson
- Christian Lockwood, Williams College, Sponsored by Prof. R.A. Wobus
- Kyle Ma, University of Texas at Austin, Sponsored by Prof. Jung-Fu Lin
- Aria Mason, Williams College, Sponsored by Prof. R.A. Wobus
- Andrew Miller, University of Wyoming, Sponsored by Dr. Simone Runyon
- Alec William Musick, Missouri State University, Sponsored by Prof. Gary Michelfelder
- Katherine Pippenger, Williams College, Sponsored by Prof. R.A. Wobus
- Abigail Pirkle, University of Wyoming, Sponsored by Dr. Simone Runyon
- Hunter Polhemus, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Sponsored by Prof. Julia E. Hammer
- Ian Rueda, University of California Santa Barbara, Sponsored by Prof. Roberta Rudnick
- Tyler Seyglinski, Towson University, Sponsored by Dr. Wendy Nelson
- Hannah Shabtian, University of California Santa Barbara, Sponsored by Dr. Matthew Rioux
- Berry L. Williams, Smith College, Sponsored by Dr. Sarah E. Mazza
- Laurie Zielinski, Princeton University, Sponsored by Prof. Thomas Duffy
- Megan “Forest” Balemian-Spencer, Pomona College, Sponsored by Dr. Jade Star Lackey
- Odalys Callejas, University of California-Santa Barbara, Sponsored by Dr. Roberta L. Rudnick
- Alix Marie Ehlers, University of Vermont, Sponsored by Dr. John Hughes
- Ashely V Fernandes, University of Maryland, Sponsored by Dr. Sarah Penniston-Dorland
- Cristy Q Ho, University of Maryland, Sponsored by Dr. Sarah Penniston-Dorland
- Sydney Klinzing, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Sponsored by Dr. Professor Huifang Xu
- Ranpeng Li, University of California-Santa Barbara, Sponsored by Prof. Roberta Rudnick
- Felice Lugos, University of California-Santa Barbara, Sponsored by Prof. Matthew E. Rioux
- Zoe MacClure, University of Otago, Sponsored by Dr. J. Michael Palin
- Eleanor McLeod, University of Victoria, Sponsored by Prof. Dante Canil
- Erikka Renee Olson Williams College, Sponsored by Prof. Reinhard Wobus
- Owen Perfect, University of British Columbia, Sponsored by Dr. James Scoates
- Matthew Raabe, Towson University, Sponsored by Dr. Wendy Nelson
- Addison K Savage, University of Texas at Austin, Sponsored by Dr. Elizabeth Catlos
- Yi Sun, Universitat Heidelberg, Sponsored by Prof. Axel K. Schmitt
- Jonathan Umbsaar, University of Calgary, Sponsored by Dr. J. Alex Speer
- Alexandra Ducatte, Towson University, Sponsored by Dr. Wendy Nelson
- Shane K. Houchin, Pasadena City College, Sponsored by Dr. Martha House
- Cleto Isaguirre, University of California-Santa Barbara, Sponsored by Dr. Allison Price
- Jonas Kämpf, University of Freiburg, Sponsored by Prof. Dr. David Dolejs
- Yijing Li, University of California-Santa Barbara, Sponsored by Dr. Allison Price
- Sarah K Powers, University of Vermont, Sponsored by Dr. Julia Perdrial
- Cole Sitar, University of California-Santa Barbara, Sponsored by Prof. Roberta Rudnick
- Dylan Spence, University of British Columbia, Sponsored by Dr. James Scoates
- Zachary D Tomlinson, University of Oklahoma, Sponsored by Dr. David London
- Emma Lea Wheeler, Bates College, Sponsored by Dr. Genevieve Robert
- Jodie C. Wiltse, University of Victoria, Sponsored by Prof. Dante Canil
- Caroline Cominey Wolcott, Furman University Sponsored by Dr. William Ranson
- Antonia Ashauer, Goethe University, Sponsored by Prof. Dr. Frank Brenker
- James Atterholt, Indiana University, Sponsored by Prof. David Bish
- Rebecca Canam, University of British Columbia, Sponsored by Dr. James Scoates
- Emily DiPadova, Smith College, Sponsored by Dr. John Brady
- Marina Renee Fennell, University of California- Santa Barbara, Sponsored by Prof. Frank Spera
- Spencer Fuston, Texas Tech University, Sponsored by Dr. Callum Hetherington
- Carolin Gräf, Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main, Sponsored by Dr. Alan Woodland
- Jesse Gu, University of Texas at Austin, Sponsored by Prof. Jung-Fu Lin
- Justin Takeshi Higa, University of Hawaii-Manoa, Sponsored by Dr. Julia Hammer
- Madeline Hill, University of Washington, Sponsored by Dr. Fangzhen Teng
- Miles Lindner, Goethe Universität, Sponsored by Prof. Dr. Frank Brenker
- Francesca M. LoVerde George Washington University, Sponsored by Dr. Richard Tollo
- Mathew Stephen Marcarelli, Williams College, Sponsored by Prof. Reinhard Wobus
- Melinda Marsh, Towson University, Sponsored by Dr. Wendy Nelson
- Lauren M. Mitchell. George Washington University, Sponsored by Dr. Richard Tollo
- Madeleine E. Murphy, George Washington University, Sponsored by Dr. Richard Tollo
- Timothy Nagle-McNaughton, Williams College, Sponsored by Prof. Reinhard Wobus
- Mily Oseid, Indiana University, Sponsored by Prof. David Bish
- Laura Kate Penrose, University of Otago, Sponsored by Dr. J. Palin
- Nicholas Edwin Powell, Appalachian State University, Sponsored by Dr. Sarah Carmichael
- Catherine Sangster, University of Otago, Sponsored by Dr. J. Palin
- Emma Scanlan, University of Otago, Sponsored by Dr. J. Palin
- John Sawyer Shaw, University of Vermont, Sponsored by Dr. Julia Perdrial
- Damaris Wyatt, University of California-Santa Barbara, Sponsored by Prof. Roberta Rudnick
- Peiyu Wu, University of Washington, Sponsored by Dr. Fangzhen Teng
- Ying Qi Zhang, University of Calgary, Sponsored by MSa on behalf of the University of Calgary
- Timothy Cary, University of Calgary, Sponsored by MSa on behalf of the University of Calgary
- Glicinia Castro, University of Oklahoma, Sponsored by Dr. David London
- Zoe Chapman-Humphreys, University of Victoria, Sponsored by Prof. Dante Canil
- Emma Cochran, Missouri State University, Sponsored by Dr. Gary Michelfelder
- Brandon Downs, Missouri University of Science & Technology, Sponsored by Dr. John Hogan
- Max Firkins, University of Oklahoma, Sponsored by Dr. David London
- Christopher FitzGerald, Indiana University, Sponsored by Prof. David Bish
- Thomas Taylor Givens, University of Oklahoma, Sponsored by Dr. David London
- Katherine Herries, Missouri University of Science & Technology, Sponsored by Dr. John Hogan
- Johnna Lasmanis, Missouri University of Science & Technology, Sponsored by Dr. John Hogan
- Michelle Christine Mild, Missouri University of Science & Technology, Sponsored by Dr. John Hogan
- Daniel E. Niles, Towson University, Sponsored by Dr. Wendy Nelson
- Asumi Ochiai, Kyushu University, Sponsored by Dr. Satoshi Utsunomiya
- Andre Parisi, University of Vermont, Sponsored by Dr. Julia Perdrial
- Laura K. Stamp, Williams College, Sponsored by Prof. Reinhard Wobus
- Madison Leigh Turner, University of Maryland, Sponsored by Dr. Sarah Penniston-Dorland
- Napat Wanpiyarat, University of Texas at Austin, Sponsored by Dr. Jung-Fu Lin
- Timothy Cary, University of Calgary, Sponsored by MSa on behalf of the University of Calgary
- Glicinia Castro, University of Oklahoma, Sponsored by Dr. David London
- Zoe Chapman-Humphreys, University of Victoria, Sponsored by Prof. Dante Canil
- Emma Cochran, Missouri State University, Sponsored by Dr. Gary Michelfelder
- Brandon Downs, Missouri University of Science & Technology, Sponsored by Dr. John Hogan
- Max Firkins, University of Oklahoma, Sponsored by Dr. David London
- Christopher FitzGerald, Indiana University, Sponsored by Prof. David Bish
- Thomas Taylor Givens, University of Oklahoma, Sponsored by Dr. David London
- Katherine Herries, Missouri University of Science & Technology, Sponsored by Dr. John Hogan
- Johnna Lasmanis, Missouri University of Science & Technology, Sponsored by Dr. John Hogan
- Michelle Christine Mild, Missouri University of Science & Technology, Sponsored by Dr. John Hogan
- Daniel E. Niles, Towson University, Sponsored by Dr. Wendy Nelson
- Asumi Ochiai, Kyushu University, Sponsored by Dr. Satoshi Utsunomiya
- Andre Parisi, University of Vermont, Sponsored by Dr. Julia Perdrial
- Laura K. Stamp, Williams College, Sponsored by Prof. Reinhard Wobus
- Madison Leigh Turner, University of Maryland, Sponsored by Dr. Sarah Penniston-Dorland
- Napat Wanpiyarat, University of Texas at Austin, Sponsored by Dr. Jung-Fu Lin
- Farah Ashe, University of Vermont, Sponsored by Dr. Julia Perdrial
- Joseph Browning, University of Maryland, Sponsored by Dr. Sarah Penniston-Dorland
- Elisabeth Calderwood, University of Victoria, Sponsored by Prof. Dante Canil
- Nell C. Davis, Williams College, Sponsored by Prof. Reinhard Wobus
- Justine Grabiec, University of Maryland, Sponsored by Dr. Sarah Penniston-Dorland
- Clémentine Hamelin, Smith College, Sponsored by Dr. John Brady
- Margaret Holahan, Indiana University, Sponsored by Prof. David Bish
- Mustafa J. Mahdi, University of Oklahoma, Sponsored by Dr. David London
- Lisa L. Perrin, Towson University, Sponsored by Dr. David Vanko
- Susan Richmond, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Sponsored by Prof. Huifang Xu
- Thomas Rose, Goethe-Universitaet Frankfurt am Main, Sponsored by Dr. Alan Woodland
- Luke Schranz, Univ of Wisconsin-Madison, Sponsored by Prof. Huifang Xu
- Eloise C. Andry, Williams College, Sponsored by Prof. Reinhard Wobus
- Jeremy Beales, University of Victoria, Sponsored by Prof. Dante Canil
- Keri Belcher, University of Texas at Austin, Sponsored by Dr. Jung-Fu Lin
- Brian James Gallagher, University of Oklahoma, Sponsored by Dr. David London
- Scarlette Hsia, University of Texas at Austin, Sponsored by Dr. Elizabeth Catlos
- Emma Hall, Smith College, Sponsored by Dr. John Brady
- Alicia Koshman, University of British Columbia, Sponsored by Dr. James Scoates
- Tanis Coralee Leonhardi, University of Hawaii-Manoa, Sponsored by Dr. Julia Hammer
- Madeline Lewis, Indiana University, Sponsored by Prof. David Bish
- Shayna Quidas, University of Maryland, Sponsored by Dr. Sarah Penniston-Dorland
- Casey Watamaniuk, University of British Columbia, Sponsored by Dr. James Scoates
- Samantha Bauer, George Washington University, Sponsored by Dr. Richard Tollo
- Samantha Blanchett, Smith College, Sponsored by Dr. John Brady
- Kevin Eric Bone, University of Texas at Austin, Sponsored by Dr. Elizabeth Catlos
- Hayden Dalton, University of Otago, Sponsored by Dr. J. Palin
- Travis C. Dawson, University of Vermont, Sponsored by Dr. John Hughes
- Anthony M Frushour, Appalachian State University, Sponsored by Dr. Sarah Carmichael
- Katherine M. Hresko, Towson University, Sponsored by Dr. David Vanko
- William Junkin, University of Maryland, Sponsored by Dr. Sarah Penniston-Dorland
- Luke Kurey, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Sponsored by Prof. Huifang Xu
- Adam McDaniel, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Sponsored by Prof. Huifang Xu
- Lauren E. McGraw, University of Oklahoma, Sponsored by Dr. David London
- Cory McGregor, University of Victoria, Sponsored by Prof. Dante Canil
- Matthew J. Oxman, University of Dayton, Sponsored by Dr. Andrea Koziol
- David M Rapp, Williams College, Sponsored by Prof. Reinhard Wobus
- Michael Ream, University of Maryland, Sponsored by Dr. Sarah Penniston-Dorland
- Heather J. Saburova, George Mason University, Sponsored by Dr. Giuseppina Mattietti
- Jessica Towell, Indiana University, Sponsored by Prof. David Bish
- David Stewart Walker, University of British Columbia, Sponsored by Dr. James Scoates
- Emily F. Carbone, Smith College, Sponsored by Dr. John Brady
- Marisa Davies, University of Victoria, Sponsored by Prof. Dante Canil
- Nicholas Davis, Texas A&M University, Sponsored by Dr. Robert Popp
- Sean Kayser, University of Maryland, Sponsored by Prof. Roberta Rudnick
- Kathryn Kumamoto, Williams College, Sponsored by Prof. Reinhard Wobus
- Thao P. Le, University of Oklahoma, Sponsored by Dr. David London
- Kara E. Marsac, Eastern Michigan University, Sponsored by Dr. Christine Clark
- Benjamin S. Murphy, Pomona College, Sponsored by Dr. Jade Star Lackey
- Tyler Newton, University of Maryland, Sponsored by Prof. Roberta Rudnick
- Maxwell Nottke, University of Vermont, Sponsored by Dr. John M. Hughes
- Allison Ricko, Towson University, Sponsored by Dr. David Vanko
- Jacob van Wesenbeeck, Indiana University, Sponsored by Prof. David Bish
- Lauren Finkelstein, George Washington University, Sponsored by Dr. Richard Tollo
- James C Gossweiler, Towson University, Sponsored by Dr. David Vanko
- Thang N Ha, University of Oklahoma, Sponsored by Dr. David London
- David W Hawkins, George Mason University, Sponsored by Dr. Julia Nord Cooper
- Jamie A. Kendall, Bryn Mawr College, Sponsored by Dr. Lynne Elkins
- Abbey Nastan, University of Montana, Sponsored by Dr. Julia A. Baldwin
- Uyen Thi Thanh Nguyen, University of Oklahoma, Sponsored by Dr. David London
- Bradley W Pitcher, Central Washington University, Sponsored by Dr. Christopher Mattinson
- Natalie Elizabeth Sievers, University of Maryland, Sponsored by Prof. Roberta Rudnick
- Emily Stewart, Indiana University, Sponsored by Prof. David Bish
- Shelly Jean Wernette, University of Oklahoma, Sponsored by Dr. David London
- Hehewutei Amakali, Appalachian State University, Sponsored by Dr. Sarah Carmichael
- Daniel S. Ambuehl, University of Oklahoma, Sponsored by Dr. David London
- Tengku Faisal Tengku Amir, Texas A&M University, Sponsored by Dr. Robert Popp
- Kirsten C. Bauer, Universität Frankfurt, Sponsored by Dr. Alan Woodland
- James L. Bridgeman, Furman University, Sponsored by Dr. William Ranson
- Nicholas Brown, University of Victoria, Sponsored by Dr. Dante L. Canil
- Wendy Anne Cockshell, University of Hawaii-Manoa, Sponsored by Dr. Julia Hammer
- Amber Currie, University of New Brunswick, Sponsored by Dr. Cliff Shaw
- Megan D’Errico, Trinity University, Sponsored by Dr. Diane Smith
- Joshua Daniel Field, Indiana University, Sponsored by Prof. David Bish
- Jonathan M Gates, Acadia University, Sponsored by Dr. Sandra Barr
- Allison R. Goldberg, Williams College, Sponsored by Prof. Reinhard Wobus
- Kent Griffith, Indiana University, Sponsored by Prof. David Bish
- Thomas Gregory Herbst, Missouri University of Science & Technology, Sponsored by Dr. John Hogan
- Seth M Hewitt, Appalachian State University, Sponsored by Dr. Richard Abbott
- Masashi Kogawa, Kyushu University, Sponsored by Dr. Satoshi Utsunomiya
- Kimberly A Landreth, The University of Akron – Wayne College, Sponsored by Dr. Adil Wadia
- Kristin E. Lazzeri, Towson University, Sponsored by Dr. David Vanko
- Alicia Lew, University of Victoria, Sponsored by Prof. Dante Canil
- David O. Oakley, Williams College, Sponsored by Prof. Reinhard Wobus
- Kristen Rahilly, Smith College, Sponsored by Dr. John Brady
- Elizabeth Seibel, Penn State University, Sponsored by Dr. Peter Heaney
- Yanadet Sripanich, University of Texas at Austin, Sponsored by Dr. Elizabeth Catlos
- Marcella Hoffman Yant, Indiana University, Sponsored by Prof. David Bish
To View Recipients & Their Sponsors from 2009 – 1985
Nominating a Student for the MSA Undergraduate Prize
To nominate a student, an MSA member, who knows of an undergraduate student’s achievements either through course- or research-work, should send a letter on institutional letterhead describing those achievments to:
Dr. Ann Benbow
Mineralogical Society of America
3635 Concorde Pkwy Ste 500
Chantilly VA 20151-1110 USA
Tel: +1 (703) 652-9950
Fax: +1 (703) 652-9951
e-mail:abenbow@minsocam.org
With the nomination, please include the student’s full name that would be suitable for the certificate, a mailing address for the student that will be current at the time the award is made, e-mail address, year in school, the choice of Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry or Monograph book title, and the date and brief description of the award ceremony at which the certificate will be presented. The letter must be signed or co-signed by the department chair.
Deadlines for nominating students are January 1 and July 1 of each year. If you are interested in presenting the award at a particular ceremony, please remember that time is required to produce certificates and have them signed.