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News Release, Kansas Geological Survey, May 31, 2001


Survey Recognizes Outstanding Students

LAWRENCE--Four students, including three from the University of Kansas and one from Kansas State University, were recently recognized for outstanding contributions to the Kansas Geological Survey, based on KU's west campus.

The four were given cash awards and citations during a ceremony at the Survey.

Aaron Kinkelaar, a senior economics major at KU, was given the Norman Plummer Outstanding Student Award. Kinkelaar is a clerical assistant in the Survey's purchasing office. The Plummer Award, named after Norman Plummer, a long-time geologist at the Survey, is given annually in recognition of a non-research student employee at the Survey.

Tobin Roop, a junior majoring in geology at Kansas State University, was given the Lee C. and Darcy Gerhard Field Research Student Award. Roop worked for the Survey in the summer of 2000, mapping and studying sandstones in Washington County, Kansas. His work was published in an article in the Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science. The award is named for Lee C. Gerhard, the previous director of the Survey, and his wife Darcy, and is given annually for outstanding field research.

Jeremy Bartley, a doctoral student in geography at KU, was given the William W. Hambleton Student Research Award. Bartley has developed Geographic Information Systems support and statistical applications that have been used in water-related research at the Survey. The Hambleton award is named after a previous director of the Survey and is given annually for excellence in research.

Joey Mosteller, a graduate student in geology at KU, was given the Frank C. Foley Groundwater Student Travel Award. Mosteller developed a website and did other work related to the Survey's studies of the High Plains Aquifer, the primary water source in much of western Kansas. The award, named for a previous director of the Survey, provides travel funds for a student to attend a regional or national groundwater conference.

The Survey, a research and service division of the University of Kansas, studies the state's geologic resources and hazards. The Survey employs more than 50 students, most of them from KU.


Story by Rex Buchanan, (785) 864-2106

Kansas Geological Survey, Publications and Public Affairs
URL="http://www.kgs.ku.edu/General/News/2001/awards.html"