Rowan Terra is a biology PhD candidate and Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education fellow advised by Dr. Nancy Trun at Duquesne University and by Dr. Djuna Gulliver at the National Energy Technology Laboratory, both in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Their doctoral research combines microbiology, geochemistry, and computer science to study the potential for critical mineral and material recovery from abandoned coal mine drainage systems in the Appalachian Basin. Current projects include spatiotemporal surveys of abandoned mines, biomining from remediated precipitates, computational prospecting for specific metal feedstocks, and biogeochemical modeling. Portions of the research have extended beyond Appalachia to active mines such as Mountain Pass and San Miguel. Terra hopes to one day lead a research team in industry, government, or academia. Outside of the lab, they enjoy gardening, lapidary work, metalsmithing, and cat herding.
PhD Winner: Rowan Terra
Masters Winner: Viktoria Stallings
Vikky Stallings is a graduate student pursuing an MS in environmental science at the University of Oklahoma. She is advised by Dr. Robert Nairn, and is a graduate research assistant at the University of Oklahoma Center for Restoration of Ecosystems and Watersheds (CREW). Her academic foundation includes a BS in both freshwater science and psychology from Northeastern State University (NSU), where she worked as an undergraduate research assistant for the Grand River Dam Authority-NSU Scenic Rivers and Watershed Research Lab throughout her entire undergraduate career. Now, she is working on a thesis where comprehensive stream assessment will be used to evaluate the water quality of a significant Oklahoma stream. In her spare time, she likes to frolic outside, create art, and join her fellow CREWbies in their fieldwork adventures.
Undergraduate Winner: Grace Belcher
Grace Belcher is a recent summa cum laude graduate from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (SD Mines), where she received her BS in environmental engineering, as well as minors in sustainable engineering, environmental science, and occupational safety. As an undergraduate at SD Mines, she was president of the Environmental Change and Sustainability Club, president of Chi Epsilon Civil Engineering Honor Society, and a member of Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society. She was also a member of Women in Science and Engineering, Graduate Women in Science, and the SD Mines Orchestra.
Her undergraduate research this past semester, titled “Assessment of Remediation Techniques for a Bentonite Mine Using Imagery-Driven Analysis,” has strengthened her passion for reclamation and conservation, especially as related to mining sites. This summer, she will join a research program at the University of Madrid, expanding her understanding of mining reclamation challenges.
In the fall, Belcher will be continuing her MS work at SD Mines, with her thesis focusing on process-based remediation, looking specifically at engineering and design approaches to cost-effectively implement a remediation plan of the historic bentonite mine she researched as an undergraduate. Her research is part of an ongoing Bureau of Land Management remediation planning project. Belcher is committed to learning and developing reclamation practices that protect water resources and restore ecological function.
Memorial Scholarship Awards
The memorial scholarships are awarded in commemoration of deceased ASRS members. They are granted to deserving students from universities, colleges, or community colleges that offer curricula in a scientific discipline directly related to, and leading toward, a profession in reclamation-related work.
2022
2021
PhD
- Brandon Holzbauer-Sweitzer
MS
- Brianna Slothower
BS
- Hannah Curtis
2020
2015
2013
2011
2010
PhD
- Salava, Caley Gasch
MS
- Grembi, Jessica
BS
- Horton, Leena
2009
2008
2007
Student Travel Grants
Travel grants are available for ASRS student members presenting a technical paper or poster at the Society’s Annual Conference held each year.
2023
- Ellen Pokuah (Ohio University)
- Cheyenne Morgan (University of Oklahoma)
- Justine McCann (University of Oklahoma)
- Micayla Pearson (Texas A&M University, Kingsville)
- Samantha Taylor (University of Oklahoma)
2022
2019
- Hannah Angel
Hannah Angel
- Juan Arango Calderon
Juan Arango Calderon
- Jennifer Buss
Jennifer Buss
- Dayton Dorman
Dayton Dorman
- John Gaughan
John Gaughan
- Justin Hugo
Justin Hugo
- James Ingendorf
James Ingendorf
- Kari Lagan
Kari Lagan
- Nicholas McKnight
Nicholas McKnight
- Michael Nattrass
Michael Nattrass
- Megan Ostrand
Megan Ostrand
- Hannah Patton
Hannah Patton
- Ashley Rovder
Ashley Rovder
- Staci Shoemaker
Staci Shoemaker
- Debbie Slovikosky
Debbie Slovikosky
- Charles Spellman
Charles Spellman
- Zepei Tang
Zepei Tang
2018
2017
- Fulton, Stephanie
- Angel, Hannah
- Long, Stefan
- Fleisher, Kurt
- Pennino, Amanda
- Tomkowski, Kevin
- Vinglish, Joshua
- Madl, David
- Shepherd, Nick
- Rovder, Ashley
- Tang, Zepei
- Giri, Poonam
- Justin, Hugo
- Mignogna, Lydia
- Wolfe, Staci
- Spellman, Charles
- Holzbauer-Schweitzer, Brandon
2016
2015
2014
2013
- Angel, Hannah
- Barr, Stephanie
- Borries, Blair
- Buyantogtokh, Uuganbayer
- Odenheimer, Jessica
- Oxenford, Leah
- Sena, Kenton
- Stephens, Garrett
- Webb, Ryan
2012
2011
- Cox, Lisa
- Craig, Nina
- Howren, Marjorie
- Hughes, Theresa
- Lilly, Kyle
- Young, Iam
2010
- Caporuscio, Abby
- DeLong, Curtis
- Grembi, Jessica
- Hardisty, Dalton
- Keene, Travis
- Nash, Whitney
- Neely, Cody
- Oxenford, Leah
- Strosnider, William
Student Presentation Awards
Each year at the annual meeting, the Society sponsors a Student Oral and Poster Competition. All active Grad & Undergrad student members are eligible. There are three cash prizes for each of these two contests. In the case of a tie, more than one student may be awarded prizes.
2023
Undergraduate
- 1st Samantha Taylor (University of Oklahoma)
Graduate Poster
- 1st Cheyenne Morgan (University of Oklahoma)
- 2nd Ellen Pokuah (Ohio University)
- 2nd Chelsea Harris (Western Washington University)
2022
Oral
- 1st Nick Shepherd
- 2nd Dayton Dorman
- 3rd Annalie Peterson
- HM Alexandra Post
Graduate Poster
- 1st Griffin Burt
- 2nd Matthew Berzonsky
- 3rd Peter Assaf
- HM Ashlyn Campagna
Undergraduate Poster
- 1st Levi McKercher
- 2nd Kehinde Oshitimehin
- 3rd Keane Trudel
2019
Oral
2018
Oral
2017
Oral
2016
Oral
2015
Oral
2014
Oral
2013
Oral
- 1st Oxenford, Leah
- 2nd Odenheimer, Jessica
- 3rd Borries, Blair
- 3rd Fitzpatrick, Beth
- 3rd Johnson, Daniel
- Special (UG) da Rosa, Mariana
Poster
- 1st Barr, Stephanie
- 2nd Sena, Kenton
- 3rd Angel, Hannah
2012
Oral
2011
2010
Oral
- 1st Neely, Cody
- 2nd Hardisty, Dalton
- 2nd Strosnider, William
- 3rd Keene, Travis
- 3rd Oxenford, Leah
Poster
- 1st Nash, Whitney
- 2nd Caporuscio, Abby
- 3rd DeLong, Curtis
- 3rd Grembi, Jessica
2009
Oral
Poster
- 1st Hartman, Janessa
- 2nd Bird, Nicole
- 2nd Gallangher, Lisa
- 3rd Stucker, Valeria
