News Release, Kansas Geological Survey, May 28, 2010
LAWRENCE--Five University of Kansas students received outstanding achievement awards from the Kansas Geological Survey, based on KU's West Campus.
Nathan Corbin, an undergraduate in geology, was the recipient of the Norman Plummer Outstanding Student Award. A technical research assistant in the Survey's Exploration Services Section, Corbin helped develop a geophysical system for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that will be used to differentiate rock layers and other features near the earth's surface. Corbin is from Lecompton, Kansas. Norman Plummer was a Survey employee from 1936 to 1969.
Terri Woodburn, a doctoral student in geology, was the recipient of the Lee C. and Darcy Gerhard Field Research Student Award. She is involved with a program to map the geology of Kansas counties and has coauthored a number of the maps, including maps of Ford, Morton, Hodgeman, Gray, Edwards, Pawnee, Jewell, Norton, Republic, Reno, and Doniphan counties. Woodburn is from Platte City, Missouri, and has a Master's degree in geography from KU. The award is named after the Survey's director from 1987 to 1999 and his wife.
Scott Klopfenstein, a master's student in geography, was the recipient of the Jack Dangermond/ESRI Geospatial Technologies Student Award. As a graduate research assistant Klopfenstein integrates data on playas (small, intermittent lakes in the High Plains) into the Survey's hydrography data set, uses aerial imagery to identify perennial and intermittent water features, and helps with map design and development. Klopfenstein is from Lawrence, Kansas, and received a Bachelor's degree in environmental studies from KU. The award was established by Jack Dangermond, president of the Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc., (ESRI) to recognize student accomplishments in the application of geospatial technologies.
Sarah Kreitzer, a master's student in hydrogeology, was the recipient of the Frank C. Foley Groundwater Student Travel Award. She has produced maps and diagrams illustrating groundwater availability and changes in groundwater levels in the Ogallala aquifer of western Kansas and assists with other projects as a graduate research assistant in the Survey's Geohydrology Section. Kreitzer is from Chattanooga, Tennessee. The award, named after the Survey's director from 1954 to 1970, will provide funding for her to attend the annual conference of The Geological Society of America this fall in Denver, where she will present the results of her work.
Laura Murphy, a doctorate student in anthropology (geoarcheology), was the recipient of the William W. Hambleton Student Research Award. She has participated in an endowed Survey program looking for evidence of early humans in the central Great Plains, particularly at the Burntwood Creek Rock Shelter in Rawlins County. Other projects she has been involved with include a study of landscape evolution in the High Plains and the program to map the geology of Kansas counties. Murphy, who has a Master's degree from KU, is from Massilon, Ohio. William W. Hambleton was the Survey's director from 1970 to 1986.
The Kansas Geological Survey studies and provides information on the state's geologic resources and hazards, particularly ground water, oil, natural gas, and other minerals. It employs approximately 25 students.
The recipients were presented cash awards and certificates in a mid-May ceremony.