ALEXANDRIA,VA — For the 31st consecutive year, the American Geological Institute (AGI) has awarded academic scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students in support of their pursuit of geoscience degrees. In the 2002-2003 academic year, 23 students will receive scholarships granted through AGI’s Minority Participation Program (MPP). The AGI MPP is made possible through the generous financial support of the USX Foundation, ExxonMobil Corporation, ChevronTexaco Corporation, and the Seismological Society of America.

This year’s undergraduate awardees are Wesley Acosta (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), Robert Monnar (University of Nevada, Reno), John Ricardo (Guilford College), Mariela Salas (University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez), Celina Suarez (Trinity University), Marina Suarez (Trinity University), Scott Williams (North Carolina State University), and Christy Wilmore (Texas A&M University).  Graduate student awardees are Anthony Arguez (Florida State University), Omayra Bermudez-Lugo (University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez), Daniel Cordalis (University of Colorado), Vionette DeChoudens-Sanchez (University of Iowa), Jason Holloman (Louisiana State University), Dawn James (California State University, Northridge), Lorna-Jaramillo Nieves (University of Colorado, Boulder), Keena Kareem (Louisiana State University), Alberto Lopez-Venegas (Northwestern University), Audeliz Matias (Northwestern University), Dominike Merle (Northwestern University), Amanda Mosola (Rice University), Sergio Restrepo (University of Florida), Lizzette Rodriguez (Michigan Technological University), and Annette Veilleux (University of Texas at El Paso).

Since its inception in 1971, the AGI Minority Participation Program has provided financial assistance and mentoring to qualified members of underrepresented groups. The purpose of the mentoring program is to increase the success rate of scholars in undergraduate and graduate programs at accredited colleges and universities. In addition, mentors guide and introduce scholars to opportunities in the geosciences through internships and participation in symposia and professional society meetings. These efforts help the students find employment in the geosciences by affording them competitive job opportunities in various job markets. The success of the AGI Minority Participation Program is amply demonstrated by the hundreds of previous scholars who are employed in the geoscience community, contribute to the enhancement of their discipline, and serve as models for current and future scholars.

For more information about MPP, contact Caitlin Callahan, MPP Coordinator at AGI, or visit the scholarship web site, http://www.agiweb.org/education/mpp/.

    The American Geological Institute is a nonprofit federation of 40 geoscientific and professional associations that represent more than 120,000 geologists, geophysicists, and other earth scientists. Founded in 1948, AGI provides information services to geoscientists, serves as a voice of shared interests in our profession, plays a major role in strengthening geoscience education, and strives to increase public awareness of the vital role the geosciences play in mankind's use of resources and interaction with the environment. More information about AGI can be found at http://www.agiweb.org. The Institute also provides a public-outreach web site, http://www.earthscienceworld.org.
 

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