In 2024

Jasmine James
Hello! I am currently a junior at Central Washington University pursuing my Bachelor of Science in Geology. Growing up in Cowiche Washington, I learned about all the amazing geological features in the area and fell in love with geology! I then spent 2 years at Western Washington University before deciding to finish my geology degree at Central. I love hiking, backpacking, and exploring new areas while looking for cool rocks. After graduation, I want to get my masters degree. I am very interested in petrology and sedimentology and would love to study one of these topics.  My biggest goal is to participate in active research and help solve geologic questions. I would like to thank the Hinthorne Scholarship fund for helping me on my education journey!

Kelli Heim
I have been a student at Central Washington University for the past four years and have loved being a student in the Geology department. My plans are to graduate in the next two quarters with a B.S. in Geology, minor in Anthropology, and a GIS certificate. Once done with school, my plan is to find a job using involving the GIS programs. I am very thankful for all the help I've received during my time here at CWU! Thank you!

Katilyn Kotchka
I graduated high school with the belief that, as a woman, I wasn't made for science. I stumbled through an associate's degree in Business Management and decided I wasn't made for college either. At 32, I made the decision to return to school for some sort of science degree after volunteering at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center in Edgewater, MD.  The stories that can be found in geology have always interested me, and after bingeing Nick Zentner's geology podcast during the early days of 2020, I knew that if I was really going to finish my undergraduate education, it would have to be at CWU. The overall goal for my career, once I get my bachelor's and then ideally my master's, is to work as a researcher specializing in Antarctic research and volcanology.

Madelyn Eaton
I always had an interest in agriculture growing up in Eastern Washington and I also had a fascination with the geology of the world around me. This has led me to the wonderful geology program here at CWU. I can't say enough how grateful I am for this department and program, I feel blessed to be a part of it. In the future I hope to help insure crop land remains healthy and pollutant free, finding a career with a mix of both agriculture and geology would be my dream. I am very grateful for all the scholarship donors.

Krista Cozart
I have grown up in a few parts of the state of Washington, and have always been interested in the different geological formations. I am an incoming junior transfer student from Pierce College and am super excited to dive into the Geology field at Central. When I am not focusing on school, I enjoy spending time with family, hiking with my sister, and doing gymnastics. I plan on getting my BS in Geology and pursue a career field in Seismology.

Caydence Hesch
I am a third year at Central majoring in Environmental Geological Sciences and hoping to minor in sustainability. I work at CWU Recreation in Adventure Programs as the manager of the OPR rental shop, and I teach a kid’s climbing class at CWU’s rock wall. I like to read, climb, hike, lift weights, and get outside any way I can! I am also secretary for the Environmental Club and Climbing Team. In the future I hope to work outside and make an impact on local sustainability. I’d love to continue working with kids, showing them how beautiful the natural world is and how important it is to protect our Earth.

Nicholas Morris
I’m from Cape Town, South Africa, and I’m a geology major. I moved from South Africa originally to become a pilot but took Nick Zentner’s Geology 101 class and became hooked on geology. I’m interested in energy, specifically geothermal energy and when I’m not playing with rocks in real life I like to do it in Minecraft. As far as my future plans go, I’d like to finish my BS in geology and hopefully get into the energy sector. P.S. I also like eating as a hobby

Christopher Levy
I grew up in the Eastern Sierra Mountains that border Nevada and California. I grew up outdoors since the small town where I lived, was remote from major cities or larger towns. Hiking in the mountains was a constant along with snowboarding in the winter at elevations of 7000 ft or higher. I worked for the state parks system for ten years, at a unique geologic hot springs in a mountain valley. I rebegan my pursuit of higher education in 2019 where I found an immense interest in Geology. My main interests include the outdoors where I can explore new areas and look over the Geology that can be seen. After taking Geology it's hard not to think about Geology with what you learn from your classes. Video games have been my go-to for downtime when I’m not exploring the outdoors. It helps me stay in contact with long-term friends and share good laughs. In the future, I hope not only to acquire my bachelor's degree in Geology but also to explore more options for how I might contribute to the field of Geology. I would like to find where I fit best into Geology while attending Central Washington University.

Austin John Baird
I am overall studying vertebrate paleontology with the hopes to work on Mesozoic dinosaur evolution. I am from Cashmere WA and moved to Ellensburg for the CWU's closeness to home and its biology/geology programs. I am majoring in Biology of Ecology and Evolution with a minor in Geology

Julie Wake
I am a Geology major. I also studied at Yakima Valley College where I earned my Associate Degree before transferring to CWU . I am currently working towards learning a Bachelor’s in Science degree. I hope to work for the US Forest Service or the Department of Natural Resources after I graduate. I am 47 years young. My hobbies include hiking, backpacking, camping, rockhounding, photography, and most any other thing that gets me outdoors. I raised my three sons, Henry (27), Hayden (25), and Austin (22) who are my world. I am very grateful to have received a scholarship from the James and Jean Hinthorne Scholarship Fund.

Rachel Torres
I'm a Geology major and Environmental Studies minor on track to earn a bachelor's degree by 2027. I love all things outdoorsy and adventurous, and I'm looking forward to a career with the National Park Service or Forest Service after I graduate, focusing on the geological aspects of conservation and the environment.

Brook Bauer
Brook is a second-year graduate student in Central Washington University’s Geoscience Department who has a passion for hydrology. This passion stems from her love for river systems, prompting her yearning to better understand surface water and groundwater interactions.

Her graduate research aims to contribute data to water management applications spearheaded by the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan, a framework created by various stakeholders to improve water supply management in the Yakima Basin. In this highly collaborative project, she specializes in assessing aquifer storage characteristics through geochemical, gis, and additional quantitative applications. This research seeks to enhance the collective understanding of aquifers ability to store and transmit water during prolonged drought seasons, aiding in the preservation of water systems by informing management and policy decisions.

By approaching these complex problems through an interdisciplinary lens, Brook hopes to leverage her expertise in hydrology and pursue a career where she can continue to examine the relationships between climate, water, and society.

Oscar Orme
I am from Spokane, Washington and graduated from Pacific Lutheran University with a degree in Geosciences in 2023. I’m now a second year graduate student studying particle deposition and composition on glaciers in Svalbard, Norway. After graduating, I hope to apply what I’ve learned here at CWU to the climate sector. When I’m not working in the ice core lab, you can find me cycling about town, haunting the local thrift shops, or reading the latest Stephen King. Thanks so much!

Faith Nolander
Raquel Reising

In 2023

In 2022

Gabe Carlson: I am 20 years old and an Eagle Scout. I first became interested in geology when exploring abandoned gold mines with my grandfather at around nine years old. I did my first real gold mining when I turned twelve and was allowed to go to my grandfather gold claim. Seeing that beautiful yellow stuff in the bottom of my gold pan truly cemented my passion for geology. I have continued to mine for gold every summer since then. I enjoy practically everything to do with the outdoors, but my two favorite things are backpacking and rockhounding, I also enjoy rock climbing. As for my future after I graduate, I plan on getting a master's degree in mineralogy, or something similar. With those degrees I hope to get a job traveling the world as an exploration geologist working for a mining company. I would like to give a special thank you to everyone who made this scholarship possible and helped me get one step closer to my dream.

Jessica Scharpf: I am from Lacey, Washington. I decided to come to Central Washington University to grow my knowledge and understanding of the Earth and earth processes by getting a bachelor’s degree in Geology. I have always been fascinated by the sciences, my passion being in paleontology originally, then growing into wanting to understand earth processes. My future goal after getting my bachelor's is to either go for a master's in volcanology or a Ph.D. in Paleontology. One of my dreams is to have the chance to go do any kind of geological studies in Antarctica!

Rhiannon Whitehead: I am a first-generation college student, working toward my Bachelor of Science in geology. I have always been fascinated by the sciences and was convinced by a professor at Everett Community College that I was a geology major and just didn’t know it yet. Almost three years later, here I am, still studying geology! I have more recently been studying the Teanaway River and presented my research at GSA in Las Vegas. After graduation in Winter 2023, I plan to take a break from school for a year or two and gain work experience. I then hope to return for a Master’s program in petrology or mineralogy. I want to recognize our very supportive department, staff, and students alike, for helping me to succeed and find my path. I am very grateful to the Hinthorne Foundation for this educational opportunity!

Ariel Williams: I began college as a Psychology major but was convinced to switch over to Geology at my community College by CWU alum Michelle Harris, who is a professor at Centralia Community College. I have always had a love for volcanoes ever since I went to Mt. St. Helen's when I was 3 or 4 years old, and was captivated by the movie they played of the eruption. I hope to go on and receive my Master's Degree in either Volcanology or Igneous Petrology, and build a career studying volcanic eruptions and magmatic triggers, as well as hazard analysis. Working with the Cascade Range volcanoes would be a dream come true but I would also be happy to work in Yellowstone National Park.

In 2021