Ronnie K. Irani Oklahoma Geological Foundation Awards Banquet

The goal of the Foundation is to encourage and support students who attend elementary, middle, and high schools within Oklahoma, and are enrolled in an Earth Science curriculum or related fields while providing financial support for teachers and their schools that maintain those curriculums.  At the college and university levels, financial support is afforded to students in the science of Geology and related Geosciences and to those who plan to pursue a career in the Geoscience profession.

The Foundation, Kate, Takken, and Davis Fellowship Awards provide outstanding graduate students with support and recognition and affords them the opportunity to publish the title of their thesis or dissertation in the Foundation awards publication.  The Rick Black and Foundation Field Camp Grants give financial support to undergraduate students attending compulsory geology field camps. This year, the Foundation will present awards to Oklahoma State University, Tulsa University, and the University of Oklahoma. Other Grants given by the Foundation will also be included during the program.

As a sponsor, you will be recognized at the Ronnie K. Irani Oklahoma Geological Foundation Awards Banquet, and your sponsorship will be acknowledged on the Foundation website.  Table sponsorships are available at three levels to accommodate you and your guests for dinner.  Gold Level:  $2,000 (8 seats),  Silver Level:  $1,000  (4 seats), or Bronze Level:  $500  (2 seats).  Individual tickets will also be available for purchase.

Even during the difficult times over the last two years, the Foundation’s commitment to funding education has not wavered. The Foundation looks forward to you joining as a Sponsor to help fuel the Foundation’s effort in promoting and funding of the Geosciences in Oklahoma. 

Please fill out the Form, or contact Michael Hale at: mhale@novoog.com, Frank Gagliardi at: frank.w.gagliardi@iCloud.com, or Tom Cronin at:  Thomas.cronin@cox.net, to make reservations.

Grants, Scholarships, & Awards for 2022

Herbert G. & Shirley A. Davis Okla. State University Geology Scholarship: ($7,500)

Recipient:       Victor Fakeye ($2,500), Oklahoma State University

Thesis:            “3D Model-Based Inversion for Onshore CO2 Storage in Stack Play, Anadarko Basin”

Recipient:       Silas Samuel ($2,500), Oklahoma State University

Thesis:            “Integrated Seismic Inversion, Rock Physics Modeling and Artificial

                        Intelligence for Carbon Storage”

Recipient:       Joshua Ademilola ($2,500), Oklahoma State University

Thesis:            “Geological and Geomechanical Modelling for CO@ Sequestration in

                        Depleted Oil and Gas Reservoirs

The Frederick H. & Lois M. Kate Award: ($5,000)

Recipient:       Lauren Haygood, Oklahoma State University

Thesis:            “Extent of Carbon Burial Driven by Iron Oxide in the Southern Ocean”

The Frederick M. Black Summer Field Camp Grant: ($6,000)

Recipients:     Autumn Troxel ($2,000), Oklahoma State University

                              Hayden Noakes ($2,000), University of Oklahoma

                              Sarah Jackson ($2,000), University of Tulsa

Grant:             Funds awarded to undergraduate geology students to supplement 2022 Summer Field Camp expenses.

The Oklahoma Geological Foundation Graduate Fellowship Award: ($10,000)

Recipient:       Lily Clough ($5,000), University of Tulsa

Thesis:            “Machine Learning of Mass Spectrometry for the Development of

                        Software that can Autonomously Determine the Chemistry of an Ocean

                        World”

Recipient:       Marta Anson ($2,000), University of Oklahoma

Thesis:            “Diagenetic Controls and Rock Magnetic Cyclostratigraphy in the

                        Woodford Shale, Ardmore Basin, Southern Oklahoma”

Recipient:       Noshin Sharmili ($1,000), University of Oklahoma

Thesis:            “Application of Remote Sensing and Geochemical Analysis Technologies

                        to Delineate the Tectonics and Fluvial Geomorphology of the East African

                        Rift System along with Assessment of its Environmental Impact on the

                        Lake Tanganyika”

Recipient:       Karelia La Marca ($1,000), University of Oklahoma

Thesis:            “Optimization of Machine Learning Application in Seismic Facies

Interpretation and Reservoir Characterization, from Oil and Gas Geothermal”

Recipient:       Emuobosa Patience Ojoboh ($1,000), University of Oklahoma

            Thesis:            “Structural Character of Oklahoma’s Basement from Borehole Core

                                    Analysis”

The Suzanne Takken Memorial Award: ($5,000)

Recipient:       Brittany Stroud, University of Oklahoma

Thesis:            “Integrated Subsurface Characterization of the Caney Shale,

                        Ardmore Basin, Oklahoma”

The Oklahoma Geological Foundation Summer Field Camp Grant: ($25,000)

Recipients:     20 Students from Oklahoma State University (9), the University of Oklahoma (10), and the University of Tulsa (1) who attended summer field camps.        

Grant:             Funds from these grants are awarded to undergraduate geology students to supplement 2022 Summer Field Camp expenses. Since 2012, the Foundation has provided financial assistance to over 200 students who have attended Field Camps.

Beth Cronin Elementary School Endowment: ($4,600)

            Recipient:       St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic School

            Grant:             Funds used to purchase a Promethean Interactive Panel.

Robert W. & Jo Ann Waring Memorial Fellowship: ($978)

            Recipient:       Oklahoma Geological Survey

Grant:             Funds used to support the purchase of rocks, minerals, and fossils for the GeoKIDS kits, distributed freely to students throughout Oklahoma, in concert with educational programs given by the Oklahoma Geological Survey’s Education & Outreach team.

William A Clements Earth Science for Guthrie Schools: ($4,674)

Recipient:       Cache High School

Grant:             Funds used to purchase soil macronutrient test kits and test kit refills to allow for testing of soil quality. The purpose of this hands-on project is to investigate the local soil origins and quality by Cache’s high school chemistry classes

The Philip Boyle Foundation & the Oklahoma Geological Foundation Elementary and Secondary School Program: ($800)

            Recipient:       OSU AAPG Student Chapter (Dylan Morton, Chapter President)

Project:           The $800 sponsorship provided will be used to award 3 undergraduate students that place 1st through 3rd in the poster presentations at our annual student research symposium known as “TechFest”.

Shirley A. Davis Earth Science Education Grant: ($1,800)

Recipient:       Taft Middle School, & 30 middle school students

Grant:             This was the first time Taft Middle School has ever sent students to the International Academic Competitions Regional Science Bee, and these funds from the grant supported the competition registration, transportation, and a meal for 30 students.

Shirley A. Davis Earth Science Education Grant: ($2,535)

Recipient:       Taft Middle School, and two 7^th grade students at Taft Middle School: Liam Miller and Bryan Trinidad)

Grant:             These two students qualified for a National Science Bee competition held in Orlando, Florida in June 2022. The grant was used to support their attendance at the Bee. This was the first time Taft Middle School has ever sent students out of state for IAC’s National Science Bee Competition.

The Larry Lunardi & Oklahoma Geological Foundation’s Rock, Mineral, & Fossil Collection: ($13,500)

Recipient:       Oklahoma schools, K – 12^th grades        

Grant:             Grant funds will be used to purchase museum quality Rocks, Minerals & Fossils to be put in individual Collections for distribution. These Collections are distributed to schools and teachers in throughout Oklahoma to promote geology and Earth Science education.  Since 2015, the Foundation has distributed over 235 Rock Mineral and Fossil Collections to schools in Oklahoma.

The Lance Ruffel and Oklahoma Geological Foundation Innovations in Earth Science Education Program: ($5,000)

Recipient:       Girl Scouts of Western Oklahoma

Grant:             Funds from this grant was used to honor the Girl Scout’s “Wall of Women in STEM Recognition”. Molly Yunker, a Foundation Director, and chairman of the Grants & Scholarship and the Girl Scouts Committees was one of the honorees.

The John Gatchell Earth Science Teaching Program: ($2,000)

Recipient:       Oklahoma schools, K – 12^th grades        

Grant:             Grant funds will be used to purchase museum quality Rocks, Minerals & Fossils to be put in individual Collections for distribution. These Collections are distributed to schools and teachers in throughout Oklahoma to promote geology and Earth Science education.  Since 2015, the Foundation has distributed over 235 Rock Mineral and Fossil Collections to schools in Oklahoma.

The Philip Boyle Foundation & the Oklahoma Geological Foundation Elementary and Secondary School Program: ($655)

Recipient:       Girl Scouts and Oklahoma Geological Survey

Grant:             Funds used to purchase various rocks, minerals, and fossils to supplement collections and programs for Girl Scouts and the Oklahoma Geological Survey

The Charles E. Branham Library Program: ($1,000)

Recipient:       Oklahoma schools, K – 12^th grades        

Grant:             Grant funds will be used to purchase museum quality Rocks, Minerals & Fossils to be put in individual Collections for distribution. These Collections are distributed to schools and teachers in throughout Oklahoma to promote geology and Earth Science education.  Since 2015, the Foundation has distributed over 235 Rock Mineral and Fossil Collections to schools in Oklahoma.

Oklahoma Geological Foundation Grant: ($889)

Recipient:       More! Rocks in You Head

Grant:             The funds were used to support costs for More! Rocks in Your Head workshop that was taught at Rose State College “Rock the Earth” Summer Academy

Kenneth Stewart Cronin Lecture Series Program: ($2,000)

Recipient:       Rose State College

Grant:             Funds from this grant will provide 4 students with stipends for a portion of the time they spend conducting field data collection and laboratory analysis training.. Students will conduct field work and laboratory analysis during the fall semester and produce a poster of their work. Students will be required to present their poster during the fall semester at a professional event.

Oklahoma Geological Foundation Grant: ($1,858)

Recipient:       Cristo Rey OKC Catholic High School

Grant:             Cristo Rey OKC Catholic High School is a private 4-year College Prep High School with approximated 240 Students. The funds from the grant will specifically be used in senior level Geology class as lab and instructional materials, which will also include Freshman Physical Sciences classes, Sophomore level Chemistry classes, and Senior level Topics in sciences classes. Students in grades 9 thru 12 will be participating in the lab activities.

The Oklahoma Geological Foundation Excellence in Earth Science Education Awards Program: ($2,000)

Recipient:       Oklahoma schools, K – 12^th grades        

Grant:             Grant funds will be used to purchase museum quality Rocks, Minerals & Fossils to be put in individual Collections for distribution. These Collections are distributed to schools and teachers in throughout Oklahoma to promote geology and Earth Science education.  Since 2015, the Foundation has distributed over 235 Rock Mineral and Fossil Collections to schools in Oklahoma.

Oklahoma Geological Foundation Grant: ($2,000)

Recipient:       University of Oklahoma School of Geosciences

Grant:             In the spring of 2023, the University of Oklahoma School of Geosciences will hold a Geosciences Day. Students participating will include high school students (10 through 12), & 2-year college students. The students will be introduced to a number of disciplines in the field of Geosciences and Earth Science Education. Funds from the grant would be utilized primarily in two capacities. The largest expense will be providing lunch to the attendees and guests, as well as the faculty and current students joining them.
The second primary expense will be swag bags for each attendee. These could include tickets to the Sam Noble Museum of Natural History, rose rocks, compasses, stickers, and a t-shirt commemorating the event. 50 to 75 students are expected to attend.