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 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.  Title Sponsor: $5,000, 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.

Previous Awardees 2021

Herbert G. & Shirley A. Davis Oklahoma State University Geology Scholarship: ($4,000)

Recipient: Ian Cox ($2,000), Oklahoma State University

Thesis: “Characterization of the Caney Shale and Associated Chesterian Strata in the Ardmore Basin”

Advisor: Dr. Jack Pashin

Recipient: Chase Watkins ($2,000), Oklahoma State University

Thesis: “Identifying and Mapping Pre-Frisco Hunton Group Clinoforms on a Carbonate Ramp, Central Oklahoma”

Advisor: Dr. James Puckette

The Frederick H. & Lois M. Kate Award: ($4,000)

Recipient: Kelley Davison, University of Tulsa

Thesis: “Characterization of HTI Anisotropy in the Anadarko Basin, Oklahoma”

Advisor: Dr. Steve Roche

Grant: Funds awarded to the undergraduate geology students to supplement 2020 Summer Field Camp expenses.

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

Recipients: Girl Scouts of Western Oklahoma

Grant: In 2019, the Foundation purchased museum quality rocks and minerals for display and teaching purposes for the Girl Scouts at their new STEM facility, Camp Trivera. This second Grant to the Girl Scouts funds the purchase of additional rocks, minerals, and fossils for the construction of a rock-climbing wall, as well as for teaching purposes.

The Oklahoma Geological Foundation Elementary School Grant: ($1,250)

Recipient: Edmond First United Methodist Mother’s Day Out & Pre-school

Grant: First United will utilize the funds to add a new Earth Science based theme to their Mother’s Day Out/Preschool program. Funds for the grant will be used to purchase Earth Science materials & books. The program is a blend of academic & developmental learning styles, that prepare children for future school years.

Beth Cronin Elementary School Program: ($4,000)

Recipient: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic School, Edmond

Grant: Grant awarded for the purchase of replacement materials for hands on Science kits in the middle school for the Study of Earth Science, Life Science, & Physical Science. The science kits are called FOSS kits.

Advisor: Ms. Karen Corrigan, Assistant Principal

The Suzanne Takken Memorial Award: ($4,000)

Recipient: Julie Cains, Oklahoma State University

Thesis: “Acoustic Velocity and Porosity: Applications to the Caney Shale, Southern Oklahoma”

Advisor: Dr. G. Michael Grammar

The Oklahoma Geological Foundation Summer Field Camp Grant: ($4,500)

Recipients: Students from Oklahoma State University, University of Oklahoma, and the University of Tulsa who will be attending summer field camps.               

Grant: Funds from these grants are awarded to undergraduate geology students to supplement 2020 Summer Field Camp expenses. Since 2012, the Foundation has provided financial assistance to over 200 students who have attended Field Camps.

The Oklahoma Geological Foundation Middle School Grant: ($1,250)

Recipients: 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. These Collections are distributed to schools and teachers in throughout the state of Oklahoma to promote geology and Earth Science education. Since 2015, the Foundation has distributed over 150 Rock Mineral and Fossil Collections to Schools and teachers in the state of Oklahoma.     

The Oklahoma Geological Foundation High School Grant: ($1,250)

Recipients: Girl Scouts of Western Oklahoma

Grant: In 2019, the Foundation purchased museum quality rocks and minerals for display and teaching purposes for the Girl Scouts at their new STEM facility, Camp Trivera. This Grant to the Girl Scouts funds the purchase of additional rocks, minerals, and fossils to be used for display at Camp Trivera.

The Philip Boyle FDN. & Okla. Geol. FDN. Elementary and Secondary School Program: ($2,106)

Recipient: Oklahoma Geological Survey, and the University of Oklahoma, Norman 

Grant: In 2017, the Foundation provided funds to the Oklahoma Geological Survey to start a program called” GeoKids”. “GeoKids” is a program that consists of a traveling Earth Science Library and a Starter Rock & Mineral Kit.  The Survey has distributed over 1100 kits in two years. Additional funds are intended to support the purchase of 33 mineral identifications kits for undergraduate education K-12 outreach. These kits will enhance hands-on education for generations of Oklahoma children, teachers, parents, and budding geoscientists.

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. These Collections are distributed to schools and teachers in throughout the state of Oklahoma to promote geology and Earth Science education. Since 2015, the Foundation has distributed over 150 Rock Mineral and Fossil Collections to schools and teachers in the state of Oklahoma.  

The Oklahoma Geological Foundation Non-Directed Funds: ($3,750)

Recipient: Students from Oklahoma State University, University of Oklahoma, and the University of Tulsa who will be attending summer field camps.

Grant: Funds from these grants are awarded to undergraduate geology students to supplement 2020 Summer Field Camp expenses. Since 2012, the Foundation has provided financial assistance to over 200 students who have attended Field Camps.

The Larry Lunardi & Okla. Geol. FDN Rock Mineral & Fossil Collection Prog.: ($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. These Collections are distributed to schools and teachers in throughout the State of Oklahoma to promote geology and Earth Science education.  Since 2015, the Foundation has distributed over 150 Rock Mineral and Fossil Collections to schools and teachers in the state of Oklahoma.  

The Lance Ruffel & Okla. Geol. FDN Innovations in Earth Science Education Prog: ($3,211)            

Recipient: Tulsa Geoscience Center

Grant: Grant awarded to support various operating costs for the Tulsa Geoscience Center. The Geoscience Center educates students and the public on energy, geology, and other earth science disciplines. Students K – 12^th grades are exposed to rock and mineral identification, fossils, fluorescence, porosity, permeability, the oil and gas industry, earthquakes, geologic time, crude oil, and natural gas. Students from Oklahoma schools take day long field trips to visit the Center.

The Oklahoma Geological Foundation Non-Directed Funds: ($1,000)

Recipient: School of Geoscience, University of Oklahoma

Grant: The funds from this Grant will be used to support and assist undergraduate students at the University of Oklahoma to further their education in the field of Geoscience studies and completing the course work to get a college degree.

The Frederick M. Black Summer Field Camp Grant: ($4,500)

Recipients: Skylar Kaminski ($1,500), Oklahoma State University

Gary Davison ($1,500), University of Oklahoma

Grant Morey ($1,500), University of Tulsa

Grant: Funds awarded to undergraduate geology students to supplement 2020 Summer Field Camp expenses.

The Shirley A. Davis Program for Earth Science Education: ($3,211)

Recipient: Tulsa Geoscience Center  

Grant: Grant awarded to support various operating costs for the Tulsa Geoscience Center. The Geoscience Center educates students and the public on energy, geology, and other earth science disciplines. Students K – 12^th grades are exposed to rock and mineral identification, fossils, fluorescence, porosity, permeability, the oil and gas industry, earthquakes, geologic time, crude oil, and natural gas. Students from Oklahoma schools take day long field trips to visit the Center.           

The Oklahoma Geological Foundation Graduate Fellowship Award: ($4,000)

Recipient: John Renner, University of Oklahoma

Thesis: “Horizontal Well Performance in the Anadarko and Arkoma Basins Using Normalized Formation Facies Analysis Independent of Depth and Location”.

Advisor: Dr. John Pigott

The John Gatchell Earth Science Teaching Program: ($1,000)

Recipient: Oklahoma Science Museum 

Grant: Funds will be used to fund the purchase of a collection of Oklahoma rocks, minerals, & fossils in conjunction with a new interactive map of Oklahoma showing their locations throughout the state.

The Oklahoma Geological Foundation STEM Program: ($308,500)

Recipient: Esteem Education Co.

Grant: Funds awarded to support Esteem in the development of Foundation’s EveryDay Earth Program. The Program was established in mid-2017 by the Oklahoma Geological Foundation to combine Earth Science education material in an entertaining format that students will enjoy. It is presented as a light comedic narrative that filters in multiple lessons as the students explore aspects of the Earth’s hydrosphere, geosphere, biosphere, and atmosphere, using Oklahoma and near-Oklahoma localities as the backdrop. It contains a mixture of videos and interactive sessions allowing students to participate in science investigations onscreen as they follow a simple storyline which keeps them engaged. The Program consists will consist of ten stand-alone Missions, each Mission being an impactful product.

EveryDay’s Earth’s target audience is 4^th – 8^th grade students, and it follows National (NGSS) as well as Oklahoma Academic Standards for Science. As of 12/31/2020, development costs for the Foundation have totaled $568,100 for the EveryDay Earth Program.

The Robert W. & Jo Ann Waring Memorial Scholarship: ($1,200)

Recipients: Boone Pickens School of Geology, Oklahoma State University

Grants: The funds from this Grant will be used to support and assist undergraduate students at Oklahoma State University to further their education in the field of Geoscience studies and completing the course work to get a college degree.

The Oklahoma Geological Foundation Non-Directed Funds: ($3,790)

Recipient: Oklahoma schools, K – 12^th grades   

Grant: The funds will be used to further supplement the grant requests from teachers and schools, in particular the Rock, Mineral, Fossil Collections.  TOTAL $ 365,518