Geology student maintains Northwest string of state award winners

Geology student maintains Northwest string of state award winners

Northwest Missouri State University student Willow Fontenot recently received the O.R. Grawe Award from the Association of Missouri Geologists, making her the University's 13th recipient since 1995 and the third in the last four years.

The association annually presents the Grawe Award, named for its first president, Oliver Rudolph "O.R." Grawe, to the top junior or senior geology major in Missouri. Winners are selected based on a nomination letter, a written statement from the nominee describing their decision to study Earth science and post-graduate plans, the nominee's academic transcript and letters of recommendation from faculty members.

Fontenot was nominated by Dr. Onema Adojoh, an assistant professor of geology at Northwest.

"Northwest's consistent success in receiving the O.R. Grawe Award reflects the strength of its geology program and the quality of its students," Adojoh said. "It highlights the program's commitment to academic excellence, undergraduate research, field experience and leadership, supported by close faculty mentorship. This recognition also demonstrates that Northwest students stand out within Missouri's geoscience community and are well prepared for graduate study and professional careers."

Fontenot, a Leavenworth, Kansas, native who began as a math education major at a different university, says receiving the Grawe Award validated that she made the right decision last year to transfer to Northwest and pursue a bachelor's degree in geology.

"Since I transferred here, I kind of blossomed out more," she said. "Now that I'm actually doing something I'm really enjoying, and I'm in a smaller community of people that actually are doing my thing, I feel like I've blossomed, and it's really just an amazing experience."

In his nomination, Adojoh commended Fontenot's curiosity, leadership and commitment to ongoing study and service in the geosciences. While maintaining a 4.00 GPA, Fontenot served as a teaching assistant for General Earth Science laboratory courses last year and continues to gain valuable teaching experience this fall as a teaching assistant for a mineralogy laboratory course.

She also is participating in undergraduate research with Adojoh and Nathan Limbaugh, a Northwest geology instructor, on a study of mantle-derived geological materials to further understanding of magma formation, mantle processes and the petrogenetic development of the San Carlos Volcanic Field.

Additionally, Fontenot serves as president of Northwest's chapter of Sigma Gamma Epsilon, the national earth sciences honor society.

"Willow's greatest strength is her willingness to keep growing," Adojoh said. "She is open to direction, asks good questions and is persistent in the face of difficult material. Moving universities can be challenging both academically and personally, but Willow made the transition seamlessly and quickly became an integral part of our geology program. She has blended great classroom performance with undergraduate research, teaching, leadership and community involvement. Her uncommon combination of skills and attributes makes her a well-rounded and potential emerging geoscientist."

Recipients of the Grawe Award receive an engraved Brunton pocket transit and case, a plaque and certificate of recognition as well as a cash stipend of $300.

Fontenot received the recognition while attending the annual meeting of the Association of Missouri Geologists Oct. 2-3 in Perryville, Missouri, where geologists and students visited geologic sites in the region and participated in collaborative learning sessions.

The Association of Missouri Geologists is a professional organization tasked with promoting geology and geoscience education in Missouri. The association includes professional and academic geologists as well as student members at colleges and universities throughout the state. The association also admits members from other states who primarily conduct their geology work or studies in Missouri.