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Student Awards

Justine McCann

Doctor of Restoration of Ecosystems and Watersheds

Justine McCann is a second-year PhD student with the Center for Restoration of Ecosystems and Watersheds at the University of Oklahoma. She has a bachelor’s degree in geoscience from Penn State University and a master’s in environmental science from the University of Oklahoma. Her master’s research focused on the leachability of trace metals from hard rock mine drainage passive treatment residual solids, and her current research focuses on quantifying the impacts of legacy mining waste across the Tar Creek watershed in northeastern Oklahoma and developing nature-based interventions to minimize contaminant transport within the stream. She hopes to focus her career on helping communities solve environmental problems by working with nature. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, hiking, and SCUBA diving.  

Micayla Pearson

Master of Restoration Ecology

Micayla Pearson is a second-year master’s student at Texas A&M University – Kingsville, where she is studying Restoration Ecology.  Micayla’s masters research evaluates the feasibility of restoring utility scale solar developments to native grassland while they are active sites.  Outside of her studies, Micayla has a passion for the natural resources that is very present with her work and all she does.  She believes that education about our natural resources to youth and adults alike is the key to helping future generations appreciate the natural things around them.  Upon receiving her master’s degree, Micayla plans on following her passion for the natural resources and education. 

Kendall Hays

Natural Resource Ecology and Management

Kendall Hays is a third year at Oklahoma State University in Natural Resource Ecology and Management and in Plant and Soil Sciences expecting to graduate in May 2025. She is an active member of Sigma Alpha and OSU’s Society for Range Management Student Chapter. She plans to continue her studies in a Master’s and Ph.D. program to study rangeland soil health and reclamation. She hopes to one day be able to bridge some of the gaps between researchers and producers to create a more sustainable future for everyone. She enjoys a good mystery novel, camping with her fiancé, and being the mom to 7 crazy goat kids.  

Memorial Scholarship Awards

The memorial scholarships are awarded in commemoration of deceased ASRS members. They are granted to deserving students from universities, colleges, or community colleges that offer curricula in a scientific discipline directly related to, and leading toward, a profession in reclamation-related work.

2024 Memorial Scholarship Application Form

2022

PhD
  • Charles Spellman
MS
  • Loren Gormley
BS
  • Matthew Berzonsky

2021

PhD
  • Brandon Holzbauer-Sweitzer
MS
  • Brianna Slothower
BS
  • Hannah Curtis

2020

PhD
  • Michelle Valkanas
  • Michael Finn Curran
MS
  • M’Kenzie (Dayton) Dorman
BS
  • Kristen Soucheck

2019

PhD
  • Michael Nattrass
MS
  • Megan Ostrand
BS
  • Ashley Rovder

2018

PhD
  • Kenton Sena
MS
  • Amanda Pinnino
BS
  • Justin Hugo

2017

PhD
  • Fulton, Stephanie
MS
  • Angel, Hannah
BS
  • Long, Stephan

2016

PhD
  • Al-Lami, Mariam
MS
  • Jacobs, Amy
BS
  • Patton, Hannah

2015

PhD
  • RoyChowdhury, Abhishek
MS
  • Page, Bryan
BS
  • McManamen, Christine

2014

PhD
  • Uster, Benjamin
MS
  • Curran, Michael
BS
  • Folke, Niklas

2013

PhD
  • Rothlisberger-Lewis, Katie
MS
  • Sena, Kenton
BS
  • Peer, Rebecca

2012

PhD
  • LaBar, Julie
MS
  • Craig, Nina
BS
  • Angel, Hannah

2011

PhD
  • Oxenford, Leah
MS
  • Driessen, Cally
BS
  • Howren, Marjorie

2010

PhD
  • Salava, Caley Gasch
MS
  • Grembi, Jessica
BS
  • Horton, Leena

2009

PhD
  • Strosnider, William
MS
  • Tang, Shuli
BS
  • Clayton, Hannah

2008

PhD
  • Haque, Nazmul
MS
  • Eldridge, Joshua
BS
  • Fields-Johnson, Christopher

2007

PhD
  • Alford, Elan
  • Wick, Abbey
MS
  • Regula, Vicki
  • Werkmeister, Carrie

2006

MS
  • Miller, Andrew

Student Travel Grants

Travel grants are available for ASRS student members presenting a technical paper or poster at the Society’s Annual Conference held each year.

2023

  • Ellen Pokuah (Ohio University)
  • Cheyenne Morgan (University of Oklahoma)
  • Justine McCann (University of Oklahoma)
  • Micayla Pearson (Texas A&M University, Kingsville)
  • Samantha Taylor (University of Oklahoma)

2022

  • Group
  • Matthew Berzonsky
  • Griffin Burt
  • Spellman Charles
  • Michael Curran
  • Christine Daly
  • Alexandra Davies Post
  • Dayton Dorman
  • Apsana Kafle
  • Justine McCann
  • Levi McKercher
  • Ali Meek
  • Chantel Mertz
  • Kehinde Ositimehin
  • Benjamin Quardey
  • Nick Shepherd

2019

  • Hannah Angel
  • Juan Arango Calderon
  • Jennifer Buss
  • Dayton Dorman
  • John Gaughan
  • Justin Hugo
  • James Ingendorf
  • Kari Lagan
  • Nicholas McKnight
  • Michael Nattrass
  • Megan Ostrand
  • Hannah Patton
  • Ashley Rovder
  • Staci Shoemaker
  • Debbie Slovikosky
  • Charles Spellman
  • Zepei Tang

2018

  • Group 1
  • Group 2
  • Group 3
  • Michael Nattrass
  • Rebecca Steinberg
  • Kenton Sena
  • Dan Brumm
  • David Leifer
  • Jennifer Kane
  • Brianna Mayfield
  • Taylor Wall
  • Michelle Valkanas
  • Cody Zink
  • Madison Peppers
  • Lindsey Ayn Schafer
  • Andrew Potopa
  • Amy Sikora

2017

  • Group
  • Fulton, Stephanie
  • Angel, Hannah
  • Long, Stefan
  • Fleisher, Kurt
  • Pennino, Amanda
  • Tomkowski, Kevin
  • Vinglish, Joshua
  • Madl, David
  • Shepherd, Nick
  • Rovder, Ashley
  • Tang, Zepei
  • Giri, Poonam
  • Justin, Hugo
  • Mignogna, Lydia
  • Wolfe, Staci
  • Spellman, Charles
  • Holzbauer-Schweitzer, Brandon

2016

  • Monteleone, Alexis C.
  • Bills Walsh, Kathryn
  • Rensel, Sawyer
  • Caterino, Bart

2015

  • Dieterman, Kristen
  • Johnson, Daniel
  • Page, Bryan
  • RoyChowdhury, Abhishek
  • Shephard, Nick

2014

  • Cude, Seth
  • Curran, Michael
  • Folke, Niklas
  • Peer, Rebecca
  • Uster, Benjamin
  • Zoubareva, Taya

2013

  • Angel, Hannah
  • Barr, Stephanie
  • Borries, Blair
  • Buyantogtokh, Uuganbayer
  • Odenheimer, Jessica
  • Oxenford, Leah
  • Sena, Kenton
  • Stephens, Garrett
  • Webb, Ryan

2012

  • Angel, Hannah
  • Emenhiser, Stephen
  • Martin, Luke
  • Martin, Robert
  • Neptune, Ashley
  • Palmer, Kelsea
  • Smith, Haley
  • Yepez, Sarah

2011

  • Cox, Lisa
  • Craig, Nina
  • Howren, Marjorie
  • Hughes, Theresa
  • Lilly, Kyle
  • Young, Iam

2010

  • Caporuscio, Abby
  • DeLong, Curtis
  • Grembi, Jessica
  • Hardisty, Dalton
  • Keene, Travis
  • Nash, Whitney
  • Neely, Cody
  • Oxenford, Leah
  • Strosnider, William
Student Travel Grant Application Form Student Travel Grant Guidelines

Student Presentation Awards

Each year at the annual meeting, the Society sponsors a Student Oral and Poster Competition. All active Grad & Undergrad student members are eligible. There are three cash prizes for each of these two contests. In the case of a tie, more than one student may be awarded prizes.

Student Oral Presentation Evaluation Criteria
Student Poster Presentation Evaluation Criteria

2023

Undergraduate
  • 1st Samantha Taylor (University of Oklahoma)
Graduate Poster
  • 1st Cheyenne Morgan (University of Oklahoma)
  • 2nd Ellen Pokuah (Ohio University)
  • 2nd Chelsea Harris (Western Washington University)

2022

Oral
  • 1st Nick Shepherd
  • 2nd Dayton Dorman
  • 3rd Annalie Peterson
  • HM Alexandra Post
Graduate Poster
  • 1st Griffin Burt
  • 2nd Matthew Berzonsky
  • 3rd Peter Assaf
  • HM Ashlyn Campagna
Undergraduate Poster
  • 1st Levi McKercher
  • 2nd Kehinde Oshitimehin
  • 3rd Keane Trudel

2019

Oral
  • 1st Michelle Valkanas
  • 2nd Michael Curran
  • 3rd Cassie Phillips
  • HM Ashley Rovder
  • HM Brandon Holzbauer-Schwertizer
  • HM Zepei Tang
Poster
  • 1st Megan Ostrand
  • 2nd Charles Spellman
  • 3rd Kaitlyn Trepanier

2018

Oral
  • 1st Amanda Pinnino
  • 2nd Stephanie Jean
  • 3rd Michael Nattrass
  • HM Cassie Phillips
  • HM Nick Shepherd
  • 1st Place Oral Presentation
  • Undergrad Gray Koeneman
Poster
  • 1st Michelle Valkanas
  • 2nd Brandon Holtzbaur-Schweitzer
  • 3rd Brianna Mayfield
  • HM Jennifer Kane

2017

  • Group
Oral
  • 1st Fielding, Ellen
  • 2nd King, Carolyn
  • 3rd Monteleone, Alexis
  • HM Vass, Christopher
  • HM Dement, Wesley
  • HM Buss, Jennifer
Poster
  • 1st Sikora, Amy
  • 2nd Pennino, Amanda
  • 3rd Michelle Valkanas
  • HM Spellman, Charles

2016

  • Group St. Francis Univ
Oral
  • 1st Al-Lami, Miriam
  • 2nd Robinson, Scott
  • 3rd Caterino, Bart
  • HM Aukopashvili, Marika
Poster
  • 1st Jacobs, Amy
  • 2nd Shepherd, Nicholas
  • 3rd Bauman, Jenise
  • 3rd Shanchez, Deicy

2015

Oral
  • 1st Timpano, Anthony
  • 2nd Scagline, Steffany
  • 3rd Smith, Sarah
  • HM Clark, Elyse
  • HM Hanson, Elizabeth
  • HM Zhang, Xiaoran
Poster
  • 1st Balthrup, David
  • 2nd Dieterman, Kristen
  • 3rd K, Daniel. Johnson

2014

Oral
  • 1st Brumley, Jessica
  • 2nd Sena, Kenton
  • 3rd Peer, Rebecca
Poster
  • 1st (UG) Anderson, Ruth
  • 2nd (UG) Zoubareva, Taya
  • 1st (GS) Paudel, Rachana
  • 2nd (GS) Cude,Seth

2013

Oral
  • 1st Oxenford, Leah
  • 2nd Odenheimer, Jessica
  • 3rd Borries, Blair
  • 3rd Fitzpatrick, Beth
  • 3rd Johnson, Daniel
  • Special (UG) da Rosa, Mariana
Poster
  • 1st Barr, Stephanie
  • 2nd Sena, Kenton
  • 3rd Angel, Hannah

2012

Oral
  • 1st Smith, Haley
  • 2nd Oxenford, Leah
  • 3rd Craig, Nina
Poster
  • 1st Angel, Hannah
  • 2nd Bradford, Timothy
  • 3rd Letalik, Melanie
  • 3rd McMillen, Kelly
  • 4th Neptune, Ashley
  • 4th Palmer, Kelsea

2011

Oral
  • 1st Hughes, Theresa
  • 2nd Pfeifle, Bryce
Poster
  • 1st Craig, Nina
  • 2nd Howren, Marjory
  • 2nd Ng, Justin
  • 3rd Lemke, Dawn

2010

Oral
  • 1st Neely, Cody
  • 2nd Hardisty, Dalton
  • 2nd Strosnider, William
  • 3rd Keene, Travis
  • 3rd Oxenford, Leah
Poster
  • 1st Nash, Whitney
  • 2nd Caporuscio, Abby
  • 3rd DeLong, Curtis
  • 3rd Grembi, Jessica

2009

Oral
  • 1st Garrido, Alan
  • 2nd Taylor, Carrie
  • 3rd Robinson-Lora, Mary Ann
  • 4th Clayton, Hannah
Poster
  • 1st Hartman, Janessa
  • 2nd Bird, Nicole
  • 2nd Gallangher, Lisa
  • 3rd Stucker, Valeria

2008

Oral
  • 1st Dere, Ashlee
  • 2nd Pereyra, Luciana
  • 2nd Venot, Christophe and Ruiz, Ana
  • 3rd Fields, Chris-Johnston
  • 3rd Mack, Ben
  • 3rd Meredith, Kelly
  • 3rd Strosnider, Bill
Poster
  • 1st Newcombe, Caroline

2007

Oral
  • 1st Masur, Deanne
  • 2nd Miller, Andrew
  • 3rd Wick, Abbey
Poster
  • 1st Haque, Nazmul
  • 2nd Strosnider, William
  • 2nd Wick, Abbey
  • 3rd Anderson, Jon
  • 3rd French, Michael
  • 3rd Johnston, Chris