Western State College of Colorado

Geology Student Research

Bartleson-Prather Research Scholarships

In 1998 we first received a $10,000 donation Paul Rady ('78) and Peter Dea ('76) ) to start a student summer research scholarship program. The Bartleson Prather Fund for Excellence in Geology provides a scholarship and research stipend for students, who are between their junior and senior year. The stipend enables students to conduct geologic research in the summer without taking a financial beating. The vast majority of our students work full-time in the summer and part-time all year to be able to go to college, so this scholarship allows them to make some money in the summer but also learn and grow, and thus get a head start on their career. This fund has continued to grow since then with over $75,000 donated by 35 different WSC geology alumni. If you or your company might be interested in contributing to the fund let us know.

The scholarships are competitive and in order to receive one the student must submit a research proposal to the faculty in December. When approved, the students have the spring semester to prepare for the summer field season and the following fall to compile needed maps and reports. As these are completed we will publish them at our web site.

2006-2007 Research Scholars

• Christopher Dorion (sponsored by Jim Coogan), Gravity field modeling of possible subsurface faults near Jack's Cabin, Gunnison Coounty, Colorado.

2005-2006 Research Scholars

• Alex Csar (sponsored by Allen Stork), Interfingering ash flow tuffs comprising Tenderfoot Hill, Gunnison County, Colorado.

• Casey Dick (sponsored by Rob Fillmore), Stratigraphic study of the Junction Creek and Entrada Sandstones, Gunnison Couunty, Colorado.

2002-2003 Research Scholars

• Keri Nelson (sponsored by Rob Fillmore), The Elk Range Thrust system between Boston Peak and Cement Mountain, Gunnison County, Colorado.

• Monica Stoiber (sponsored by Rob Fillmore), The composition of modern Gunnison River Basin gravels, Gunnison County, Colorado.

• Andrew Wood (sponsored by Allen Stork), Petrologic study of Miocene lava flows on Flat Top Mountain, Gunnison County Colorado.

2001-2002 Research Scholars

• Jeff Jackson (sponsored by Allen Stork), Ash Stratigraphy in the Cochetopa Caldera Moat, Cochetopa Park, Saguache County, Colorado.

2000-2001 Research Scholar

• Drew Lockman (sponsored by Robert Fillmore), The Elk Mountain Thrust on Double Top and Cement Mountains, Gunnison County, Colorado

1999-2000 Research Scholars

• Ryan Murphy (sponsored by Allen Stork), Mid Tertiary Intrusives of the West Elk Mountains, Gunnison County, Colorado.

• Rebecca Thompson (sponsored by Robert Fillmore), Eocene (?) Telluride Conglomerate of the San Juan Mountains, Southwest Colorado.

1998-1999 Research Scholars

• Rebecca Bailey (sponsored by Robert Fillmore), Depositional Environment of and Provenance of the Eocene (?) Telluride Conglomerate.

• Brian Coven (sponsored by Kurt Panter and Allen Stork), Absolute Age and Petrographic Analysis of the Inception of the West Elk Volcanic Field, Gunnison County, Colorado.

• Ralph Falsetto, (sponsored by Bruce Bartleson and Robert Fillmore) The Sedimentology of the Ordovician Harding formation, in the Northern Sangre de Cristo Range.

Thornton Research Projects

Geology students can also participate in the Thornton Biology Research Grants program through collaborative projects. This program funds biologically oriented research at Western and is made possible by a generous bequest from Mrs. Jessie Thornton and her husband, former Colorado Governor Dan Thornton. Student Research Scholarships of up to $2000 per year are awarded to students participating in research with Western faculty.

• Digital land cover map of the Gunnison Basin (MSS Data), Colorado. Ralph Falsetto, Patrick Kline, John Sowell, and Allen Stork. This project produced a preliminary landcover map from MSS data.

• Digital land cover map of the Gunnison Basin (TM Data), Colorado. Ralph Falsetto, Joanna Soceka, John Sowell, and Allen Stork. This project was a refinement of our preliminary landcover map using TM data. This is part Western State College's ongoing research on the environment of the Gunnison Basin.