The Department of Geosciences at the U of A is set to award $153,900 in scholarships to students during the 2025-26 academic year. This sum will be awarded to 26 undergraduates and 33 graduate students. Scholarships are provided by 33 endowed scholarships that support geographers, geologists and earth scientists throughout the department. Scholarships are named for beloved faculty and alumni, such as Walt Manger and Dan Gabor. These sums do not account for external scholarships, such as the Geoscience Foundation of Tulsa's scholarship to Jackson Stewart.

Vice Chair John Shaw said that awarding scholarships was one of the best parts of the year: "Having our wonderful alumni support our wonderful students is such a special aspect of this department. We are so privileged to work with and connect these two communities."

Mabrie Baldwin from Stillwater, Oklahoma, entered the Earth science B.S. program as a transfer freshman last year. She said, "With this scholarship, I can continue to pursue my passion for the Earth through classes, study abroad and hopefully a master's degree." She is the recipient of the Beard Geography Award.

Olivia Smith from McKinney, Texas, has been pursuing an M.S. in geology focused on the stratigraphy of the Boston Mountains in Arkansas. She said, "I am deeply grateful for the generosity of our department's supporters, as these funds are what make getting through graduate school possible for students like me. A scholarship like this helps me make ends meet financially, so I can focus on the science I'm passionate about!" She is the recipient of the Kern Jackson Scholarship.