The Log | School News

Special Awards Recognize 2005 Grads

Virlis L. Fischer Award—Goes to the graduating professional degree student with the highest academic achievement. Given by Bernice Fisher in memory of her husband. Recipient: Sarah Chamberlin Hometown: Boston, Mass.; Major: MEM, Conservation Science and Policy; Activities at Duke: vice chair, student chapter, Society of American Foresters; summer internship with The Nature Conservancy, Oak Ridge National Laboratory; Awards/Honors: Christensen Scholarship, Doris Duke Fellow; Post-Graduation Destination: Starting in July, working as a GIS (Geographic Information Systems) analyst for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Fisheries West Idaho Habitat Branch in Boise, Idaho; Master’s Project: Evaluation of the Fragmentation Effects of Pine Conversion on the Deciduous Forest Habitat of the Cumberland Plateau

Sara LaBoskey Award—Given in recognition of personal integrity and academic excellence. Recipient: Caroline Elisabeth Paulsen Hometown: Charlotte, N.C.; Major: A.B. Environmental Sciences and Policy, and Spanish Studies; Activities at Duke: Women’s Club Lacrosse, Project WILD backpacking organization, Kappa Alpha Theta, waitress at Blue Corn Café; Awards/Honors: Magna Cum Laude; Post-Graduation Destination: “I’ll be working with Dr. Marie Lynn Miranda’s group as a research technician with Children’s Environmental Health Institute (CEHI) at the Nicholas School”; Future Goals: “In March or April, after concluding my time with CEHI, I will begin doing research in Nicaragua with Jeffrey McCrary, an adjunct professor with Virginia Tech, studying an invasive fish species in Lake Atoya.”

Estwing Award—Given in recognition of outstanding achievement in the earth and ocean sciences. Recipient: Sarah Elizabeth Ogburn Hometown: Louisville, Ky.; Major: B.S. Earth and Ocean Sciences, and B.A. Biological Anthropology and Anatomy; Activities at Duke: Co-manager of student-run Duke Coffeehouse; spent a summer in South Africa on paleoanthropological dig; Awards/Honors: Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Eta Sigma, Dean’s list each semester; Post-Graduation Destination: “Taking time off from school to work, but looking into the Peace Corps (specifically their master’s International Program). I’m also working for EOS in the rock lab preparing samples.”; Future Goals: “I’m interested in environmental geology, specifically helping communities prepare, predict and cope with natural disasters and other issues relating to the earth and oceans, i.e. clean drinking water, safe air. I’m really just very interested in helping people.”

U.S. Forest Service Science Award—Given annually to students who have demonstrated outstanding achievements in mathematics and science. Recipient:William Leonard Reynolds Hometown: Culpeper, Va.; Major: B.S. Environmental Science and Policy, and B.S. Earth and Ocean Sciences; Awards/Honors: Stanback Internship with N.C. WARN (Waste Awareness and Reduction Network); Activities at Duke: ski team, summer in Beaufort, semester in Australia; Post-Graduation Destination: “I’ll be moving to Seattle, Wash., to work in the environmental field while deciding exactly what I want to pursue.”; Future Goals: “I would like to enter into the technical side of environmental management and planning, possibly environmental or civil engineering with a focus on sustainability.”

Thomas V. Laska Memorial Award—Given by the Earth and Ocean Sciences faculty to the most outstanding senior major. Recipient: David Andrew Lewis Hometown: Gettysburg, Pa.; Major: B.S. Earth and Ocean Sciences, and Public Policy Studies; Activities at Duke: research intern, Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines; volunteer, Durham City Parks; peer tutor; associate editor, Duke Chronicle; IM Softball Champs 2003; student assistant manager, Duke varsity football team; Awards/Honors: Benensen Award in the Arts; Graduation with Distinction; Post-Graduation Destination: “Summer in Northern Ireland, backpacking, hiking and research in collaboration with Dr. Orrin Pilkey. In the fall, I will work for the Southern Environmental Law Center as a GIS associate.”; Future Goals: “I am interested in pursuing a degree and a career in either land-use/transportation policy or energy geology. Through a combination of research and advocacy, I would like to work towards applying alternative energies towards reducing landscape pressures. I’m also interested in coastal geology and development policy.”