Student Awards
Outstanding Graduate Student Award
Given to recognize outstanding achievements by a graduate student in the department.
Outstanding Undergraduate Student Awards
Given to recognize outstanding achievements by an undergraduate student in each of the majors in the department (one geology and one meteorology-climatology).
Myerly-Martin Prize
The Myerly-Martin Prize is an endowed award for outstanding work by a student in the fields of sedimentary geology or paleontology. This award was endowed by Professor Robert Diffendal, Jr. to honor the memory of his grandmothers and three aunts.
Stracher Award
The Bernard & Lillian Stracher Award is given to honor the parents of alumnus Glenn Stracher, who is now an emeritus professor at East Georgia State College. This prize is given to an undergraduate or graduate student who has excelled in mineralogy, petrology, or structural geology.
Nick Wiltgen Meteorology Award
Nick Wiltgen earned a B.S. degree in Meteorology-Climatology from UNL in 1998. After graduating, he went on to work for the Weather Channel. As a senior digital meteorologist, he worked to provide the latest and most accurate updates of weather events around the world. Nick is remembered for his inquisitiveness and how much he loved talking about the weather and explaining it to others. The Nick Wiltgen Meteorology Award was established by family and friends to honor Nick's memory and recognizes a deserving undergraduate or graduate student pursuing a degree in the atmospheric sciences.
Faculty awards
Coffman Excellence Award
This award was established by alumnus J.B. Coffman to recognize excellence in research. Prior to 2019, awardees were chosen by a college committee. Now, each year's honoree is chosen by a committee consisting of the three previous honorees.
Lawson Award
The Lawson Award was established by Professor Emeritus of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Merlin Lawson, to recognize outstanding contributions to the department. Department practice has been to award this to honor achievements in teaching and mentoring.
Funded by Our Alumni
Faculty and student awards are generously funded by our alumni. We are grateful for their support!