Students, Jobs Have Spring Break Flirt

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Ninety-one geoscience students from 29 universities took advantage of AAPG's first Spring Student Expo to meet with industry representatives, showcase their work and to explore the possibilities of intern and full-time employment.

The Expo was held over spring break weekend at the University of Oklahoma, hosted by the OU School of Geology and Geophysics, the Sarkeys Energy Center and the Oklahoma Geological Survey.

Thirty-two student posters were presented, with those judged as the top three winning cash prizes.

"The quality of the posters spoke volumes about the high caliber of the students who made the trek from as far away as North Carolina and Oregon," said AAPG Secretary Charles "Chuck" Noll.

Poster awards went to John Layman and Wayne Ahr, of Texas A&M, first place; Carrie Maher, of the University of Alabama, second place; and Galen Miller and Kevin Smart, of OU, for third place.

Steve Tavernier, of the University of Tennessee, told AAPG Student Affairs coordinator Kerri Donathan how the Expo "was a great opportunity for good students from less-recruited universities to get exposed to industry representatives."

Donna Willette, of Colorado School of Mines said "the chance to meet and discuss research projects with students from around the region was an outstanding opportunity."

Meeting with the students were representatives from nine companies with 22 industry guests.

Expo organizer Roger Slatt, who's also head of the OU School of Geology and Geophysics, said he was "thrilled" with the student attendance. He did comment, however, that "although the student attendance was great, company attendance could have been much better. Sixty invitations were sent and nine companies participated.

"Thus, because of the ratio of students to companies, many students who traveled long distances were only able to interview a few companies," he continued. "Companies who are continually stating that they are concerned about insufficient numbers of potential new hires into the industry, or those who want to make a amore lasting presence on campus, missed a great opportunity."

The Spring Expo was a follow-up to the fall Expo held at Rice University which drew 140 students.