From the AAPG/SEG Spring Break Student Expo in Norman, Oklahoma. March 12-14, 2009

The Spring Break Student Expo was in full swing and according to Nikki Chapin with OU 22 companies and over 205 students participating.

Networking, poster sessions, field trips, short courses, a golf tournament and some interviewing were the events of this Expo.

Students from Minnesota to Mexico made the trip to Norman to make industry contacts, and participate in field trips and short courses.

I had a chance to talk with Shannon LeBlanc who is finishing undergraduate work at the University of Louisiana, Lafayette and will be starting graduate work at the University of Houston.

“I think the student Expo is a great opportunity and a good learning experience for any graduate student. Most students including myself noticed things were pretty fierce this year but I think we can take that as some of the best experience. We all have to learn how to be competitive and how to market ourselves (especially right now) and the student Expo definitely gives us the opportunity to do so! Not to mention, it’s also a smart idea to take advantage of the short courses offered at the Expo.”

I was then able to sit in on the Awards Ceremony and catch the results from the poster judges on the poster sessions:

2009 Spring Break Student Expo Poster Contest Winners

GEOLOGY

1st Place $500- Christopher D. Althoff
University of Oklahoma

2nd Place $250- Lois E. Yoksoulian
University of Kentucky

3rd Place $100- Ryan D. Lindsay
Baylor University

GEOPHYSICS

1st Place $500- Victor Pena
University of Oklahoma

2nd Place $250- Jesus Eduardo Mar Hernandez
CICESE (Mexico)

3rd Place $100- Charles B. Inyang University of Houston

For information on additional Expo events please visit: www.studentexpo.info

Until next time.

Mike

AAPG Student Affairs