2021 First Year Geoscience Majors

September 15, 2021

In the summer of 2020, GeoFORCE’s rising 12th graders were challenged to complete group capstone projects under an entirely new virtual academy format. They rose to the occasion and now six of them are enrolled as first year geoscience majors, eager to expand upon the knowledge they gained during their four summers as GeoFORCE students.

The first of these students, Ethan Cavasos, was valedictorian of Sabinal High School and now studies geophysics at Texas A&M University, where he received a scholarship from their Geology & Geophysics department.

Next, Kaylin Hong completed high school at Lebanon Trail High School in Frisco and is one of the five who chose to enter The University of Texas Jackson School of Geosciences this fall. She’s joined by Hondo High School’s Brandon Garcia of Hondo and Uvalde’s Enrique Morales.

“Being a part of the GeoFORCE Program changed my perspective on my future,” Hong wrote. “I never thought I would study geosciences, but I’m glad I am.”

Nikki Dargahi and Cecilia Jeffers both graduated from Westside High School in Houston, Texas and joined Hong, Garcia, and Morales at the Jackson School. Dargahi wrote that being part of the GeoFORCE Program helped her “a great deal” in choosing to both attend college and major in geology.

These six will not be the only alumni of their GeoFORCE class to become geoscientists. William Rosen of Bellaire High School in Houston currently attends Houston Community College, but he plans to transfer to the University of Houston to “finish my degree in geoscience.”

Regina Ramirez-Anzures of Eagle Pass High School chose to major in environmental engineering at UT Austin. She thanked the GeoFORCE Program for connecting her with professionals and experts in the field and influencing her choice of major. Ramirez-Anzures is one of five engineering majors. Six other alumni have entered into computer science and one is now studying mathematics—all fields that can and may lead them back to the geosciences in the future.