Fall 2025: First-Year Geo Majors

November 11, 2025

This fall, we saw a record number of students pursuing degrees in geosciences! Recent data shows that 44 freshmen GeoFORCE alumni are currently enrolled in STEM fields in universities across the country. Of those 44, more than half of the students have chosen to study geosciences, with 18 enrolled at the Jackson School of Geosciences at The University of Texas at Austin.

These numbers represent more than just statistics; they’re a direct reflection of the success of our students and the GeoFORCE Program. We strive to inspire the next generation of students through field experiences, hands-on activities, and mentorship.

We asked one of our first-year students at The Jackson School, Diya Gaur, what her experience at The University of Texas has been like so far.

“My first few months at UT have been amazing! UT is definitely a work-hard, play-hard school, and I’ve found that balancing academics, extracurriculars, and social life is key to thriving as a Longhorn student. Within the Jackson School, I’ve had many hands-on opportunities to work alongside peers and professors – personally, GEO401 has been a highlight, especially with our rock ID or local data collection labs.”

Not only has Diya been busy with academics, but she has also gotten involved with many extracurriculars.

“I’ve also been working on a project in collaboration with Noble Corporation and the American Association of Drilling Engineers (AADE) chapter at UT Austin, which has allowed me to network and learn about different sectors of the industry. Outside the classroom, I recently joined Longhorn Racing as part of the corporate relations team for our combustion division, where we work with energy partners like Chevron. Overall, I’ve found that the diversity of opportunities, people, and programs at UT makes it feel like there’s always something new to explore.”

We are especially thrilled that so many have chosen to study at The Jackson School! Another first year geoscience major, Abram Ortiz, shared positive remarks about the support he has received at the Jackson School.

“The amount of knowledge, expertise, and support available within the JSG that I have experienced through my field-based geology class has left me feeling more confident than ever that with the right attitude I can build my own path towards success.”

We’re incredibly proud to see so many of our alumni continuing their journeys in whatever endeavor they’ve chosen to pursue! For all alumni, please be sure to attend our GeoFORCE events, which are hosted each month at the Jackson School of Geosciences, and once per semester in College Station, San Antonio, and Houston.

Congratulations to all our students who are turning their passion into purpose. The future of geoscience is bright, and we can’t wait to see where your paths lead next!

Listed below are the names of the first-year geoscience majors attending the Jackson School of Geosciences:

Yazen Al-Mashhadani

Evan Bausman

Marc Coleman

Diya Gaur

Dillon Gensler

Julia Herback

Kierra Lodes

Sofia Magarinos-Vargas

Tejaswini Nadimpalli

Jacqueline Olivier

Kiri Orr

Hayden Pruitt

Nadiyah Russell

Aidan Takeda

Megan Whaley

Skylar Rodriguez

Rayan Tariq

Abram Ortiz

First-year geoscience majors attending other institutions:

Bianca Alvarez – South Dakota School of Mines

Erin Alaniz – Sam Houston State University

Noah Aviles – The University of Texas – San Antonio

Kade Hendry – Texas A&M

J’Naya James – Austin Community College

Vanessa Mejia – The University of Texas – San Antonio

Sanjuanita Pineda – University of Oklahoma

Austin Sayles – Fort Valley State University

Since 2005, a total of 1,937 students have completed the GeoFORCE program. Students who have graduated college have earned a total of 223* associate’s degrees and 837* bachelor’s degrees. About 11% of the bachelor’s degrees are in geosciences. That is about 30 times higher than the 0.4% of bachelor’s degrees earned in geosciences by U.S. citizens and permanent residents in 2016, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

*These numbers are based on self-reported data from alumni and may not be 100% accurate.