Students to Instructors: The Lasting Impact of GeoFORCE

September 21, 2026

Some experiences do more than create memories. They shape the choices we make, the careers we pursue, and the people we become. For Cheyenne Kleiner and Jessica Valdés, GeoFORCE was one of those experiences. What began as a high school opportunity grew into a journey that influenced their education and careers and ultimately brought them back as instructors, guiding students through the same experience that once had such an impact on them.

Like many GeoFORCE participants, neither Cheyenne nor Jessica fully knew where the program would lead. What they found was an opportunity to explore new places, meet new people, and experience science in a way that extended far beyond the classroom.

For Cheyenne, the impact of GeoFORCE was immediate. What started as an experience outside of school quickly became one of the highlights of her high school years.

“GeoFORCE really became probably my favorite high school experience out of everything that I did,” Cheyenne said. “And it was not even a part of my high school per se.”

The program’s combination of field experiences, travel, and hands-on learning helped strengthen an interest she already had in geology and gave her a clearer picture of what a future in the field could look like.

“I already had an interest in geology beforehand, but GeoFORCE really solidified that interest,” she said. “I pretty much decided after my first year that I wanted to major in geology in college.”

That decision became one of the first steps toward the geoscience career she has today. Cheyenne went on to earn a B.S. in Geoscience from Angelo State University in 2021, along with a minor in Mathematics. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Earth and Environmental Science at Michigan State University, continuing to build on her background in geoscience and her passion for the field.

Jessica’s introduction to GeoFORCE looked a little different. Growing up in Eagle Pass, she first learned about the program through one of her teachers.

“My teacher made us apply,” Jessica said with a laugh. “He made the essay be a test grade. I do not know if I would have applied otherwise.”

What started as a classroom assignment turned into an experience that would stay with her long after high school. Jessica entered the program without knowing exactly what to expect, but her time in GeoFORCE exposed her to possibilities she had not considered before and helped shape the direction she would take in college and beyond.

Jessica went on to earn a B.S. in General Geology from The University of Texas at Austin in 2018. After exploring other areas of science, she returned to UT to pursue an M.A. in Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, which she completed in 2025. Today, she works at Element USA, where she continues to apply her scientific background in her career. 

For both women, GeoFORCE provided something invaluable during a time when many students are still figuring out who they want to be. The program gave them a chance to explore their interests, ask questions, and see firsthand what careers in science could look like. Rather than feeling pressure to have all the answers, they had the freedom to discover new possibilities.

As Cheyenne pursued her degree in geology, she often found herself reflecting on the way she had learned through GeoFORCE.

“Coming from GeoFORCE, I was like, this is how geoscience should be taught,” she explained. “In college, it was sometimes very lecture heavy. We were not always going out into the field or doing hands-on work.”

The contrast reinforced what had made the program so meaningful for her. GeoFORCE showed her that science could be active, engaging, and rooted in real-world experiences. Students were encouraged to ask questions, make observations, and learn by doing. That philosophy not only strengthened her interest in geology but also influenced how she thought about education itself.

“I view education now as being very hands-on, with students as active participants,” Cheyenne said. “It is about breaking down those barriers. It does not have to feel like a dry lecture. You can make it fun.”

Today, both Cheyenne and Jessica have come full circle, returning to GeoFORCE as instructors.

GeoFORCE instructors are geoscience content experts who guide students through the educational content of our academies. The role requires instructors to effectively teach and explain geoscience concepts both in the classroom and in the field, often introducing students to concepts they may be encountering for the first time.

For Cheyenne, now in her fourth academy as an instructor, her experience as a former student gives her a unique perspective in the field. She remembers what it felt like to step into unfamiliar places, learn alongside new peers, and wonder what those experiences might mean for her future. Now, she helps create those same opportunities for others.

Jessica brings a similar perspective to her work with students. Having worked with both ninth and twelfth graders, she has seen students at very different stages of their GeoFORCE journeys. For freshmen, everything is new. By senior year, they have years of experiences, friendships, and personal growth behind them.

One of the most rewarding parts of the role, she says, is building connections with students.

“I feel like I connected a lot with my students,” Jessica said. “Especially being from a similar area, it just made it easier to relate.”

Those relationships are often just as impactful as the science itself. Years from now, students may not remember every lesson taught at a field site, but they will likely remember the people who encouraged them, challenged them, and helped them see new possibilities for themselves.

That human connection is part of what makes GeoFORCE so impactful. While students travel to remarkable places and gain hands-on exposure to geoscience, they also build confidence, form lasting friendships, and discover opportunities they may not have previously imagined.

As Cheyenne put it, “Going to these places, meeting new people, and seeing new things, that is a big part of it.”

For Cheyenne and Jessica, those experiences shaped far more than a few summers in high school. They influenced college decisions, helped launch careers, and inspired a commitment to helping others find their own paths. Today, as instructors, they are creating the same opportunities that once shaped their lives, showing how the impact of GeoFORCE can extend far beyond a single summer and continue through the people who choose to give back.

Hook’em

Written by Akeem Todd