Commencement Awards

William W. Whitley Citizen-Scholar Prize

At the Stanford School of Earth, Energy & Environmental Sciences diploma award ceremony each year in June, a graduate of the Earth Systems Program is awarded the William W. Whitley Citizen-Scholar Prize. The prize honors William Whitley (1925-2001), a Stanford geology alumnus (BS '49). Bill was an active member of the school's Petroleum Investments Committee beginning in 1980, including serving as its chairman from 1986 to 1989.

Bill Whitley was widely respected for the quality of his work. He was also respected and loved for the quality of his character, distinguishing himself in a graceful and unassuming manner by always being there for his family, friends, colleagues, and the institutions he supported. In keeping with Bill's spirit, recipients of the William Whitley Citizen-Scholar Prize are chosen both for their impressive academic work and because they give significantly through service to the school and community.

The Whitley Citizen-Scholar Prize is by nomination only- students may not apply for this award. Awardees receive a cash prize.

Miller-Marsden Prize for Innovative Research on the Environment

The Miller-Marsden Prize is named for two former faculty members in the Petroleum Engineering Department, (the late) Professor Frank Miller and (the late) Professor Sully Marsden.

The award carries a cash prize. Earth Systems students who have undertaken innovative research (internship, masters research, honors) on an environmental topic and who want to submit the written results of that work for prize consideration are invited to do so.

A call for nominations is sent out in early Spring quarter. A self-nomination package should include the research paper and a brief letter defending its "innovative" character. All candidates should be prepared to give an oral presentation on the results of their research, as the winner may be asked to do so.

Miller-Marsden Prize Recipients

• Sydney Schmitter, 2023
• Benji Reade Malgueno, 2022
• Caroline Beckman, 2021
• Manisha Rattu, 2020
• Hailey Deres, 2019

Dean's Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Academic Achievement

• Nancy Chang
• Niza Contreras
• Osanna Drake
• Lucy Edy
• Chris Escobedo
• TJ Francisco
• Deirdre Francks
• Leif Gonzales-Kramer
• Katie Holmes
• Kendall Kissel
• Mehr Kumar
• Maggie McGraw
• Sabrina Mengrani
• Casey Mullins
• Lexi Neilan
• Fiona O'Keeffe
• Lilla Petruska
• Elena Press
• Gabriel Saiz
• Hannah Shabb
• Ashley Song
• Laura Spielman
• David Tattoni
• Jacqui Vogel

William W. Whitley Citizen Scholar Award

• Jonathon Borja, 2023 
• Kendall Matsumoto, 2022
• Theo Bamberger, 2021

Earth Systems Award for Outstanding Research

• Mikaela Salvador, 2023
• Trevor Cambron, 2023
• Natalie Cross, 2022
• Ryan Treves, 2022
• TJ Francisco, 2022
• Jordan Ferre, 2021
• Carl Risberg, 2021
• Jacqueline Vogel, 2021
• Niza Contreras, 2020
• Sadie Cwikiel, 2019
• Anthony Moller, 2019

Award for Outstanding Service to the Earth Systems Program

• Alexander Nelson, 2023
• Zunarah Ahmad, 2023
• Emily Liu, 2023
• George Rojano, 2023
• Sydney Schmitter, 2023
• Kavya Varkey, 2023
• Erin Cole, 2022
• Natalie Cross, 2022
• Lindsay Filgas, 2022
• Patrick Monreal, 2022
• Ilinca Popescu, 2022
• Caroline Beckman, 2021
• Rachelo Portillo, 2021
• Jayne Stevenson, 2021
• Hannah Young, 2021
• Lila Petruska, 2020
• Ricardo Sanchez Romero, 2020
• Sarah Taylor, 2020
• Jacqui Vogel, 2020
• Maceo Hastings Porro, 2019
• Meghan Wilson, 2019
   

Earth Systems, Excellence in the Senior Capstone

• Sonja Hansen, 2023
• Megan King, 2023
• Katherine Zhang, 2023
• Tierra Baird, 2023
• Kelly Dunn, 2023
• Chloe Gould, 2022
• Lindsay Filgas, 2022
• Joshua King, 2022
• Bless Romo, 2022
• Fenella Scutt, 2022 
• Jayne Stevenson, 2021
• Jessica Mi, 2021
• Chris Escobedo, 2020
• Katie Holmes, 2020
• Lexi Neilan, 2020
• China Kantner, 2019
• Neil Nathan, 2019

Earth Systems Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Scholars Award

• Xavier Gomez, 2023
• Tanvi Gupta, 2023
• Rachel Portillo, 2022
• Nancy Chang, 2022
• Olivia Ames, 2021
• Vance Farrant, 2021

Firestone Medal for Excellence in Undergraduate Research and Honors Thesis

• Molly Glickman, 2023
• Patrick Monreal, 2022
• David Tattoni, 2020
• Madeline Lisaius, 2019

Kennedy Thesis Prize

• Jamie Leonard, B.S. 2021, M.S. '2022