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Each summer GeoFORCE Texas takes over 300 high school students on spectacular geological field trips in Texas and throughout the United States. Taught by university faculty, research scientists, and area educators and mentored by professional geologists from our industry partners, the trips engage and empower students by exposing them to something completely different than their home and school environment.
GeoFORCE Texas believes that the world’s greatest resource is its young people and that the high achievers among them have a right to recognition and personal development. The purpose of GeoFORCE Texas is to inspire the next generation of geoscientists, foster increased diversity in the U.S. workforce, and create an increased awareness of the importance of the geosciences in the communities the program serves. Student learning is achieved by providing interactive opportunities for critical thinking through hands-on field experiences and coursework. GeoFORCE Texas encourages individual social responsibility among individuals and lays the groundwork for intelligent decision-making in the future.
In March 2015, President Barack Obama awarded GeoFORCE Texas the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM). The White House awards the recognition to individuals and organizations whose crucial goal is to provide mentoring in the personal and academic development of students actively studying math and science. A White House press release and a UT Austin press release are available for more information.
On average, the Jackson School of Geosciences' GeoFORCE program spends $65,000 on each field academy. In 2019, we supported 9 field trips and one Math and Science Institute--taking students to the Texas Gulf Coast, Desert Southwest, Pacific Northwest, and right here on campus at the University of Texas - Austin. Funds donated during the 2019 GeoFORCE HornRaiser will primarily support the Transition to College initiative, including admissions workshops, college preparatory programming, semester meet-ups, etc. They will also be used to supplement the 9th - 12th grade academies currently supported by our corporate sponsors in the oil and gas industry.
Commit to changing a life in 2019. Your financial gift will help improve the diversity of the field of geosciences and pave a way for minority students who aspire to explore STEM careers. "What starts here, changes the WORLD." Hook 'em Horns!
GeoFORCE students first adventured into the field in 2005, making the summer of 2019 our 15th summer introducing students to the geosciences! Your gift will help us continue to provide transformative experiences for years to come.
Our students are introduced to the wonders of geology early. As a result, we produce 37 times more geoscience majors than the national average.
According to AGI, in 2018 less than 15% of geoscience Bachelor's degree earners found full-time employment after graduation nationwide. In comparison, 52% of our GeoFORCE alumnus who graduated with a geoscience degree went on to find full-time employment while another 33% went on to pursue graduate degrees.
100% of our students graduate high school and 17.4% of 2018 GeoFORCE students were valedictorian or salutatorian of their high school class.
We pride ourselves on introducing our students to geologic formations and processes at some of the most awe-inspiring locations in the United States. But while the rising 9th & 12th graders see spectacular sights here in Texas, the 10 & 11th graders must fly out to Arizona & Oregon. Last summer our round trip tickets to Portland, Oregon cost $464 a person and those students were able to visit the wonders of Crater Lake, Mt St Helens, Multnomah Falls, and the Oregon Dunes.
There are currently 604 GeoFORCE alumnus enrolled in colleges and universities across the country. Many are here making their mark at UT Austin!
Since its founding, 1,413 students have completed the GeoFORCE program--many of which come back as counselors, trail drivers, coordinators, and even instructional staff members for future GeoFORCE trips!
These academies aren't cheap, but they work. Not only do we produce 37 times more geoscience majors than the national average, those majors are more likely to either gain full-time employment or move on to graduate degrees upon graduation. What's more, in a field that is 81% white, our contrasting 81% minority population diversifies things substantially. We have been changing lives since 2005, one future geoscientist at a time.
