Jackson Scholars Program: Expanding Education

WHO WE ARE

The Jackson Scholars Program offers students at The University of Texas at Austin Jackson School of Geosciences opportunities to develop valuable professional skills outside the classroom, preparing them to be leaders in their fields and communities. 

The program combines geosciences-related scholarship, outreach and service. Students select two of three experiences related to scholarship (undergraduate research, study abroad, internship) and one related to service (involvement in leadership activities or community service) to complete the program.

"I was the Student Government Representative of UGS, or Undergraduate Geologic Society, and the Outreach Coordinator of GLOW, the Geoscience Leadership Organization for Women. The community outreach portion of these organizations allowed me to pair my interest for geology with my passion for empowering women and girls to pursue the sciences."  

Rosalind Moreman, B.S. '21, Jackson Scholar

WHAT WE ARE FUNDRAISING FOR

Many students must juggle their classes while also working multiple jobs to afford college. This can leave little or no time to pursue personal and professional development outside of class, and can serve as an obstacle to taking part in programs such as the Jackson Scholars.  

We are fundraising to help Jackson Scholars students shoulder the program costs, as well as to pay students who are already in the program, and who have financial need, to be official peer mentors to new students who are just starting out.  

“Often, particular students who benefit the most from outreach and professional development opportunities like our Jackson Scholars Program are also students who struggle financially,” said program co-director Associate Professor Joel Johnson.  

Middle school students in southeast Texas  attend a 

virtual presentation on "What are the Geosciences?" 

by Jackson Scholars Program students

Students in the Jackson Scholars program find success by collaborating with world-renowned experts across the Jackson School through undergraduate research, internships, and mentoring. In addition, students who are part of the program develop a sense of belonging and are given the opportunity to excel beyond the classroom. Overall, undergraduates who take part in the program gain a rich set of scholarship and service experiences that enable them to build valuable personal and professional skills, and graduate with the distinction of being a Jackson Scholar.  

Tony Edgington collects sedimentary rock samples 

“The Jackson Scholars Program is where I began practice in applying my education to research, mentorship, service, and outreach. I learned about avenues to explore and contribute to the broader impacts of our work as geoscientists. From sharing geoscience career opportunities with high schoolers to building portfolios to communicate scholarly work, JSP acted as a constructive working group to accomplish our educational goals as individuals and as a collective.”  Tony Edgington, B.S. ’20, Jackson Scholar

YOUR IMPACT

Your contribution will provide students with the support they need to complete the Jackson Scholars Program, and prepare them to lead, work and serve in Texas and beyond!  Make your gift today!

Thank you, and Hook'em!