Robert D. Bentley Scholarship
A lead gift from Michael and Jeannette Walen of Houston, Texas established the Robert D. Bentley Scholarship to benefit geology majors at Central Washington University.
The scholarship funds up to a year of in-state tuition and fees for an undergraduate major in the Department of Geological Sciences with an interest in structural geology, field geology and/or natural resource geology.
Interested in contributing to this scholarship to support undergraduate students? We are actively seeking to grow this fund. Find out how you can support us.
The following students are this year's recipients of this generous scholarship:
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2022 Awardees
Jillian Bludworth: I am from Snoqualmie, Washington. I graduated from Mount Si High School in 2020 and am now in my second year at CWU working towards my Bachelor of Science in Geology. Some of my interests include reading, watching movies, and gymnastics. I am looking forward to finding my place in the professional field of geology!
Kathryn Josten: I am a transfer student here pursuing my Bachelor of Science in Geology! Encouraged and inspired by my grandfather and his lifelong career in geology, I have had a passionate curiosity for the world around me for as long as I can remember. I am beyond thankful to finally be satiating some of that curiosity here at Central Washington University. While my ultimate career goal is to teach one day, I hope to travel abroad after my time at CWU in pursuit of a Master’s. My husband and I are avid hikers and welcome any opportunity to camp in our Eurovan. We are loving life in the ‘Burg and are extremely thankful to everyone who has made this journey possible!
Carley Preator: I am from Bellingham, Washington, and my favorite thing to do is go on hikes and backpacking trips. Doing outdoor activities all the time sparked my interest in geology, and now I have grown to love learning as much as I possibly can about the Earth and its history through rocks. My favorite things to learn about so far have been geomorphology and paleosiesmology. In the future I plan to pursue these interests through field work and finding a career, and this award has made this possible.
Ariel Williams: I began college as a Psychology major but was convinced to switch over to Geology at my community College by CWU alum Michelle Harris, who is a professor at Centralia Community College. I have always had a love for volcanoes ever since I went to Mt. St. Helen's when I was 3 or 4 years old, and was captivated by the movie they played of the eruption. I hope to go on and receive my Master's Degree in either Volcanology or Igneous Petrology, and build a career studying volcanic eruptions and magmatic triggers, as well as hazard analysis. Working with the Cascade Range volcanoes would be a dream come true but I would also be happy to work in Yellowstone National Park.
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Recipients Prior to 2022
The following students have been recipients of this generous scholarship:
- 2018: Trent Adams
- 2017: Dan Mongovin
- 2016: Cameron Burns
- 2015: Rebecca Stratis
- 2014: Kevin Knapp
- 2013: Rose Borden
- 2012: Jesse Walters
- 2011: Brittany Fagin
- 2010: Brad Pitcher
- 2009: Jeff Dermond
- 2008: Ryan Hardwick
- 2007: Carol Webber
- 2006: Tessa Buswell
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