2009 Outstanding Thesis Award

Christopher Milson Smart

Christopher Smart won the award for his geological study Hot and Deep: Rock Record of Subduction Initiation and Exhumation of High-Temperature, High-Pressure Metamorphic Rocks, Feather River Ultramafic Belt, California, which was chosen as an excellent study of the regional structure. Chris's faculty advisor was John Wakabayashi.

Below, Chrstopher Smart (center) is hooded by President Welty. Dr. Wakabayashi is on the right.

James Tyner

James Tyner (MFA, Creative Writing) also won for his autobiographical collection of poems entitled Baptized in Dirt about his growing up among violence in tough neighborhoods in L.A. and Fresno and his path to Pacifism. The poems continue into his adult life. The emeriti committee found his work to be compelling. James's faculty thesis chair was Timothy Skeen.

Below, James Tyner with Dr. Skeen.