Fort Hays State University undergraduate students play a big role in ongoing paleontology collection projects at the Museum. Because of the two National Science Foundation grants awarded to the paleontology department, there are four undergraduate students funded to help with digitizing and archiving fossil specimens and specimen data. As the school year comes to a close, we would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge these students and thank them for their dedication.
Jehoiada “J.D.” Schmidt is a 4th year Biology/Wildlife Biology major who is also pursuing a Justice Studies minor. Although he is more interested in a career working with live animals, he says “working in the paleontology collection has exposed me to an area of biology that I had not really considered very much (dealing with dead things), and has shown me how amazing and diverse the species of this world truly are!”
Kelsey Mills is currently a junior Geosciences major interested in a career in paleontology. Museum work is a big part of the world paleontology, and Kelsey’s experiences have led her to “an understanding of how museum collections are run, and how to fully operate a museums data base. It has also allowed me to put what I have learned in the classroom to good use.” After FHSU, Kelsey hopes to study hadrosaur dinosaurs paleobiology in graduate school.
Hannah Horinek is a sophomore Geosciences student who plans to pursue a graduate degree studying paleontology. For Hannah, “working in the collections is like a dream come true! I love getting to come in every day and help advance the Sternberg toward our goal of digitizing the Cretaceous specimens; it really fills me with a sense of purpose.” Even though she spends her days working with Cretaceous fish, she is interested in researching Devonian fish when she gets to graduate school.
Amelia Growe is a senior Biology major interested in entomology (insects). Though her academic interests are outside of paleontology, she has embraced museum work. “The Sternberg has given me valuable work experience and helped me develop professionally. Contributing to the iDigBio digitization effort is something I take pride in.” After graduating, she will pursue her Master’s degree in Biology at FHSU. Her research will focus on mosquitos.
Wilson Paleontology Research Group 
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