The Michigan Technological University Student Chapter of the American Institute of Professional Geologists (AIPG) has received the 2026 AIPG Student Chapter Excellence Award.
This national recognition is especially meaningful given that AIPG has 58 student chapters nationwide. It reflects the Michigan Tech chapter’s strong student leadership, professional engagement, and continued commitment to building a vibrant geoscience community. The 2025–2026 chapter officers are Sarah Woodworth (Geology ’26), President; Sabrina Bielecki (Geology ’27), Vice President; Milena Sremba (Geology ’28), Treasurer; and Olivia Braun (Geology ’27), Secretary.
The chapter’s faculty sponsor is Dr. Chad Deering, Associate Professor in the Department of Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences. The chapter sponsor is David Adler (Geology ’82), CPG Emeritus.
Chapter President Sarah Woodworth shared, “As president, this makes me extremely proud of our chapter and the work that has gone into it. A special thanks to our chapter advisor, Dr. Chad Deering, Dave Adler, and Helen Foldenauer (2025 President).”
The award continues a strong tradition of AIPG student chapter excellence at Michigan Tech. The chapter received the AIPG Student Chapter of the Year Award in 2020, 2021, and 2022, and was selected as the second-place Student Chapter of the Year in 2023.
Recent chapter activities have included participation in the AIPG 62nd National Conference, held in St. Louis, Missouri, in October 2025, where students had opportunities to connect with geoscience professionals, students, and stakeholders from a wide range of geology backgrounds.
Congratulations to the Michigan Tech AIPG Student Chapter on this well-deserved recognition. The Department of Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences is proud of your continued success.