Montana Tech Student, Sarah Magallon, Awarded Scholarships

Montana Tech graduate student, Sara Magallón, has been awarded two scholarships for the 2018-2019 semester. The scholarships are from the Deep Foundations Institute (DFI) and the Montana Geological Society (MGS).
Magallón received the Michael L. Condon Civil Engineering Scholarship worth $5,000 from DFI Educational Trust, the charitable arm of Deep Foundations Institute, an international association of contractors, engineers, suppliers, manufacturers, academics and owners in the deep foundations industry. DFI awarded 20 scholarships totaling $52,500 to students pursuing careers in civil, and geotechnical engineering.

The 2018 MGS Scholarship was $500. MGS promotes interest and research in geology and allied sciences by providing financial assistance for up to two student dissertation, thesis, or senior projects involving Montana geology and by providing a venue for students to present their work to geology professionals in Montana.

Magallón, from Los Angeles, California, attended the University of California, Davis and received her bachelor's degree in civil engineering with a minor in engineering geology. She worked in the San Francisco Bay Area for 7 years before coming to Montana Tech to pursue a master's in geological engineering. Her research will focus on the study of rock mechanics using a state-of-the-art shake table. Magallón says, "I am very excited to be the first graduate student working with the shake table. I know there will be a lot of hiccups and it will be a tough learning curve, but a very rewarding one at the least."

"Sara has brought so much to Montana Tech in terms of her enthusiasm, professionalism, and character. Not only is she a talented engineer, she is an outstanding role model and constantly goes out of her way to help others. The initiative she displayed by establishing the shake table research program combined with her natural leadership abilities and communications skills have been rewarded with multiple highly competitive scholarships. Sara has a brilliant future ahead of her and that reflects well on Montana Tech," said Ms. Magallon's advisor, professor Mary MacLaughlin.

When she's not studying, working on her thesis, or volunteering with GEMS (Girls Excelling in Math and Science), Magallón can be found hiking around with her dog, Geo, or training for her US National Women's Australian Rules Football team.