Senior Profile: Brynn Wooten

Brynn is from Westminster, Colorado and is earning degrees in Geology and Biology, as well as certificates in Museum Studies and Zoology. 

Here are some of the things Brynn accomplished, just at her time here at FHSU: 

National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship
Barry Goldwater Foundation 2021 Goldwater Scholar
Geological Society of America J. David Lowell Field Camp Scholar
Association for Women Geoscientists Maria Luisa Crawford Field Study Scholar
Honorable Mention for Undergraduate Excellence in Paleontology and Expanding Representation in Geosciences Award
Kansas Geological Society Kansas Geological Foundation Scholar
Fort Hays Honor Society
Dean's Honor Roll
Phi Theta Kappa
Honors College scholarship awardee and Peer Mentor
Werth STEM Scholar
Committee for 2023 FHSU Pilot Award
FHSU Geosciences Department Christopher Schmidt Geology Scholar, Longpine Field Scholar, Women in Geosciences Award, and Myrl V. Walker Scholar

Is that all, you might ask? Nope. She was also a member of FHSU Concert Choir, Smoky Hill Chorale community choir, FHSU Women's Chorale, Sternberg Geosciences Club, Biology Club, and was a Sternberg Museum volunteer. Brynn was a finalist for the 2023 FHSU Torch Award for outstanding undergraduate seniors.

Having long been involved in research, and museum and field work, Brynn's goal is to develop a career in research and teaching in paleontology, or as a museum curator. You can take Brynn out of the museum but...she'll just go back! 

"I would like to acknowledge the Geosciences Department, Biology Department,  Sternberg Museum, and Honors College for contributing to my success throughout college. I chose to attend FHSU because 1) it has excellent geology and biology programs which allowed me to take graduate-level courses in paleontology, taxonomy/systematics, and museum studies (coursework rarely available to undergrads at other colleges), 2) it gives me the opportunity to work at the Sternberg Museum, and 3) it has the Honors College. The idea of being in the Honors College and living in the honors dorm, where I could interact with other like-minded scholars, was very appealing to me. The support I received from the Honors College scholarships allowed me to continue my museum work, focus on my studies, and participate in extracurricular activities in the Honors College and university choirs. These FHSU institutions have been pillars of my college experience, not just academically, but also the means by which I have met so many interesting people along the way. I have had a lot of great professors at FHSU, but I would like to specifically acknowledge four professors (Drs. Laura Wilson, Kevin Amidon, Lorelei Patrick, and Jeanne Sumrall) and a Sternberg curator (Dr. Aly Baumgartner) for their advice, mentorship, and recommendation letters. They went above-and-beyond and were instrumental in my success here at FHSU and my future in grad school." 

Brynn will continue her academic journey this fall at Vanderbilt University in Nashville. 

As proud as we are of all of Brynn's academic commitment and success, we're as proud of who she is as a person. She's an advocate for students, a dedicated student of life, a loyal friend, and a rescuer of skunks (among other critters, no doubt). She will open doors Vanderbilt didn't even know were shut and they will be better for it, just as we are at FHSU. There is no question that she will succeed in her goals and we can't wait to see what else she accomplishes. Congratulations, Brynn!