MAGIP Scholarship and Grants Committee 2025 Annual Report

MAGIP awarded scholarships to two PhD students and undergraduate students at The University of Montana, Montana State University, and Montana Technological University. Second, we had the pleasure of establishing a long-term weed mapping and monitoring program through the K-12 education grant with the innovative work being done by Sarah Tabor at Belgrade High School.

K-12 Education Grants

Sarah Tabor and the Belgrade High School in Belgrade

Sarah Tabor and her science students will elaborate on a weed mapping program they established in 2023 on a section of state land near the high school that is enjoyed by students and the public alike. Their work will help state managers better understand the distribution, density, and diversity of weeds on the property. While collecting and analyzing the invasive weed data students will develop critical STEM skills, and in doing so help enhance the ability to manage a valued community resource.

Higher Education Scholarships

Miles Fenolio, Undergraduate Student from the University of Montana

Miles is an undergraduate student at the University of Montana. He has been working at the O’Conner Center for the Rocky Mountain West and as an early academic developed a firm understanding of geospatial technologies. In addressing urban planning concerns, he plans on mapping the high-water mark within Missoula to help planners and enforcement officials understand the environmental delineations to urban camping regulations. His work will surely be of vital importance to planners in Missoula and many other cities like it that are facing ever-pressing pressures on city resources.

Eqi Luo, PhD Student from Montana State University

Eqi is a PhD student in the Earth Sciences Department at Montana State University. He has a strong interest in human geography and will focus on the development of methods that integrate remotes sensing of landcover and climate to model human settlement in response to climate change. As the world faces unprecedented demands on all resources, developing innovative methods to understand human population dynamics will be highly valued.

Ali Saud, PhD Student from Montana Technological University

Ali is a PhD student in the Geological Engineering department at Montana Technological University. He has a background in electrical engineering and is focusing on the development of a multi-directional magnetic gradient sensor. This work will enhance the ability to detect and map mineral resources, including rare earth metals. Prototypes will be tested at known deposits in the Bearpaw mountains, and the results of this work will undoubtably help meet an ever-increasing demand for resources that are fueling the technological revolution of our time.