Michael Varge Lowe Scholarship for Academic Excellence

Michael Varge (Mike) Lowe grew up, was educated, and spent his career in geoscience in northern Utah. He came to USU for graduate study after a couple years in the Texas oil patch. Mike earned a Master of Science degree in geology in 1987 under the advisement of Dr. Jim McCalpin, studying surficial geology along the eastern Cache Valley mountain front and producing a geologic map of the Smithfield Quadrangle. Mike remembers the importance of receiving the Claude E. Zobell scholarship in support of his graduate work.
Mike continued in a distinguished career studying geologic hazards and water-resources, starting as the County Geologist for Weber and Davis Counties from 1985 to 1989. Mike worked at the Utah Geological Survey starting in 1989 through 2016, serving as the Manager of the Groundwater and Paleontology Program, and authoring or coauthoring over 160 reports and maps, many about the groundwater resources of Utah. Mike was awarded the John C. Frye Environmental Geology Award in 1995 and 2015 by the Geological Society of America (GSA) and Association of State Geologists (AASG) for the best paper on environmental geology published either by GSA or a state geological survey; the Arthur L. Crawford Award in 2003, 2014, 2015, and 2020 for "Outstanding Contributions to the Geology of Utah" by a Utah Geological Survey Employee; and the Calvin K. Sudweeks Award in 2008 from Utah Division of Water Quality for outstanding leadership in the water-quality field.
Mike served as the Utah Section of the Association of Engineering Geologists Chairperson from 1994/1995, and as the President of the Utah Geological Association in 1999. A dedicated alumnus of the Utah Colleges that started him on his path, Mike has served for years on the USU Department of Geosciences Advisory Board. Mike helped establish the Michael Varge Lowe endowment to help the best students receive graduate experiences like his own here at USU.

This scholarship will be awarded to junior-level Geo Major(s) who are going into their Senior year. Preference will be given to the student(s) with the highest overall GPA. The scholarship will be utilized to fully support cost of attendance (tuition, course fees, books) annually (Fall and Spring semesters).