When nearly every Geosciences major at Trinity University packed into University vans for a week in downtown San Antonio, it was more than a field trip. It was a milestone. For the first time since 1986, the Geological Society of America’s annual meeting, GSA Connects 2025, returned to San Antonio. Trinity Geosciences made the most of the home-field advantage.
Over four days, 38 students, seven faculty members, and two staff turned the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center into an extension of Trinity’s campus. “It was remarkable to see our students not just attending the conference but leading conversations in their field,” says acting Department Chair and Imogene & Harold Herndon Professor of Geosciences, Kathleen Surpless, Ph.D. “This conference showcased everything that makes Trinity’s approach to a liberal arts education distinct: hands-on learning, close mentorship, and a genuine spirit of curiosity.”
Research That Rivals Graduate Work
At GSA Connects, Trinity students did not simply show up. They stood out. One student gave an oral presentation, and 16 students presented nine posters. Four Trinity faculty gave five oral presentations, and Trinity researchers were also co-authors on an additional ten presentations, for a total of 25 scholarly contributions.
Isabella Rueda ’26 earned the best poster in the undergraduate poster session, while recent alumnus George Bradley ’24 won best student poster in the Sedimentary Geology Division for his master’s research. Several undergraduates were even mistaken for graduate students because of the caliber of their work.
For Isabella, receiving recognition for her poster presentation was a moment of pride. She reflected on how the experience highlighted the strength of Trinity’s undergraduate research culture.
“Presenting at GSA was an incredibly rewarding experience that allowed me to bring together all the research I’ve been developing over the past year,” says Isabella. “Seeing everything compiled—realizing how much I’ve learned and accomplished—was genuinely fulfilling.”
Some of Isabella’s most rewarding conversations were with graduate students using the same software, where she was able to offer suggestions for their projects.
“As an undergraduate, having professors and long-established experts in the field express interest in and be impressed by my work made me feel like this is something I can not only do, but do well,” she explains..
“I also had great discussions with faculty from other institutions about ways to advance my research and the broader implications of my work. I even left with a few valuable graduate-school connections from the professors who stopped by my poster.”
The recognition extended beyond a single award. Faculty and peers alike noted how prepared and confident Trinity students were in presenting their findings.
“That kind of feedback speaks volumes about the quality of research happening here,” says Professor of Earth and Environmental Geosciences, Benjamin Surpless, Ph.D. “Our students are conducting and presenting research at a level that is often reserved for graduate programs.”
A Community That Extends Beyond Campus
The conference also offered an opportunity to reconnect with Trinity alumni. The department hosted an alumni reception at Bombay Bicycle Club, just a few blocks from campus, drawing more than 20 alumni along with current students and faculty. The event was more than a reunion. It was a bridge between generations of geoscientists.
“Our alumni are such an important part of this story,” says Kathleen Surpless, Ph.D. “They show our current students what is possible after graduation and remind us that the Trinity geosciences community does not end when you earn your degree.”
Fueled by Generosity
Behind every successful conference experience was a network of support that made it possible. The trip was fully funded through Herndon Funding from the Office of Undergraduate Research, Semmes School of Science funding, and Earth & Environmental Geosciences Designated and Edward C. Roy, Jr Endowment funds.
These resources covered registration fees, transportation, and the alumni reception, leaving students responsible only for their lunches. The support ensured that every interested student, regardless of financial means, could participate fully.
“That is what Trinity does best,” said Benjamin Surpless, Ph.D. “We remove barriers so students can focus on learning and growing.”
The Spirit of Trinity Geosciences
For students, the week at GSA Connects 2025 was more than an academic event. It was a formative moment. It captured what makes the Trinity experience distinctive: mentorship that travels with you, research that opens doors, and a community that continues to grow long after you leave campus.
“I have never felt prouder to represent Trinity,” said Charles Long ’26. “Standing up there and sharing my research was both nerve-wracking and exciting. It really hit me how much I’ve learned and how supportive the Trinity community has been in preparing us to contribute to conversations happening in the broader geoscience world.”