With Nu Metal music blasting in the background, Wiley Sikes ’27 peers into a microscope at a rock sample, its thousands of mineral grains forming an intricate pattern of shapes that reminds him of a kaleidoscope.
He counts the grains to determine the mineral composition of the rock, which could be 4.2 billion years old. He works for hours at a time to get through one or two slides of samples. It’s tedious, but the process fascinates Sikes, offering him a glimpse into Earth’s geological history.
“The prospect of walking up and touching something that's that old is just crazy,” he says.
Sikes came to Trinity University with this passion for geosciences, along with art and swimming. Over the past few years, he’s been able to pursue them all and discover new ones, thanks to the support he’s received from the Semmes Distinguished Scholarship in Science, a full-tuition award for students interested in studying STEM.
Research is one of the opportunities offered to Semmes Scholars, giving them a chance for valuable hands-on experience throughout their undergraduate education. Sikes works in the research lab of Earth and Environment Geosciences Professor Kathleen DeGraaff Surpless, Ph.D. He asked to join the lab during his sophomore spring semester, after taking “Solid Earth Processes” with Surpless.
Their research examines the composition of sedimentary rocks to discover what was happening on Earth at the time of their formation and to determine how ancient sedimentary basins formed and evolved.
This work takes Sikes out of the lab, too. With funding from the $5,000 stipend he receives as part of the Semmes Scholarship, he has traveled to California near the Sierra Nevada Mountains for the past two summers to collect rock samples.
“I feel so connected when I'm out in the field doing physical work,” Sikes says. “It's gorgeous. There's a river there where we sample rocks along the riverbank. And that river is wild. There are no dams upstream, and it's just clear blue.”
Knowing he didn’t want a job where he would be inside all day, confined to a desk, Sikes appreciates how going outside and traveling are ingrained in his field of study.
Last year, Sikes traveled to Loreto, Mexico, with the research lab to present their work at a regional meeting of the Geological Society of America (GSA). He also presented at GSA’s annual nationwide conference that same year, which happened to be in San Antonio, Texas.
These conventions allowed Sikes to share his work with experts and meet people with different backgrounds, exposing him to new discoveries and insights into the field. He attended the conference again this October in Denver.
Sikes thanks the Semmes family for their support and their willingness to build relationships with Trinity students that feel intimate and genuine.
“There's actually this group of people who are interested in you and invested in your education,” Sikes says. “It’s inspiring to know that another person believes in you.”
His education at Trinity has not been limited to STEM. Sikes has always loved to draw and has been able to develop that passion through an art and art history minor. Along with art, Sikes has continued to participate in athletics; he has swum for Trinity since his first-year after being recruited by the coach, and last year, he joined the diving team.
Beyond improving his skill in the sport, Sikes has also grown in his ability to persevere through challenges as he trains and competes.
“Especially at the collegiate level, athletes work every day for the smallest improvements,” Sikes says. “If you're focused on the outcome of one day rather than the whole process, it's very easy to fall behind or lose motivation.”
That discipline bleeds into Sikes’s scientific pursuits: It keeps him concentrated on the bigger picture, encouraging him to move forward, especially through longer or more tiring days in the lab.
Sikes has also found the time to try out new interests: He’s now in his second year as a reporter for the Mirage, Trinity’s yearbook.
“I've loved the opportunity to work with a group of people I otherwise don't overlap much with in terms of social circles,” he says. “It's been a great way for me to broaden my horizons.”
Sikes says his time at Trinity has been transformative, and he recognizes that he probably wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for the Semmes Foundation’s investment. His scholarship has supported him as he explores all facets of his identity: student, scientist, artist, athlete, writer.
As he has developed into a more well-rounded individual, Sikes has carved his own place within the Trinity community.
“I have my headphones with me at all times. Since being at Trinity, I've spent more time walking around on campus with my headphones off and talking to the people that I see every day,” he says. “It feels like a community, and I feel like I've grown into that community as opposed to just taking advantage of what it has to offer.”
Editor's Notes: In the image at the top of the story, Sikes smiles while holding a microscope slide for his research.