Digging deeper
May 7, 2025
Alex Alvarez didn’t expect to fall in love with geology. But in her Introduction to a Geology class at UNM-Taos, something clicked.
Now, her curiosity, dedication, and academic excellence have earned her the Pipkin Book Scholarship from the New Mexico Geological Society—a statewide honor recognizing the top geoscience students from institutions across New Mexico.
“She’s always prepared and has clearly done the prereading,” says her instructor, Mark Ormerod, who nominated her for the award. “She’s a great addition to the course and a standout student in GEOL1110.”
A lifelong Taoseña, Alex is currently studying pre-science and plans to transfer to New Mexico State University to pursue a degree in conservation ecology. “I’m interested in restoring things—plants, forests, ecosystems,” she says. “I want to do work that helps clean up the environment, and ideally something outdoors.”
That love for the natural world—its quiet beauty, resilience, and complexity—is what draws her to conservation and environmental science. “I don’t know exactly what job I want yet, but I want something that lets me stay connected to nature while still exploring different paths.”
The Pipkin Book Scholarship comes with a $175 award, part of a $450 allotment to UNM-Taos from the NMGS, helping students purchase course materials and advance their studies in the geosciences.
Alex’s path isn’t locked in, but she’s already learning the best advice often comes from experience: “Take some classes. Figure out what you like. That’s how I figured out what I wanted.”
With one year left at UNM-Taos, Alex is savoring the benefits of a close-knit campus and small class sizes, all while preparing for the next leg of her academic journey. “It’s been nice here—convenient, supportive, and a good place to learn.”
For Alex Alvarez, the future might be uncertain—but it’s definitely looking bright.
