Corey Potter of Reinholds was one of six students to receive a Chambliss Student Academic Achievement Award on April 8 at Kutztown University. Students who received awards were nominated by staff and faculty members for meeting one or more of six areas of achievement: successfully completed research projects, high-quality original artwork, high-quality artistic performances, original writing in literature or meritorious writing in other fields, noteworthy achievements in athletics, and outstanding service to the KU community.

The Academic Achievement Awards were established in 2004 through a donation provided by Carlson Chambliss, KU professor of astronomy from 1970 to 2003. The purpose of the awards is to recognize the exceptional individual achievements of a select group of KU graduating seniors. Specially designed coin medallions of gold, silver, and copper were presented to the students.

Potter received a silver medal for successfully completed research projects. Throughout 2021, he completed two separate research projects with guidance from two faculty members and exhibited outstanding research ability and skills. In one of his projects, he worked to create 3D computer models from photographs, adapt lab-based geology research, and created a method for extracting geospatial data using his computer skills.

Potter worked independently to create a clear workflow that future research students can use and devised a programming solution for gathering useful data from photogrammetric models. He presented his results in person at the annual Geological Society of America meeting in Portland, Ore., in October 2021. This conference is an international, professional event where undergraduate students may present cutting-edge scientific research. Most presentations are given by professionals in industry, government, and academia, and only a few presentations are given by undergraduate students.

Potter graduated from KU in December with a degree in geology, and he is now in graduate school at Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla, Mo. He is in the petroleum engineering program and is working on his doctorate.