2025 Burpee Museum
Competitive Jurassic Scholarship
Journey to the Jurassic:
The Dinosaur Dig Scholarship 2025 Season is now closed
Please consider applying for the 2026 season. Applications will open in spring 2026.
Meet Our 2025 Scholarship Recipients!
We are proud to introduce the exceptional individuals selected for Burpee Museum’s 2025 Competitive Utah Dig Scholarship for the week of June 2nd at the Hanksville-Burpee Dinosaur Quarry.
June 2nd Cohort
Evelyn Williams (IN)
Evelyn began her fossil journey with Devonian invertebrates at the Falls of the Ohio and now turns her focus to vertebrate paleontology. With an eye toward a curatorial career, she also leads fossil workshops to inspire youth in rural communities.
Allyn Leick (NE)
With a background in health sciences, Allyn now uses art and education to connect people to deep time. Through outreach in rural Nebraska, she shares her enthusiasm for fossils via school visits, creative writing, and visual art.
Genevieve Kroboth (WY)
A student of herpetology and paleontology, Genevieve is actively involved in museum work and vertebrate fossil research. She is committed to engaging Wyoming’s geology and museum communities through inclusive programming and scientific outreach.
Connor Valentine (UT)
Connor volunteers with dig crews and at the Natural History Museum of Utah, where he teaches fossil identification. He is preparing for formal paleontology studies at USU Eastern and is eager to deepen his field skills and public communication abilities.
Jacob Korngold (NY)
Jacob is passionate about sauropod dinosaurs of the Morrison Formation. On a path toward a PhD and a museum-based career, he sees this excavation as critical hands-on experience to complement his academic studies.
Alex Morton (ID)
A recent graduate of Boise State, Alex has a strong background in field science and a growing interest in paleontology. This dig marks his first opportunity to work directly with fossils, and he is driven to promote science in the face of widespread misinformation.
Peter Graf (MT)
Peter first volunteered at Hanksville as a young student and now returns as a senior at Montana State University, studying to become a museum curator. He hopes to inspire the public through collections and education rooted in authentic fieldwork.
Kaled Vigo Saldaña (PR)
A paleobiology and geology student at the University of Puerto Rico, Kaled is passionate about science equity. He aims to expand access to paleontology for Spanish-speaking students through outreach and community-based education.
Jean Jimenez Ramirez (PR)
Focused on paleoecology, Jean combines academic study with leadership in science education across Puerto Rico. He is particularly interested in fieldwork and using his experiences to support young learners and future scientists.
Christian Nunez-Rosa (CT)
Currently interning at Yale’s Peabody Museum, Christian is dedicated to science communication and museum education. He views this excavation as a vital step in his journey to bring paleontology to life for diverse museum audiences.
June 9th Cohort
Savannah Moore (GA)
A high school senior with a passion for paleontology, Savannah plans to pursue college studies in the field and hopes to inspire younger students by sharing her experiences through educational outreach.
Nicholas Hudson (IN)
A participant in the STEM Undergraduate Research Program, Nicholas is eager to gain hands-on field experience in paleontology and hopes to inspire others in his community through his scientific endeavors.
Quinton Kerr (CO)
A high school senior planning to study paleontology at CU Boulder, Quinton is looking forward to gaining real-world field experience and pursuing a career in museum curation and education.
Collin Riehl (IA)
Collin is passionate about dinosaurs and plans to pursue a career in paleontology. He is excited about the opportunity to gain valuable fieldwork experience that he can share with others.
Josh Radcliffe (FL)
A high school senior with a deep love for dinosaurs, Josh is eager to gain hands-on field experience that will help him in his pursuit of a paleontology career and inspire younger students in the field.
Danielle Radcliffe (FL)
An educator with a passion for integrating real-world science into her classroom, Danielle is excited to share her field experience with her students and inspire them to explore paleontology.
Nolan Parrish (GA)
An undergraduate student studying International Affairs, Nolan is interested in advocating for fossil preservation through political action. He looks forward to gaining firsthand field experience to further his advocacy efforts.
Mia Rodriguez (TX)
A student at Houston Community College, Mia is passionate about both paleontology and environmental science. She’s excited to gain field experience that will contribute to her studies and future career.
Amor Fagan (TX)
A student at Tarrant County Community College, Amor is committed to learning more about paleontology and environmental science. She hopes to use her experience to inspire others and advocate for the preservation of fossils and the environment.
Sarah Grace Cook (TN)
A student at UT Knoxville, Sarah Grace aims to pursue science communication and education. She is excited to gain field experience to enhance her outreach and public education efforts in the sciences.
Tiffany Bannworth (TX)
Founder of Bannworth Academy of Classical Education, Tiffany has a background in archaeology and natural history. She plans to incorporate her paleontology field experience into her curriculum and outreach efforts with her community.
Julie Retrum (University of Mississippi)
A university lecturer specializing in invertebrate micropaleontology, Julie seeks to expand her expertise into vertebrate paleontology and integrate field research into her academic teaching and research. She is a member of the Department of Geology and Geological Engineering
These scholars reflect the future of paleontology! They are curious, collaborative, and committed to science research and education. We are honored to support their journeys and welcome them to the Burpee community.
Follow along as they gain hands-on experience, uncover ancient history, and contribute to the science of the Morrison Formation.
Competitive Scholarships:
Burpee Museum of Natural History is thrilled to announce a worldwide opportunity for teachers and students to receive a competitive scholarship to participate in a week-long dinosaur excavation at the Hanksville-Burpee Dinosaur Quarry, one of the largest dinosaur bone beds in North America.
Two application categories are available:
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Teachers: Open to educators from preschool to university level, including continuing education teachers, seeking professional development in geology, paleontology, and desert ecosystems.
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Students: Open to high school students and older, with an interest in earth sciences, field experience, prehistoric life, and hands-on learning.
Note: At this time, the application is not saving progress. Please create a separate word document to edit your responses and paste into the application.
Questions: anne.weerda@burpee.org
Applications Due May 10, 2025
Scholarships Notified by May 15
Recipients Receive:
- Expedition expense scholarship- recipients pay just $400 to reserve their space for the full week of June 2–6 or June 9–13
- Fossil excavation, tool training, and expert mentorship guided by Dr. J. Mathews
- Excavating fossils of dinosaurs like Allosaurus, Diplodocus, and Camarasaurus
- Opportunities to build connections in the paleontology careers
- Daily transportation to the research site
Note: Lodging not included. Camping opportunities available. Transportation not included. Burpee staff can pick up participants for no cost at Grand Junction, CO airport, with pre-arranged flight information. Daily pickup rides to the dinosaur quarry from Hanksville, Utah.
Previous Dig Participants
Many of the young participants in our digs have gone on to graduate programs in paleontology. This is an opportunity to create connections in the field with many notable paleontologists.
Notable Hanksville-Burpee Dig Alumni:
Hudson Davis, Dr. Scott Foss, Scott Williams, Dr. Jim Kirkland, J. Malone, Dr. Spencer Hellert, Dr. Jake Crandall, MrBeast, Dr. Virginia Naples, Dr. Paul Sereno,
Sample Daily Schedule
A daily rhythm is soon established in Hanksville as participants settle into the field lifestyle of a paleontology dig site.
Wake up at your hotel.
Lodging is secured by individual volunteers at one of several Hanksville hotels. Most guests stay at the Whispering Sands in Hanksville.
8:30 am Gather in Trucks and leave for the field
Burpee paleontologists meet you at the welcome center with multiple off-road ready pick-up trucks and provide transportation to the site for the whole team. If you choose to rent your own car and drive to the quarry, you want to be sure it can handle the off-road nature of the long road to the quarry. The team packs the trucks full of supplies for the day, including water jugs and tools. You will ride with the team in these trucks for about 20 min to arrive at the location for the day.
9:15 am Begin fieldwork
Most volunteers are assigned a spot in the dinosaur quarry to work during their time on site. Don’t be surprised if you find a second bone while working on your first, as this quarry is packed with dino remains! Depending on the daily goals, the team might also prospect for more fossils by hiking around known areas, stopping to collect petrified wood (you can bring a small amount home), or even oysters and agate.
Break for water
It gets hot out in the desert! Teams are encouraged to have water in their backpacks and take several breaks to reapply sunscreen, drink water, and rest between working. Water coolers are also provided at the site for bottle refills.
12:00 pm Lunch
While you bring your own lunch, Burpee provides a large shaded seating area to gather for lunch and a break from the sun.
5:00 pm Leave the Field
Returning in the Burpee trucks, you will have a relaxing and well-deserved escort back to town to relax, shower, or clean up for dinner.
6:00 pm Dinner on your own
While dinner is on your own each night except Friday, where the team gathers for a closing get-together, volunteers and staff often meet up for dinner together at the local restaurants in Hanksville.
Volunteers work on different dinosaur bones
A partly uncovered pelvis with volunteer tools
Hiking in the field
Gathering Data on Fossil Location
Terms and Conditions for Burpee Museum’s Utah Dig Scholarship
By submitting this application, you agree to the following terms and conditions:
1. Eligibility
Applicants must be either current educators (any grade level, including continuing education, preschool, K–12, college, or university) or students (high school and above).
All participants must be at least 16 years old by the time of the dig.
2. Scholarship Value and Commitment
Selected applicants will receive a scholarship that covers over 60% of the total program cost.
Each scholarship recipient agrees to pay a $400 commitment fee to confirm their place.
This fee helps ensure participation and covers a portion of expedition costs including tools, training, and field access.
3. Program Participation
Participants must arrange their own transportation to Hanksville, Utah, or Grand Junction, Colorado (Burpee offers limited transport from Grand Junction to the site).
Lodging and meals (except for group lunches at the dig site and the Friday night closing dinner) are the responsibility of the participant.
Participants are expected to attend the entire week of the program, arrive on time daily, and engage fully in scheduled activities.
4. Health and Safety
This is a physically demanding outdoor experience in a remote desert location. Participants must be in good physical health and able to tolerate sun, heat, hiking, and manual labor.
Water, shade, and breaks will be provided, but participants are responsible for bringing personal items (e.g., sunscreen, hat, lunch, water bottle, etc.).
Burpee Museum reserves the right to refuse participation to any individual based on safety or behavioral concerns.
5. Fossil Collection Disclaimer
All fossils collected during the dig are the property of the U.S. government and will be deposited into the collections of the Burpee Museum of Natural History.
Participants will be credited for discoveries made and may be acknowledged in future publications, displays, or research.
6. Code of Conduct
Participants agree to treat staff, volunteers, and fellow team members with respect.
Harassment, discrimination, or unsafe behavior will result in immediate removal from the program without refund.
7. Use of Media
By participating, you grant permission for photos or videos of you taken during the dig to be used in promotional and educational materials by Burpee Museum.
WHAT MIGHT I FIND IN THE HANKSVILLE?
The Hanksville Burpee Dinosaur Quarry is located in the Morrison Formation. This rock unit is from the Late Jurassic (155 million years ago-148 million years ago).
Although the Morrison was deposited in a wide variety of environments, this quarry was part of a high-energy river system with varying speeds of water. The site is a great spot for finding animals that were washed downstream and deposited, leaving a jackstraw of various dinosaur bones from the longneck sauropod dinosaurs Diplodocus, Apatosaurus, Barosaurus, and Camarasaurus. Burpee has also found Allosaurus, Mymorapelta, and more.
Burpee teams will bring you to locations with a high probability of finding fossils or sites with a fossil bone partly exposed. You will learn how to remove the tough rock (matrix) around the bone and prepare it to be brought back to the museum for further preparation and study.