“I was extremely honored to have received the E. Willard and Ruby S. Miller Distinguished Graduate Fellowship,” Sanchez said. “I know everyone who applied is well-deserving of this award.”
The E. Willard and Ruby S. Miller Distinguished Graduate Fellowship in Geography provides support for academic excellence for graduate students.
“Receiving the Nancy Brown Community Service Award is special to me because it was voted on by my fellow colleagues,” Sanchez said. “Since I was thirteen, I have been volunteering in my community and it makes me proud to be a part of a department that also values this.”
The Nancy Brown Geography Community Service Award recognizes students who are involved in service in the department and the community, particularly in ways that go unrecognized while students complete their degrees.
“During her time at Penn State, Julie has demonstrated exceptional leadership and volunteerism,” said Jacklyn Weier, a current SWIG officer.
“This went beyond her commitment to SWIG as an officer and into further outreach. The graduate students of this department recognized that dedication and rewarded her for it.”
Sanchez’s area of scholarly interest is climatology.
“I am interested in climatology, specifically the cause of the increasing temperature in the Arctic region and Greenland,” she said. Sanchez said her most memorable student experiences are “my first year orientation with my amazing cohort.” She said that all her professors have been supportive and inspiring, “but especially, Roger Downs has always been someone who I will remember in my graduate career due to his warm-hearted character and encouraging conversations.”
She has advice for new students.
“Try to have conversations with everyone in the department, even if they are not in your field because you are guaranteed to learn something.” Sanchez said she is looking forward to finishing her doctoral degree. “I will be the first person in my family to earn one,” she said. “Then I hope to teach at a small state school or work for a private industry that focuses on climate change and sustainability.