SEMO Students Take Learning Into the Field with Donor Support

Ed Gargas, a 1990 SEMO graduate from Kennett, Missouri, supported Madison Bonee's participation in the field experience through his continued giving to the University. Bonee is a psychology major with minors in criminal justice/criminology and Spanish and attends SEMO's Kennett campus.

Bonee learned about the opportunity from Pamela Mills, instructor of geoscience at SEMO. When Mills learned Bonee was interested in participating, she worked to identify funding opportunities available to students at SEMO's regional campuses.

"I received a call from SEMO stating that there was a donor who generously provided the funding for the cost of the whole trip," Bonee said.

The annual geoscience field school, offered in collaboration with PaleoX Adventure 360 program, gives SEMO students hands-on experience working alongside paleontologists and field experts in eastern Montana. Students learn how to locate, identify, excavate and document dinosaur fossils. The geoscience field school is open to students from any major. Eleven students and two SEMO professors participated in this year's expedition.

Fossils collected during previous field schools have also been used for University courses, educational outreach and exhibits at the Crisp Museum at the River Campus. Mills has presented SEMO's paleontology work to schools and community groups throughout the region, often involving students in those presentations.

LEARN BY DOING

Mills has led SEMO's Montana paleontology field experience since 2019 and continues to expand opportunities for students to participate in fieldwork, research and outreach. This was the first year SEMO drones were used in the badlands. Kevin Russel, an anthropology student with minors in archeology and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), operated one of the drones in the field. An exciting find by Russel using the drone includes a triceratops epijugal, the side horn on the face of a triceratops.

Gargas said his support for the field school reflects his appreciation for the opportunities SEMO provided him and his belief in the University's role in the region.

"So many of the places I've gone and life's accomplishments were built from SEMO," Gargas said. "I'm grateful for the opportunities that SEMO created for me and I want to help others establish that."

Gargas earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with an emphasis in finance from SEMO and has remained involved with the University as an alumnus. He has served on the Board of Governors, including as president, and the SEMO Foundation Board.

Bonee said the experience gave her an opportunity to apply classroom learning in a new environment while gaining skills she can carry forward.

"It's one thing to learn about paleontology in a classroom, but it's completely different to be out in the field, carefully uncovering fossils and seeing history come to life firsthand," Bonee said. "Mr. Gargas' generosity allowed me to gain real-world experience, build my confidence and create memories and skills that will stay with me throughout my education and career."

Thanks to Gargas' generosity, Bonee was the first student from SEMO's regional Kennett campus to attend the Montana paleontology field experience. Mills expressed gratitude for the donors who make this experience possible.

"We are so grateful for all of our donors, especially those who continue to give year after year," Mills said. "They are what make this experience possible for so many students."

PaleoX Adventure 360 returned the fossils from this past summer to Magill Hall on Aug. 29. Students spent five hours of that Saturday opening field jackets and cleaning and preparing the fossils they found during the summer. Fossils from the summer 2026 geoscience field school will be added to the collection on display at the Crisp Museum at the River Campus.

Do you want to dig up history? Visit semo.edu/apply.

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