Excellence
Distinguished Thesis Award 2025
Megan Moscarello, M.S. Cultural Resource Management, SCSU 2025 Distinguished Thesis Award recipient for her thesis Rock Art Documentation in the Digital Age: The Rafter Z Site (24RB2809) in Rosebud County, Montana The thesis chair was Dr. Mark Muñiz
Megan Moscarello’s thesis was nominated by the Cultural Resource Management graduate program which noted, “The anthropological results of Megan’s research make a very significant contribution to the history of the Great Plains. Through analysis of artistic motifs present in the Rafter Z rock art, an examination of the detailed culture history of the region, and a comparison with ethnographic art from the Apsáalooke Nation (Crow) and Kiowa Tribe (including Kiowa Apache), Ms. Moscarello makes a convincing argument that the Rafter Z site provides direct evidence of early interactions between the Apsáalooke and Kiowa peoples in Montana that likely predates contact with European explorers.” In addition, they noted that Megan’s “results established a methodology and workflow that takes into account both cost-effectiveness and quality and that can be implemented by other CRM professionals and rock art researchers anywhere in the world.”
Megan shared the following about her thesis research:
"My thesis highlighted both traditional and digital methodologies for recording and analyzing prehistoric rock art. In today’s increasingly digital age, it is important that we seek and experiment with novel uses of technology to help improve the archaeological record and to strengthen future research potential for those who come after us. 3D imagery and photogrammetry are valuable tools to add to any archaeologist’s knowledge base. Since completing my thesis, I have applied photogrammetry to record more rock art, model lithic tools and faunal remains, and small archaeological features as a part of site documentation during routine site monitoring work with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). More recently, I have begun applying the techniques and methodologies I learned during my thesis work to create and interpret drone and LiDAR datasets to map and monitor at-risk archaeological sites around Lake Sakakawea.
The wide applicability of these adaptable technologies complements the traditional methodologies, offering new avenues for more comprehensive site documentation. Beyond archaeology, these digital technologies hold great potential for other disciplines as well. Whether in history, geology, environmental studies, and more, the potential to apply these techniques is vast. You just have to be the one to take the leap and experiment. Innovation often emerges when established boundaries are expanded, and exploring these technologies in wide-ranging disciplines can open new avenues for research and discovery."
The nominated theses are reviewed each year by the Graduate Faculty Committee of the St. Cloud State Faculty Association. More information on the SCSU Distinguished Thesis Award is available on the Culminating Projects website
Excellence in Leadership Awards
Congratulations to our graduate student recipients of the 2025 Department of Campus Involvement Excellence in Leadership Awards!
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Anna Lehto, M.S. in College Counseling and Student Development, College of Education and Learning Design
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Salar Yousafzai, M.S. in Information Assurance, Herberger Business School
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Veronica Sevilla Rubi, M.S. in College Counseling and Student Development, College of Education and Learning Design
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Thivanka Mohottalalage, M.S. in Information Assurance, Herberger Business School
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Grace Jacobson, M.A. in English Studies, College of Liberal Arts
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Tusmitha Rathina Gunabalan, M.S. in Medical Technology Quality, College of Science and Engineering
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Salome Pantuvo, M.S. in Information Assurance, Herberger Business School
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Tierra House, M.S. in Educational Leadership and Administration, College of Education and Learning Design
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Hannet Mensah, M.S. in Information Assurance, Herberger Business School
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Abigail Semanko, M.S. in Sports Management, College of Health and Wellness Professions
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