Spirit of Adventure Award

Caitlyn Florentine '07 is a recipient of the 2024 Spirit of Adventure Award.

Caitlyn graduated with a B.A. in Geology from CC in 2007, before going on to earn an M.S. in Earth Sciences from Montana State University in 2011 and a Ph.D. in Geosciences from the University of Montana in 2018. Since 2019, she has worked as a civil servant for the Department of the Interior, as a Research Physical Scientist with the Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center of the U.S. Geological Survey. Caitlyn has been intellectually adventurous, acquiring broad scientific expertise in glacier physics, avalanche science, geology, geomorphology, ecology, hydrology, and quantitative glaciology. Her studies of glaciers have involved various adventurous endeavors, including participating in field campaigns on the Greenland Ice Sheet, hiking scientific equipment through remote wilderness settings, and navigating the complex logistics associated with accessing mountain glacier sites with helicopters and on skis. Caitlyn’s sense of adventure is rooted in her desire to understand and explore not only the cryosphere (frozen earth), but also the internal landscapes that define our shared human experience. Caitlyn encounters challenges with grit and curiosity. She is known for her relentless optimism and thoughtful advocacy for women and other underrepresented populations in her field. We honor Caitlyn for her intellectual prowess, curiosity, enthusiasm, and openness to wonder – qualities that exemplify the unique CC experience.