Gloria Jimenez - Xcel Foundation scholar
Geology major
Carleton College ’07
Gloria Jimenez became interested in science at a young age. With three uncles who are marine biologists, she was always fascinated hearing them talk about their work and experiments. She enjoyed visiting their labs and seeing all the animal species they worked with. It was inspiration for her to pursue her own goals in science. But it wasn’t until she was a sophomore at St. Paul Central High School identifying rocks and minerals at Science Olympiad events that she whetted her real scientific passion — geology.
As a high school senior, Gloria excelled in math and science and was ready to take her academic rigor to the next level. She enrolled in post-secondary enrollment options coursework at the University of Minnesota and participated in a mini-internship that gave her the opportunity to add geological research to her résumé before becoming an undergraduate at Carleton College.
Her Xcel Energy Foundation Scholarship, in combination with work study and other financial aid, enabled her to do things to become more well-rounded — not only as a scientist but as a person. “My experience studying abroad in Tanzania was life-changing. It allowed me to gain years of maturity; I became more empathetic and kinder. The time spent there reinforced my goals to make a meaningful impact as a scientist.”
As she embarks on life after Carleton, Gloria will begin working at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee before she explores volunteer opportunities with the Peace Corps and eventually pursues her graduate degree in biogeochemistry and climate change.
“I want my work as a scientist to mean something, to practice science in a conscientious way, with a purpose.”