Katherine Laudon

Katherine Laudon established the Laudon Family Geology Field Camp Scholarship in 2016 in honor of her father, Dr. Thomas Laudon. Dr. Laudon lived an adventurous life. He was a dedicated geology professor, an avid explorer, passionate about the outdoors and mountaineering, and well-respected in his field.

Dr. Laudon passed away on January 1, 2017. His memory will live on through the renowned Geology Field Camp he established at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh and the Laudon Family Geology Field Camp Scholarship that was established before his passing. The scholarship, in honor of Dr. Laudon and his family’s connection to the UW Oshkosh Geology Department, supports deserving students with financial need to attend the annual Geology Field Camp.

For the better part of his career, Dr. Laudon taught as a geology professor at UW Oshkosh. Through the Geology Field Camp, he led hundreds of students through an eight-week trip to the Canadian Rockies and the Yukon Territory. After retiring in 1997, he continued his involvement with the field camp for two summers. Dr. Laudon also organized and led three continuing education geological treks in the Himalayas and served as geological expert on six cruise ship voyages to Antarctica.

Dr. Laudon’s career allowed him to explore every continent in the world. His academic research brought him everywhere from the UK to the Himalayas to Australia. While in graduate school, he made his first trip to Antarctica, visiting the continent 10 times over his lifetime. His fellow Antarctic explorers named Mount Laudon in his honor.

During his 34 years at UW Oshkosh, Dr. Laudon received the UW Oshkosh Distinguished Teaching Award in 1997 and the James F. Duncan Research Award in 1981. He served as the geology department chair from 1969 to 1972. Dr. Laudon also served as a fellow of the Geological Society of America.