February 25, 2026
16 students received AIA Field School Scholarships in 2025. Made possible through the Jane C. Waldbaum Archaeological Field School Scholarships and the newly established American School of Prehistoric Research Scholarships and Laura Obolensky Scholarships, these awards support emerging archaeologists as they gain hands-on experience at sites across the globe. Stay tuned as we highlight their stories and share updates from the field!
Isabelle Adnson (University of Colorado Boulder)
Field School location: Estaca, New Mexico
Scholarship: Jane C. Waldbaum Field School Scholarship
Advice for future scholarship winners going on their first digs?
Firstly, congratulations! My first recommendation is to take very detailed personal field notes! Not only will this help you in a practical sense to understand how something happened if something is wrong down the road, but after field school you will thank yourself so that you don’t forget what you learned.
I think other good advice I can give would be to take advantage of every opportunity you have while going to your first field school. If you see your field school teachers doing something you don’t understand, ask them what that thought it behind it. If they are using a technique you’ve never seen before, ask them how to do it. There is no better time to learn than when you have the hands-on opportunity in front of you. I would also add that no matter where your program is, don’t forget sunscreen and stay hydrated!
