Matthew Roper, native of Thackerville, volunteers at Dinosaur Museum

Related Media

Mathew Roper (center), Paleontology Student, gives visitors a behind the scenes tour of the laboratory at the Mesalands Community College’s Dinosaur Museum during National

TUCUMCARI, NM (11/11/2011)(readMedia)-- Matthew Roper, who grew up in Thackerville, Oklahoma, is a Paleontology student at Mesalands Community College. Roper came to Tucumcari to study Paleontology because of the resources that were available for him to fulfill his love of dinosaurs. Roper donates some of his time to the Mesalands Community College's Dinosaur Museum.

Recently the Dinosaur Museum had many people visit for National Fossil Day. Roper gave tours of the Natural Sciences laboratory, where the fossils are prepared for exhbibits. Roper says he likes paleontology and  telling others how he finds his studies rewarding. He also had donated his time at the Museum for the latest activity, the Haunted Museum.

Roper was asked why he chose this college to study Paleontology. He said, "Dr. Axel was the reason I chose this college, he made all the difference."

Dr. Axel Hungerbuehler is the Natural Sciences Department Faculty/ Museum Curator for Mesalands Community College. Roper says his experience here has been great , and he has learned a lot. He says the weather in Tucumcari is different than in his hometown, but it is still a nice place to live. Roper plans to continue his studies and finish the program at Mesalands Community College.