Student and Alumni Awards

Each year at the Geography Department Spring Banquet, we recognize Geography majors who have made great accomplishments both inside and beyond the classroom.  Past winners of these awards are listed below

GEOGRAPHY ALUMNI SCHOLARSHIP

The scholarship was established by Mary Washington Geography alumni to recognize Professors Emeriti Samuel Emory, Marshall Bowen, James Gouger, and Richard Palmieri.  It is granted each year to a rising junior or senior Geography major who demonstrates both excellence and a commitment to the discipline.

  • 2002 Lizbeth Sydnor
  • 2003 Megan Frascella
  • 2004 Matthew Reed
  • 2005 Katherine Walters
  • 2006 Jessica DeWitt
  • 2007 Colin Deyman
  • 2008 Emily Fornof
  • 2009 Allyson Thompson
  • 2010 Sarah McNeal
  • 2011 Brian Brown
  • 2012 Ethan Bottone
  • 2013 Kathryn Ricchetti
  • 2014 Emily K. Hill

Richard P. Palmieri Award for Excellence in Geography

Given to a non-senior geography major who demonstrates excellence in his or her introductory and upper-level courses.

  • 1999 Jason Robert Winfield
  • 2000 Angela Jacobini and Sharon Wilcox
  • 2001 Julie Michelle Kolakowski and Erin Gwynne McCarty
  • 2002 Patrick Mauney
  • 2003 Megan Frascella
  • 2004 Matthew Reed
  • 2005 Ruth Laben
  • 2006 Alison Yates Baker
  • 2007  Jonathan Trenary
  • 2008  Leah Shopneck
  • 2009 Timothy St. Onge
  • 2010 Kayla Kuhn and Sarah McNeal
  • 2011 Amy Leap
  • 2012 Wesley Roberts
  • 2013 Sarah Bergstresser and Ethan Battone
  • 2014 Melissa E. Mittelman

National Council for Geographic Education Excellence of Scholarship Award

Given to the student who has an enthusiasm for and commitment to Geography.

  • 1999 Owen B. Riley
  • 2000 George Kramer
  • 2001 Jeffrey Alan Hoffman
  • 2002 Elizabeth K. Shaver
  • 2003 Justin Young
  • 2004 Gretchen Wietmarschen
  • 2005 Thérèse Giamboni
  • 2006 Katherine Broendel
  • 2007  Steven Grillo
  • 2008  Colleen Earp
  • 2009 Hilary Colleen Lufkin
  • 2010 Cassandra Ratti
  • 2011 Zachary Wehrmann
  • 2012 Mohammad Mesbahi
  • 2013 Meagan Holbrook
  • 2014 Hallie Gibson

Matthew Fontaine Maury Award

Presented to the student who excels in geographic techniques.

  • 1999 Jeremy N. Duval
  • 2001 Lynne Marie McMullen
  • 2002 Brian Walsh
  • 2003 Christina Timpano
  • 2004 Michael Warner
  • 2005 Stuart T. Geiger
  • 2006 Stuart T. Geiger
  • 2007  Jessica DeWitt
  • 2008  Colin Deyman
  • 2009 Keith Garrett
  • 2010 No Award
  • 2011 Matthew Holden
  • 2012 Krystal Hawkins and Morgan Lamon
  • 2013 E. Fariss Hodder
  • 2014 Jared F. Morel

Harold Thompson Straw Award

Presented to the student who exhibits the most professional potential for scholarly contribution in Geography.

  • 1999 Susan Michelle Johnson
  • 2000 Sarah Hinman
  • 2001 Sharon Elizabeth Wilcox
  • 2002 Erin McCarty
  • 2003 Patrick Mauney
  • 2004 Megan Frascella
  • 2005 Lisa Egan
  • 2006 Katherine Walters
  • 2007  No award
  • 2008  Shelby Zelonis
  • 2009 Emily Fornof
  • 2010 Tim St. Onge
  • 2011 Ian Pope
  • 2012 Brian Brown
  • 2013 Rebecca Bice
  • 2014 Ethan M. Battone

Meriwether Lewis and William Clark Award

Given to the graduating Geography major with the highest grade point average in Geography Courses.

  • 1999 Alexandria V. Zerbe
  • 2000 Jeremy Ellis
  • 2001 John Paul Rapaglia
  • 2002 Katherine Weber and Lynne Marie McMullen
  • 2003 Rebecca Hinckley
  • 2004 Robert Grassi
  • 2005 Lisa Egan
  • 2006 Ruth Laben
  • 2007  Alison Baker
  • 2008  Shelby Zelonis
  • 2009 Leah Shopneck
  • 2010 Amber Huffman
  • 2011 Sarah McNeal
  • 2012 Amy Leap
  • 2013 Megan Mahony
  • 2014 Sarah E. Bergstresser