Student Awards 2020
Each year we present student awards at our banquet at Brock’s Riverside Grill. Obviously, that event did not take place, but we have given the awards virtually. This is what we would have said about each recipient.
James B. Gouger III Award
Presented to the student who excels in geographic techniques.
This year’s winner is earning a Certificate in GIS and has taken nearly every course offered. In addition, she has used other geographic techniques in her research, including the interviews that she conducted for her Honors Thesis which explores how students’ create a sense of home in their residence halls. In other research, she examined the spaces of smartphones, showing how they function similar to physical spaces by connecting people socially. She is also completing UMW’s Honor Program.
The 2020 James B. Gouger III Award is presented to Hannah Huggins ’20.
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.
This year’s winner has earned a perfect GPA in the mix of introductory and upper-level courses that has taken thus far. She has also taken courses toward her GIS certificate. As an aide in the Department, this young woman shares her knowledge of the Geography with dozens of students who visit campus each year. When she is not excelling in her classes or meeting prospective students, she can be found on the water in a scull!
The 2020 Richard P. Palmieri Award for Excellence in Geography goes to Keelin O’Hara ’21.
Harold Thompson Straw Award
Presented to the student who exhibits the most professional potential for scholarly contribution in Geography.
This recipient of this award has done very well in his major courses and those in his Urban Studies minor. For his senior seminar, he investigated how urban planning leads to health disparities that negatively impact the urban poor, and ways that cities can be better planned and designed to counteract these disparities. In the fall, he will be moving to Chapel Hill where he has been awarded a full scholarship to complete his Master’s degree in urban planning at UNC.
The 2020 Harold Thompson Straw Award is presented to Dylan Burkett ’20.
Geospatial Technologies Award
In Recognition of the GISc Certificate student who has excelled in all certificate courses and who has contributed to the success of others in the program.
This year’s winner has excelled in a variety of geospatial technologies, is currently completing her capstone project, and has helped her peers. This student has long been recognized as someone who takes every opportunity to learn and apply geospatial technique including the creation of a campus accessibility map and the design of maps for a guidebook of hiking trails in Ohio. She is also the editorial assistant for Dr. Hanna, who is the American Association of Geographers Cartography Editor. In that role, she completes a preliminary review of every map, graph, photograph, or diagram accompanying manuscripts accepted for publication in the association’s three journals – The Annals of the American Association of Geographers, the Professional Geographer, and GeoHumanities. In the last year, she has reviewed almost 600 graphics.
The 2020 Geospatial Technologies Award goes to Jennifer Garrard Matarese ’20.
National Council for Geographic Education Excellence of Scholarship Award
Presented to the student who has an enthusiasm for and commitment to Geography.
This award is given to one of our seniors who is enthusiastic about being a major. This senior has twice represented UMW at the World Geography Bowl of the Southeast Division of the American Association of Geographers (SEDAAG). While a student in the GIS certificate program, he completed an independent study using GIS on historic African-American business locations in Richmond which he presented at both Research & Creativity Day and SEDAAG in 2019.
The 2020 NCGE Excellence in Scholarship Award is presented to Owen Donovan ’21.
Meriwether Lewis and William Clark Award
Given to the graduating Geography Major with the highest grade point average in Geography courses.
This year we have two winners. The first is a student who is completing an Honors Thesis in Geography. She has a near perfect GPA of 3.97 in a broad range of courses in human geography and GIS.
The 2020 Meriwether Lewis and William Clark Award goes to Hannah Huggins ’20.
This year we have two winners. The second is a student who also has a near perfect GPA of 3.94 in a broad range of courses in human geography and GIS.
The 2020 Meriwether Lewis and William Clark Award goes to Jennifer Garrard Matarese ’20.
Outstanding Student in Master of Science in Geospatial Analysis Award
Presented to a graduating MSGA student who demonstrates excellence in his or her master’s level courses.
This student has a perfect GPA in his graduate coursework. In the words of his advisor, Dr. Yin, he showed an impressive critical thinking and independent study skills, which have also been well reflected in his independent study and capstone project. He is a self-motivated student with very clear research goals who can independently choose and apply appropriate techniques and methods, not limited to what he has learned from the classes, to address a research question. More importantly, he can consistently apply excellent critical thinking skills to the entire life circle of his research projects, from research question framing, methodology design, analysis execution, and result interpretation.
The 2020 Outstanding Student in Master of Science in Geospatial Analysis Award is presented to Steven Schaffer ’20.
Geography Alumni Scholarship
Granted to a rising junior or senior Geography major who demonstrates both excellence and a commitment to their achievement and contributions to the department.
The most valuable award that the department confers is the scholarship. This award is named in honor of those alumni who are passionate about their experiences here at Mary Washington and who have provided financial support to make this scholarship possible. Consequently, the recipients of the scholarship are always those students who exhibit this passion. This year’s winner has been engaged in a number of projects, including the creation of an accessibility map of campus, designed maps for a guidebook of hiking trails in Ohio, and has been a part of Dr. Hanna’s plantations research team. In addition, she works as an aide in the department and routinely helps with a variety of admissions events where she encourages new students to explore Geography. Finally, she has facilitated the revitalization of the Geography Club.
The 2020 Geography Alumni Scholarship goes to Elizabeth Devine ’21.