Student Awards 2024
This year’s students were celebrated at our annual Spring Awards Banquet at Brock’s Riverside Grill. Read on to learn about our awardees:
Marshall E. Bowen Scholarship:
This new award was endowed in 2024 by a 1971 Mary Wash graduate, Susan Liebenow, in honor of the phenomenal teacher and mentor, late Professor Marshall E. Bowen. Dr. Bowen taught at Mary Washington from 1965 to 2001 and was renowned for teaching the regional geography of America to classes of 300 students who LOVED his passion and energy, each semester. He took students on field trips to western states, he was the men’s basketball coach, and he was beloved.
The winner of this award is Anders Barretta ’25! Anders is interested in voting districts and redistricting maps, and enjoys creative problem solving. He is working on the GIS Certificate, the Geography Major, and a Political Science Major. All three of these work towards his passion: politics.
Meriwether Lewis and William Clarke Award:
Given to the graduating Geography Major with the highest grade point average in Geography courses.
The winner of this award is Elisa Luckabaugh ’25! Elisa began this semester with 65 earned credits in Geography, quite the achiever! On top of being a Geography Major, she is working on the GIS Certificate, has completed the Climate Science Minor, and is in the honors program. She is active in many clubs, including being our Geography Club’s president, and enjoys an active social life!
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.
The winner of this award is Victoria Gallaway ’25! She has completed 48 Geography credits, and has earned the highest GPS of non-senior majors. Victoria is completing the Climate Science Minor as well as the GIS Certificate! Beyond coursework, she has worked with a linguist on a world languages study for the Arts and Humanities Summer Institute. Additionally, she is very involved in GIS work, assisting Dr. Millones in a workshop for members of the American Association of Geography. She works for a remote sensing company, FUGRO, doing quality assessment and control on LiDAR results derived by a machine.
James B. Gouger III Award:
Presented to the student who excels in geographic techniques.
The winner of this award is Victoria Gallaway ’25! Two summers ago, our awardee worked with a linguist on a world languages study for the Arts and Humanities Summer Institute. Victoria has assisted Dr. Millones with a workshop given to members of the American Association of Geography; twice she has done this with another session coming up! She works for a remote sensing company called FUGRO doing quality assessment and control on LiDAR results derived by a machine. Finally, Victoria is making maps for Dr. Finlayson’s upcoming Human Geography Book!
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.
The winner of this award is Brooke Prevedel! Brooke completed the GIS certificate last semester, and is wrapping up two majors this semester-neither of them in Geography! She has worked for Dr. Hanna as his cartographic editorial assistant for the AAG. Additionally, Brooke has been involved in several community-based projects. These include, map depicting the new Fredericksburg Civil Rights Trail for the City of Fredericksburg, which received high accolades. More recently, she helped map the tour of the Marquis de Lafayette in 1842 for the Fredericksburg Area Museum, and has been involved with Civil Rights mapping for Stafford County.
Harold Thompson Straw Award:
Presented to the student who exhibits the most professional potential for scholarly contribution in Geography.
The winner of this award is Leda Hinkle ’24!Leda has well-defined career goals that connect to her interests, prior work experience, and current internship. At her current internship, she is working in downtown Fredericksburg with the Fredericksburg Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (FAMPO), solving transportation issues and encouraging everyone to ride the bus! For several years. she has held a regular summer gig as a camp counselor at a nature camp, which she absolutely loves.
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.
The winner of this award is Sarah Kerner ’23! Sarah completed our 4+1 program and began working on her master’s degree during her senior year of college. She worked extensively on a project that mapped temperatures in the City of Fredericksburg, and also helped Dr. Patterson’s Nature of Cities class consider urban heat effects within the city. Starting as an undergraduate, Sarah interned with Friends of the Rappahannock. She completed a capstone titled, “The Relationship Between Water Temperature and Proximity to Surface Urban Heat Islands within the Lowe Chesapeake Bay Watershed for the Summer of 2019“
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 winner of this award is Aimee Trehey ’25! She excels in all her coursework, is active in the Geography club, is working on two majors, and will earn the GIS Certificate! GIS and cartography have been considerable parts of her education and emphasis at Mary Wash. Aimee has performed original field data collection, helped to analyze it, and co-presented her results at a major regional geography conference. She worked on memorial plaques in the City of Fredericksburg under the instruction of Dr. Hanna. Additionally, she will work as Dr. Hanna’s cartographic editorial assistant next year!