Having compiled a straight-A 4.0 grade point average at CSU Stanislaus since transferring from Columbia College where she was named Student of the Year in 2008, Frantz received the $400 David Lantis Scholarship Award for outstanding academic achievements in her field of study. She accompanied a group of CSU Stanislaus students and faculty, including Geography Department Coordinator Dr. Jennifer Helzer who has served as CGS President since 2007, to the May 1-3 conference in Santa Ynez Valley.
Making plans to pursue graduate work in geography after earning her bachelor’s degree, Frantz is researching a combination of her areas of interest in environmental justice, technology, and sustainability. Much of her focus has been on an urban geography project to create a community garden in Modesto’s low-income Airport Neighborhood. It would provide the community access to fresh vegetables and give children a place to learn about gardening.
Two CSU Stanislaus students also placed in the competition at the conference which attracted more than 300 students from all over California. Jennifer Steffler scored a second place for her presentation titled “Foreclosure Activity and Animal Abandonment for Turlock, California.” Russell Peck’s “Mapping the Empire Mine Railroad” project tied for third in the mapping competition.
Geography Department faculty members from the College of Humanities and Social Sciences Dr. Eric Karlstrom and Dr. Peggy Hauselt also made presentations at the conference.