Stanislaus students and faculty win state geography honors

For the fourth year in a row, California State University (CSU) Stanislaus students have won awards at the statewide California Geographical Society (CGS) meeting, which took place in Bishop, California in April. Geography majors Natasha Hanley and Melissa Ball were recognized for their accomplishments in geography at the annual meeting. Hanley received a cash award of $500 as the recipient of the David Lantis Scholarship. Her faculty mentor is Dr. Jennifer Helzer. Ball received a cash award of $100 as the winner of the second-place award in the Digital Map Competition, for her map “From Static to Interactive: CSU Stanislaus Goes 3D.” Her faculty mentor is Austin Avwunudiogba.

Other student presenters representing CSU Stanislaus at the conference included

Chad King, Geo-spatial Analysis of Habitat Utilized by Coast Horned Lizards at the Merced Wildlife Refuge. Faculty Mentor: Dr. Marina Gerson, Biology

Aldo Garcia, Promoting Educational Opportunities for Minority Groups at CSU Stanislaus. Faculty Mentor: Austin Avwunudiogba, Geography

Elizabeth Machado, The New Blue Islands: The Azorean Cultural Landscape of the California Central Valley. Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jennifer Helzer, Geography

John Williams, Community-Based Mapping: Meeting the Needs of Recent Assyrian Refugees in the Central Valley. Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jennifer Helzer, Geography

Guillermo Meraz, Ethnographic Field Experience in Cultural Anthropology in the Brazilian Amazon. Faculty Mentor: Dr. Richard Wallace, Anthropology

Fernando Rosales, Mr. Quetelet Goes to the Capital: A Spatial Examination on the Seasonal Fluctuation of Crime for the City of Sacramento. Faculty Mentor: Dr. Greg Morris, Criminal Justice

In addition to student awards, Dr. Peggy Hauselt won the prestigious California Geographical Society’s Outstanding Educator Award, recognizing the top teacher-scholars in the state. Dr. Hauselt was recognized for her many contributions to the profession including excellence in designing and teaching new course curriculum in geospatial technology and environmental sustainability, outreach to K-12 schools, her work with public and private agencies to develop internships in GIS including the application of geospatial technology in urban planning, precision agriculture and sustainability, and her efforts to develop new and exciting field-based learning activities that provide research opportunities to students, and make important contributions to the community.

Founded in 1946, the California Geographical Society (CGS) is the oldest state-wide organization devoted to enhancing the understanding of geography and promoting interaction amongst academic and applied geographers, as well as members of the general public who share an interest in geography. For more information about attending next year’s conference in Davis, California contact Dr. Jennifer Helzer, Chair Anthropology & Geography, 209-667-3010 jhelzer@csustan.edu.