THE 2009 CARTOGRAPHY AND GEOGRAPHIC  
      INFORMATION SOCIETY (CaGIS) SCHOLARSHIPS 

Each year, the Cartography and Geographic Information Society (CaGIS) sponsors two scholarships to students whose research and accomplishments support the mission of CaGIS.  The scholarships recognize academic achievement and encourage the continuing education of outstanding cartography, geographic information systems (GIS), and geographic information science (GIScience) students.  Scholarships are awarded for research advancing the disciplines of cartography or GIScience rather than research applying GIS or mapping as a technique. Winners are selected based on academic achievement, particularly in the calendar year prior to the award. Applications are reviewed by the CaGIS Scholarship Committee, and awards are announced in the spring. Information on other CaGIS-sponsored awards is available at www.cartogis.org/awards.

Awards

CaGIS Masters Scholarship Award ($500): This award is to be granted to a student enrolled in, or accepted into, a Masters’ degree program during 2008 or 2009.  The winner will have demonstrated excellence in cartography or GIScience coursework and the potential to contribute to cartography or GIScience research.  Outstanding undergraduates seeking to support Masters’ level research in GIScience are also eligible to apply (see below).

CaGIS Doctoral Scholarship Award ($1000): This award is to be granted to a student enrolled in, or accepted into, a PhD degree program during 2007 or 2008.  The winner will have demonstrated excellence in cartography or GIScience coursework and the potential to contribute to cartography or GIScience research.

Winners are invited to present their research at an upcoming AutoCarto conference, and are eligible for limited travel support if they choose to present.

Eligibility

Candidates must be enrolled full-time in a four-year undergraduate or graduate degree program during 2008 or 2009, studying cartography, geographic information science, or a closely related field.  Prior scholarship winners are eligible to apply in subsequent years if all appropriate criteria are satisfied.  Undergraduate applicants who have not yet been accepted into graduate school should request that their faculty advisor assess their potential for graduate study in their reference letter.

Selection Criteria

Valid applications for CaGIS awards (see below for application procedures) are reviewed by the CaGIS Scholarship Committee, which will use the following criteria to judge applications:

• 70% academic record;
• 10% applicant’s statement;
• 10% letter of recommendation;
• 10% professional activities (CaGIS membership, conference participation, publications, community service, etc.).

Level of financial need will be considered, if necessary, to break ties, after the primary criteria have been considered. The committee can choose to award no scholarships.

Application Procedure

1.  Go to http://www.cartogis.org/awards/ and complete the application form.

2.  Compile the following:

• The completed application form
• A 400-word statement of educational objectives, future study or research plans and professional activities, and relationship of activities and/or research to mission of CaGIS
• A digital transcript showing records for 2008
• One letter of recommendation from a faculty member or supervisor familiar with your work 

3.  E-mail these documents; see instructions on form.  Applications must arrive no later than 5:00pm CST on JANUARY 15, 2009. 

Notification of Winners
The selected applicants for the scholarships will be notified by February 15, 2009. The winners are encouraged to attend the awards ceremony at the 2009 AAG conference or the 2010 AutoCarto conference (see http://www.cartogis.org/eventspage/ for more information).

CaGIS Scholarship Committee:

Rob Edsall, Max Baber, and Michael Finn

Contact Information:

Rob Edsall, CaGIS Student Activities Coordinator, Department of Geography, 414 Social Sciences Tower, University of Minnesota, 267 19^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55455. Phone: (612) 625-2562; E-mail: edsal001@umn.edu.