Each year, at the Commencement ceremony in May and the Gamma Theta Upsilon banquet, the department hands out its student accolades. There are two major awards given out at these events, both of which are based on cumulative grade point averages at the university—the Senior Academic Awards, handed out to the top graduating senior(s) in the department; the Outstanding Undergraduate Scholar Presentation Award; the Gamma Theta Upsilon Award for Excellence in Geography, given to one outstanding senior in the department; the NCGE/AAG Excellence of Scholarship Award, given to one outstanding senior in the department; the Geography and Regional Planning Faculty Scholarship, given to the outstanding junior in the department; and the Alan Mehwa Scholarship, given to the outstanding sophomore in the department. These two scholarships are now issued to incoming freshmen.

Below are lists of recent winners of these awards. In the case of the Senior Academic Awards, the names of all past recipients (back to 1960) appear on plaques within the geography department office.

Senior Academic Awards

2019

Madilyn Sodowsky

Kristina Thomas

2018

Jordan Casses

2017

Kaylee Capozzoli

Michael Heesh

2016

Danielle Lewis

Jenna Lezanic

2015

Aleesandria Gonzalez

Mackenzie Holt

Nathan Rector

Luke Schmidt

2014

Alexander Davis

Ashley Gibson

2013

Ewelina Zielinska-Thomas

2012

Lacy Hepler

Leslie Bolich

2011

Andrew King

Jacob Rougeaux

2010

Eric Nystrom

Joshua Steiner

2009

Tanya Boggs

Miranda Shoemaker

Amber Snavely

Derek Margetan

2008

Kara Kasper

Eric Hull

2007

Michael Baker

Gregg Culver

Larry Kleitches

Jessica Rich

2006

Matthew Bashore

MarcedesMinana

Benjamin Wells

Sara Yorty

Adam Zellman

2005

James D. Baginski

John Carr

2004

Rebecca Buchanan

Carl Nim

Britney Wood

Stephen Zlato

2003

Dawn Drake

Barbara Harteis

Micah Savidge

2002

Peter M. Hayward

Stacey L. Wicker

2001

Harry J. Solarek, II

2000

Judith Y. Aker

Matthew A. Genchur

1997

Christian E. Strohmaier (December 1996 graduate)

1996

Timothy L. Morris

Veronica R. Wilson

Benjamin R. White

1995

Mark A. Bramer

1994

Wendy E. Gira

Gamma Theta Upsilon Award for Excellence in Geography

2015

Rachel Applebaum

2014

Melissa Ann Creighton

2013

Christian Wells

2012

Adam Nelson

NCGE/AAG Excellence of Scholarship Award

2011

Nicholas Flanders

Ayanda Masilela

Brian Tompkins

2009

Tanya Boggs

2003

Dawn Drake

2002

Stacey L. Wicker

2001

Harry J. Solarek, II

2000

Matthew A. Genchur

1999

Leann C. Chaney

1998

Erich E. Halstead

1997

Christian E. Strohmaier

1996

Veronica R. Wilson

1995

Mark A. Bramer

1994

Wendy R. Gira

Geography and Regional Planning Faculty Scholarship

2013

Alexander Davis

2010

Brian Tompkins

2009

Eric Nystrom

Jake Rougeaux

2008

Tanya Boggs

2007

Eric Hull

2006

Greg Culver

2005

Ben Wells

2004

James Baginski

Marcedes Minana

2002

Dawn Drake

2001

Carla Blaisdell

Jessica Golebesky

2000

Dawn Drake

Stacey Wicker

1999

Matthew A. Genchur

1998

Harry J. Solarek II

Alan Mehwa Scholarship

2013

Mackenzie Holt

Samantha Conklin

2011

Philip Kopczyk

2009

Brian Thompkins

2008

Jake Rougeaux

2007

Kara Kasper

2006

Eric Hull

2004

Ben Wells

2003

Marcedes Minana

2001

Jason Fairman

2000

Carla Blaisdell

1999

Peter Hayward

1998

Matthew A. Genchur

Outstanding Graduating Masters Student

2018

Dan Romanelli

Geography and Regional Planning Research Week Scholar Award

2019

Presentation 1st Place: Abigail Roberts

Presentation 2nd Place: Logan Balch

Poster Winner: Zach Hollingshad

Poster Winner: Madilyn Sodowsky

Poster Winner: Wyatt Stitely

2018

Presentation 1st Place: John Risinger

Presentation 2nd Place: Dane Higbee

Poster Winner: Evan Gray

Poster Runner Up: Ben Cutler