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November 16, 2017

Congratulations to the winners of the 5th Annual Best Student Geologic Map Competition, held at the Geological Society of America's recent Annual Meeting in Seattle, WA.

Winners:

  • 1st Place: Sarah VanderMeer, Western Michigan University: Surficial Geology of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Michigan – Indian Town, Melstrand, Wood Island SE, Grand Portal Point, Trappers Lake, Au Sable Point SW, Au Sable Point SE, Au Sable Point, Grand Sable Lake, and Grand Marais 7.5 Minute Quadrangles.
  • 2nd Place: James Mauch, Utah State University: Mapping of Moab and Spanish Valleys to Explore Subsidence Patterns in a Quaternary Salt Graben.
  • 3rd Place: Sylvia Nicovich, Montana State University: Geologic Map of Alluvial Fans along the Zapata and Blanca Sections of the Northern Sangre De Cristo Range-Front Fault System, South-Central Colorado.

The competition is hosted by the USGS National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program and the Geological Society of America (GSA), with additional sponsorship from the GSA Foundation, Association of American State Geologists (AASG), American Geosciences Institute (AGI), American Institute of Professional Geologists (AIPG), and the Journal of Maps. The intent is to bring together student geologic mappers from around the world and provide a unique opportunity to recognize those students for their hard work and dedication to the geosciences.

AWARDS:

  • First place earned a Brunton Compass (sponsored by AASG), along with a limited run opportunity in the Journal of Maps
  • Second place was presented a rock-hammer and hand lens, sponsored by AIPG
  • Third place collected a selected GSA publication (book, field trip guide, or memoir)
  • Additionally, all winners received a Certificate of Recognition, along with an offer to publish their map in the Student Edition of the Journal of Maps.

The competition was open to all students, at any level of their academic career (B.S., M.S., or Ph.D.), who have created a geologic map through their recent and substantial field work.  Next year’s request for submissions is scheduled for mid-summer. 

1st Place, 2017 Best Student Geologic Map Competition: Sarah VanderMeer,  Western Michigan University
1st Place, 2017 Best Student Geologic Map Competition: Sarah VanderMeer,  Western Michigan University. (Public domain.)
2nd Place, 2017 Best Student Geologic Map Competition: James Mauch / Utah State University
2nd Place, 2017 Best Student Geologic Map Competition: James Mauch, Utah State University. (Public domain.)
3rd Place, 2017 Best Student Geologic Map Competition: Sylvia Nicovich, Montana State University
3rd Place, 2017 Best Student Geologic Map Competition: Sylvia Nicovich, Montana State University. (Public domain.)

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