Scholarship Winner Spotlights

Sarah Eason Watson: An Enriching GIS Education

Sarah Eason Watson was instantly hooked when she took a GIS class for the first time in 2008 at Austin Community College. As someone who always enjoyed maps and puzzles she seized the opportunity to turn a hobby into a career.

Joel Max: Applying GEOINT to Emergency Management

When Joel Max, a 2015 USGIF scholarship recipient, recalled attending USGIF’s GEOINT Symposium for the first time in June, he described himself as a “kid in a candy shop.”

Jory Fleming: Connecting GEOINT and Marine Science

USGIF Scholarship winner pursues geography and marine science undergraduate degrees at the University of South Carolina

Crystal English: A Passion for Crime Mapping and Analysis

In 2010, Crystal English earned a certification in crime and intelligence analysis from the California Department of Justice. English then went on to achieve a master’s degree in geography and GIS at California State University, Northridge.

Megan Miller: Conducting Doctoral Research at NGA

Megan Miller has always been interested in mathematics and analytics. After learning remote sensing and photogrammetry during her undergraduate studies and realizing its career opportunities, Miller knew it would be a good choice for her career path.

Jed Dale: A Family Passion for Geography

A passion for geography and the geospatial sciences inspired by grandparents who served with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Katie Corcoran: Linking GEOINT and Archeology

Katie Corcoran’s research explores the connection between GIS and anthropology, and how the two fields work in concert to support humanitarian and national security efforts

W. Gabe Powell: A Decade of Military Experience

W. Gabe Powell is not your typical geospatial sciences student. With more than 10 years experience in the U.S. Army and a first-time teaching job at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point lined up for 2016, Powell has accomplished much.