Geospatial Education Awards

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2022 National Excellence in Geospatial Education Awards Recipients

The National Excellence in Geospatial Education Awards have been created to recognize Excellence in Geospatial Education or support for Geospatial Education focused on two-year College programs.  The three Award categories are: 
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​(1) Distinguished Geospatial Educator   (2) Lifetime Achievement    (3) Distinguished Education Partner
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​Jing Liu
Distinguished Geospatial Educator 
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​Jing Liu
Santa Monica College, Santa Monica, California
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Jing Liu, a full-time instructor in Santa Monica College, CA. She received her PhD from University of Wisconsin Madison. She participated the Geospatial Educator's Certification Program (GeoEdC) and won the Award of Distinguished Geospatial Educator.
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​Heidi Ragsdale
Lifetime Achievement

​Heidi Ragsdale
Middle School Science Teacher - STEM / GIS
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Heidi's life's work includes: 20 years in the middle school science classroom, with an emphasis on STEM and Problem/Place-Based Learning. The passion from that work allows her to ensure that formal and informal rural educators and their students have access to innovative technology to increase the amount of explorers and problem solvers within local and regional communities. These tools include interactive web-based mapping tools as well as engineering design programs to showcase innovative solutions. Providing opportunities in STEM and GIS, helps build the workforce of tomorrow. 

20 year STEM/CTE, ESL, ESRI T3G, Nat Geo Grantee, NG Teacher Advisory Council, STEMEd Diversity Equity / Inclusion. Colorado Key Women Educators. Maptivist & GeoArtist.
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URISA
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Kevin Mickey
Distinguished Education Partner

URISA
​701 Lee St, Suite 960, Des Plaines, IL 60016
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URISA, The Urban and Regional Information Systems Association is a multi-disciplinary geospatial organization that provides professional education and training, a vibrant and connected community, advocacy for geospatial challenges and issues, and essential resources. URISA fosters excellence in GIS and engages geospatial professionals throughout their careers.

The award accepted by ​Kevin Mickey, an ​Immediate Past President of URISA and Director of Professional Development and Geospatial Technologies Education at The Polis Center, an applied research center at IUPUI.