Student competitions are an exciting element of each year's conference. Individuals and colleges compete for recognition and school pride, and a few dollars, in a series of judged events in three areas: papers, posters and cartography.
Each year, the specific deadlines, rules and other useful information about each of the competitions is posted on the web pages associated with the conference. If you are interested in preparing well in advance for any competition, consult with a faculty member familiar with the CGS conference, or view the competition guidelines from the awards web site.
Please consider donating to the funds that help the CGS distribute cash awards to student in recognition of their academic excellence. Pick an award category from the list below, or simply donate to our general fund.
If you are a student presenting at our conference and are looking for information about how to apply for an award, judging criteria, etc - you can find more information at this link.
The California Geographical Society invites undergraduate and/or graduate student attending the Annual Conference of the California Geographical Society to apply for a student travel award. The student travel award provides funds to recipients to offset costs associated with the annual meeting. The award provides an opportunity for a student to gain experience from attending a statewide conference; it is not necessary that the student give a paper. We ask that grant recipients share their experience by submitting a short reflection piece on their conference experience, to be included in the CGS Bulletin.
The Geosystems Award is the first endowed award in the organization’s history. This was made possible in 2002 by Robert and Bobbé Christopherson. Bobbé and Robert’s textbook, Geosystems: An Introduction to Physical Geography is a leading textbook in physical geography. He is working on the 11/e at this time. Their dedication to furthering our knowledge of the environment is reflected in their enthusiastic support of students.
Robert Christopherson, now retired from American River College, received the Outstanding Educator Award in 1997. Robert was the keynote speaker in the Presidential Plenary at the 2002 meeting. In 2012, Robert and Bobbé were recognized together with the Friend of Geography Award. They continue research expeditions for Geosystems.
Each year two awards for best physical geography/Earth systems science paper are presented to an undergraduate and a graduate student who present their research at the CGS annual conference.
The Geosystems Award Winners
2021, Undergraduate, Gwenyth Greco, CSU Northridge
2021, Graduate, Germán Silva, UC Santa Barbara
2018, Christopher Notto, CSU Northridge
The Tom McKnight Student Paper Award honors a longtime supporter of the CGS and its mission. Tom McKnight, from UCLA, was named Outstanding Educator in 1988. His consummate professional style and inquisitive nature earned McKnight the respect of generations of students, whom he engaged with his dynamic lectures. A prolific author of textbooks on North American and introductory geography, McKnight received awards from both Australian and Canadian geography organizations for his contributions to the field.
Tom McKnight Student Paper Award Winners
2021 UNDERGRADUATE AWARDS
1st Place Katie Piper, Cal Poly Humboldt
2nd Place Jessica Janecek, Cal Poly Humboldt
2021 GRADUATE AWARDS
1st Place Jared Whear, Syracuse University
2nd Place Albert Rossmeier, University of Tuebingen, Germany
2018 UNDERGRADUATE AWARDS
1st Place Luis Devera, CSU Northridge
2nd Place Erika Trinidad, Soka Univ. of America
3rd Place Alexandra Borunda, CSU Fullerton
2018 GRADUATE AWARDS
1st Place Stacie Towsend, UC Davis
2nd Place Lauryn Duoto, CSU San Jose
3rd Place Dustin Tsai, UC Davis
The Joe Beaton Student Poster Award carries the name of the late Joe Beaton, who received the Distinguished Teaching Award in 1994 and a Friend of Geography Award in 1997. Beaton, who taught at the California State Polytechnic Institute at Pomona, worked hard to stimulate students to observe and participate in the world. Never known for timidity, he taught with a bravado and energy that inspired students and colleagues alike.
Joe Beaton Student Poster Award Winners
2021 UNDERGRADUATE AWARDS
1st Place, Sophia Reyes, CSU Northridge
2021 GRADUATE AWARDS
1st Place, Sipan Kiremidjian, CSU Northridge
2nd Place, John Crowell, University of North Alabama
2018 UNDERGRADUATE AWARDS
1st Place, Mark Johansson, Grossmont College
2nd Place, Wyatt Caldeira, CSU Chico
3rd Place, Carly Agar, CSU Chico
2018 GRADUATE AWARDS
1st Place, Drew Smith, San Jose State Univ.
2nd Place, Hamilton Lam, CSU Long Beach
3rd Place, Guadalupe Maldonado, CSU Fullerton
The California Geographical Society invites students - undergraduate and graduate - to share and be rewarded for their work in cartography at our annual conference. The CGS offers a serious and supportive environment for students to present their cartographic work. A panel of cartographers will judge all entries. Students entering maps in the competition must be available to answer judges’ questions during the judging period. Awards are made for outstanding cartography in both analog and digital formats. Funds for the Cartography Awards generally are derived from the CGS General Fund.
Student Cartography Award Winners
2021 DIGITAL MAP AWARDS
1st Place, Faith Rehagen, Cal Poly Humboldt
2nd Place, Michael Flynn, Cal Poly Humboldt
2018 DIGITAL MAP AWARDS
1st Place, Kira Evers, Cal Poly State Univ.
2nd Place. Greg Beringer, CSU Fullerton
3rd Place, Quint Migliardi, Humboldt State Univ.
2018 PAPER MAP AWARDS
1st Place, Samuel Wood, Humboldt State Univ.
2nd Place, Joshua Schindelbower, Humboldt State Univ.
3rd Place, Carlos Lopez, CSU Fullerton
The CGS annually awards scholarships to college and university geography students to further their education. The primary award is the David Lantis scholarship, given each year to one graduate and one undergraduate student.
The David Lantis Student Scholarship is named after the organization’s seventh president, from CSU Chico. David Lantis received the Distinguished Service Award in 1976 and was named Outstanding Educator in 1991. Now deceased, Lantis authored numerous articles and textbooks including a California geography textbook used by educators throughout the state. He was a strong supporter of the California Geographical Society.
David Lantis Scholarship Winners
2021, Graduate, Ryan Koyanagi, CSU Fullerton
2021, Undergraduate, Noelani Fixler, Pasadena City College
2018, German Silva, CSU Stanislaus
The Outstanding Educator Award, established in 1975, has been given to geography educators throughout California. Many of the past awardees have been from four-year institutions, but several were from community and junior colleges and others from public schools in California. One time, the award went to the two California Geographical Alliances, north and south.
Outstanding Educators
2004 Larry Ford, San Diego State
2005 Robin Datel, CSU Sacramento
2007 Chris Haynes, Humboldt State University
2008 Debra Sharkey, Cosumnes River College
2009 Dorothy Freidel, Sonoma State University
2010 Irene Naesse, Orange Coast College
2011 Peggy Hauselt, CSU Stanislaus
2012 Debbie Elliott-Fisk, UC Davis
2013 Dan Walsh, Saddleback College
2014 Michael Schmandt, CSU Sacramento
2015 Joe Leeper, Humboldt State University
2016 Steve Graves, CSU Northridge
2017 Soheil Boroushaki, CSU Northridge
2018 John Aubert, American River College
2023 Vienne Vu
2024 Alison McNally, CSU Stanislaus
2025 William Selby, Santa Monica
The California Geographical Society operates through the generous donations of time from about a dozen or so key volunteers. Many dozens of additional volunteers step up during the conference each year to serve as judges, sales persons, technical assistants or simply running errands. Their time, effort and energy is greatly appreciated.In 1970, the first Distinguished Service Award was bestowed upon Art Carthew of L.A. City College and it has been given each year since to a member of the California Geographical Society who has demonstrated outstanding commitment to the organization.
Outstanding Service Awardees
2004 William Bowen, CSU Northridge
2005 Jenny Zorn, CSU San Bernardino
2007 Mike Murphy, Gettysburg Elementary School
2008 Dick Eigenheer, CSU Stanislaus
2009 Steve Graves, CSU Northridge
2012 John Aubert, American River College & Debra Sharkey, Cosumnes River College
2013 Robin Lyons, San Joaquin Delta College
2014 Jennifer Helzer, CSU Stanislaus
2015 Robert Voeks, CSU Fullerton
2016 Kate Davis, CSU San Jose
2017 Tiffany Seeley, East LA College
2019 Jim Wanket, CSU Sacramento
2023 Matthew Derrick, CSU Stanislaus
2024 Ryan Miller, UC Davis
2025 Scott Crosier, Cosumnes College
The Distinguished Teaching Award was established in 1974 to honor those teachers who are largely responsible for generating the love for geography among so many CGS members. Many of the recipients this award have been primary and secondary school educators. This award is presented at the annual spring conferences, with two or more distinguished K-12 educators frequently honored.
Distinguished Teaching Awardees
2007 Pamela Stephenson, Cram Elementary School & Nicole Young, Beattie Middle School
2009 Chip Fenega, Santa Ynez Valley High
2010 Dayna Wells, Park Western Place Elementary School
2012 Barbara Boyd, Rosemont High School
2014 Dominique Evans Bye, Clark Magnet High School
2016 William Henniger, Silver Creek High School, San Jose
2018 Christopher Lee, CSU Long Beach; Stephanie Cook, George Washington Carver; Dr. Molly Shaw, UC Santa Cruz
2019 Vicki Drake, Santa Monica College
2025 Nicole Dickenson, Vinewood Elementary, Lodi & Jill Ogden, Turlock High School
In 1995 the first Friend of Geography Award was established to recognize persons who, though perhaps outside the organizational structure or membership of the California Geographical Society, have nevertheless contributed mightily to the cause of geography in California (and beyond). The first award was given to Frank Baughman, DDS of Porterville. It has been awarded irregularly since, but always to deserving recipients.
Friends of Geography Awardees
2004 Tom McKnight, Memorial & Stuart Allen, Allen Cartography, Raven Maps & Images, and Benchmark Atlases
2007 Marcia Fagan, Principal, Kimberly Elementary School
2008 Pam Figge, Professional Planner and Instructor
2009 Gail Hobbs, Pierce College
2010 Steve Koletty, USC
2011 Barbara Gleghom and Scotty Wuerker
2012 Robert and Bobbe Christopherson
2013 Eugen Turner of CSU Northridge
2014 Gary Booher, Los Angeles Geographical Society
2015 Jerry Rohde, Author
2016 Kris Jones, multiple colleges in Southern California
2017 Matthew Derrick, Humboldt State University
2018 Timothy (Tim) Cliffe, Grossmont
2019 Bill Bowen, CSU Northridge
2024 Dr. Melinda Kashuba, Whiskeytown Environmental School
2025 Carrie Armstrong, UC Davis