Student Cartography Competition

The California Geographical Society invites students - undergraduate and graduate - to share and be rewarded for their cartographic work at our annual conference! The CGS offers a serious and supportive environment for students to present their 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 (exact time will be listed on the conference program) to be eligible for an award. Winners will be announced during the CGS Awards Banquet on Saturday night. All presenters must register by Thursday, April 10, 2025. 

Awards

Paper Map Award

• One total award for undergraduate or graduate ($100 for 1st place, with certificates for 2nd and 3rd place)

Digital Map Award

• One total award for undergraduate or graduate ($100 for 1st place, with certificates for 2nd and 3rd place)

New Category! StoryMap Award

• One total award for undergraduate or graduate ($100 for 1st place, with certificates for 2nd and 3rd place)
  
  

Map Judging Criteria

1. Abstracts: Succinct map overview clearly stated and available to judges at time of judging (150 word limit).  Please submit your abstract when registering for the conference. All abstracts will be published in The California Geographer.

2. Cartographic Content and Analysis: Presenters should be able to explain the cartographic process, analysis and findings to the cartography judges.

3. Design and Presentation: Maps should be creative, balanced, and informative and should use clear color hierarchies and standard cartographic principles.

4. Technology and Graphics: Use of computer imagery, photogrammetry, and modeling are welcome and encouraged.

5. Presentation: Paper Maps are presented in a hardcopy format, digital maps using a computer, and StoryMaps using a computer or a flyer with a QR code. Presentation judging criteria also includes your ability to answer questions related to your mapping.

3. Check-in and Judging: Presenters will be assigned a time to present their work to the judges and will be listed in the conference program. Please familiarize yourself with all hardware and software before presenting. Presenters in the cartography competition will be required to stay with their map until the full judging process is complete.

Entering the Competition

1. Register for the conference (required for all presenters). Please only select one category for your presentation when registering.  If you used ESRI's StoryMap function, please choose the StoryMap category.  The digital map category is appropriate for interactive maps using ArcGIS Online or other web-based cartography tools. 

2. As this is a map competition, all submissions must have a strong map focus, with original design by the presenter.  Built-in map templates (e.g. Express Maps) will not be considered for a cartography award.

3. Submit a title and abstract for your map when you register for the conference at www.calgeog.org/conferences

4. All student map presentations submitted by the deadline will be automatically entered into the competition.

If you have additional questions or concerns contact:

Professor Scott Crosier (Cosumnes River College) via email: crosies@crc.losrios.edu