USGIF Announces 2007 Scholarship Recipients

October 10, 2007

Herndon, Va. — The United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF) today announced the recipients of its 2007 Scholarship Program.

This year, the Foundation awarded a total of $54,000 to 12 recipients: two Ph.D. candidates, four master’s students, four undergraduates and two graduating high school seniors. High school winners received $2,000 scholarships and the others received $5,000 scholarships.

“On behalf of the Foundation and its Board of Directors, I would like to congratulate this year’s recipients of the USGIF Scholarship Program for their academic excellence and
accomplishments within the tradecraft,” said USGIF President and Chairman K. Stuart Shea. “USGIF is impressed with the interest and dedication this year’s winners displayed in their academic contributions to our expanding field.”

The 2007 Scholarship Program recipients are:

Greg Babonis is pursuing a master’s degree in the field of geology at the State University of New York at Buffalo. Once completing his Ph.D., he anticipates applying his work in laser remote sensing for the U.S. government.

Drew Flater is pursuing his master’s degree in geographic information science from the University of Akron. Flater looks to a future career within the geospatial intelligence field and being part of our country’s next-generation technical solutions.

Brandon Barbour is a two time USGIF scholarship winner pursuing his bachelor’s degree in geography, geospatial intelligence with an Asian studies minor at Brigham Young University.

Barbour would like to foster a career for the U.S. government in the area of imagery analysis or human intelligence.

Dwight Lanier is pursuing his bachelor’s degree in geography, with a minor in Arabic, from the University of Georgia. Lanier has served in Afghanistan and Iraq as a geospatial intelligence analyst with the U.S. Marine Corps.

Chris Lippitt is pursuing his Ph.D. in geographic information science at the University of California, Santa Barbara. His post-dissertation plans include development of real-time geospatial data collection and integration technologies in the public or private sector.

Justin March, after five years in the U.S. Navy, is pursuing his bachelor’s degree in geography from the University of Wisconsin–River Falls. Post-graduation, March looks to continue his service to the nation’s defense in the geospatial intelligence tradecraft.

William Powell is pursuing a master’s degree in urban and environmental planning from the Texas State University–San Marcos. Powell has recently returned from a tour of duty in Iraq as a member of the U.S Army 82nd Airborne Division.

James Sanovia is pursuing his bachelor’s degree in geological engineering from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. Sanovia’s career goal is to begin his own engineering and visualization-mapping company and assist the scientific community.

Brian Tomaszewski is pursuing his Ph.D. in geography and cartography from Pennsylvania State University. His post-dissertation plans are to be involved in developing new geospatial theories and technologies.

Monica Van Pelt is pursuing her master’s in geospatial information science from Northwest Missouri State University. Van Pelt has been involved in the NGA Student Co-op program and has served as an NGA intern.

Gavin Wandrey recently graduated from Kenston High School (Ohio) and is pursuing a bachelor’s degree at Grove City College (Penn.). Mr. Wandrey is a member of the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps and participates in the Ground Airman School in Patuxent River, Md.

Nicholas Taylor Youngstrom recently graduated from Brentwood High School (Mo.) and is pursuing his bachelor’s in geospatial sciences at Missouri State University. He participated in many challenging arenas during high school and was a multi-year winner of the District Geography Bee as well as a member of the National Honor Society.

“Supporting education and promoting the geospatial tradecraft are at the very core of the Foundation’s mission,” Shea said. “Presenting scholarships to deserving candidates, such as these recipients, ensures that we continue to support learning and spur interest in the tradecraft.”

All scholarship recipients were chosen based on their academic and professional excellence in a field related to the geospatial intelligence tradecraft. Qualified candidates were selected by the Foundation’s Scholarship Subcommittee. Information and applications for the 2008 Awards Program are available from the Foundation’s web site at www.usgif.org.

The United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF) is a Virginia-based non-stock, not-for-profit corporation. The Foundation is dedicated to promoting the geospatial intelligence tradecraft and developing a stronger community of interest between government, industry, academia, professional organizations and individuals who share a mission focus around the development and application of geospatial intelligence to address national security objectives. For more information on the Foundation, visit www.usgif.org.

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