Outstanding Senior
This award is given to the graduating senior(s) with the highest GPA and record of scholarly engagement in Geography. Recent outstanding seniors include:
Claire Dumont (2019), Sophie Ryan and Jamie Duke (2018), Jack Braunstein and Emma Tait (2017), Jack Kilbride and Erika Shepard (2016), Marshall Distel and Meraz Mostafa (2015), Erin Kerr (2014), Oakley Clark and Sarah Gallalee (2013)
Globe Awards
These awards are given to four outstanding graduating seniors in recognition of their outstanding academic achievement and departmental service. Recent globe awardees include:
Rowan Kamman, Izaak Herman, Gillian Tiley, and Kalia Bornstein (2019)
Tilden Remerleitch, Tyler Hennessee, Jon Haas, and Natalie May (2018)
Daniel Gordon, Jeremy Romanul, Lucy Crane, and Luke Ban (2017)
Glen Elder Award
The Glen Elder Award is presented to a top geography senior whose work on issues of social justice, sexuality, South Africa, or political geography in the spirit of Glen Eldera a beloved geography professor, department chair, and associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. The award honors Professor Glen Elder, who served as a Geography professor, Department Chair, and Associate Dean at UVM from 1995 until his untimely death in 2009.
Recent Awardees: Brenna Foley and Kim Furtado (2019), Alice Urbiel (2018), Aubrey Robinson (2017), Sameera Ibrahim (2016), Gavin Santacross (2014), Holidae Filkins (2013)
Peter Young Award for Excellence in Health Geographies or Geospatial Analysis
The Peter Young Award for Excellence in Health Geographies or Geospatial Analysis recognizes top Geography students whose work reflects Pete’s lifelong commitments and interests in issues of health, geospatial technologies, planning, and conservation, and Latin America. Robert Peter Young earned his Master's degree in Geography from UVM in 1997 and later served as a well-loved lecturer in the department, teaching courses in geospatial technologies from 2013-2016. Pete passed away in January 2019 after a courageous battle with cancer.
Gamma Theta Upsilon, International Geography Honor Society
Gamma Theta Upsilon is an international honor society in geography founded in 1928. It became a national organization in 1931. Members of GTU have met academic requirements and share a background and interest in geography. GTU chapter activities support geography knowledge and awareness, and membership in this honor society carries high prestige within the discipline. It is a mark of achievement that sets you apart as an outstanding scholar in geography when applying to graduate school or on job applications. In addition, GTU membership confers certain benefits (merit points on some civil service exams; salary bonuses in selected federal agencies) to those applying for employment within the U.S. federal government. Active Gamma Theta Upsilon members of junior or senior undergraduate status are also eligible to compete for scholarship funds offered through the national organization.
Academic requirements are: You must have completed a minimum of 3 geography courses, have a GPA of at least 3.3 in geography courses, rank in the top 35% of their class, and have completed at least 3 semesters or 5 quarters of college course work.
For more information about UVM’s Eta Alpha chapter of GTU, please contact Professor Lesley-Ann Dupigny-Giroux.
