Celebrating Our Community: Sixth Annual CGA Awards

On April 8, the Center for Geospatial Analytics celebrated its sixth awards ceremony, celebrating successes of our exceptional students, faculty and staff. The event was held at the JC Raulston Arboretum and included a delicious dinner, as well as free professional headshots for attendees, provided by MGIST student Richard Abiona.

We are proud to honor the achievements, creativity, and community spirit of the Center for Geospatial Analytics in 2024. From groundbreaking research to meaningful outreach and outstanding teaching, our award winners exemplify the values that define CGA. Here’s a look at the individuals and teams who made a lasting impact this year:

Esri Innovation Program Student of the Year

Blake Smith, recent MGIST graduate, is recognized for his innovative use of Esri products in collaboration with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Red Wolf Recovery Program. Blake’s master’s capstone, a compelling story map tracking Red Wolf movements using GPS collar data, demonstrates the power of geospatial analytics in conservation efforts.

Geospatial Images Contest Winners

Our first-ever Geospatial Images Contest produced several exciting submissions.

• Community in Action Winner:
  Ph.D. student Kelly van Woesik, for a joyful image of our first-year cohort mini golfing to celebrate their last day of Fall classes. The image beautifully captured the spirit of community and inclusion that defines CGA.

• Research Image Winner:
  Ph.D. student Jenna Abrahamson, for “Unraveling Inundation Dynamics in North Carolina’s Coastal Plain.” Her image illustrates wetland inundation from 2017–2021, shedding light on methane emissions and climate impacts in Eastern North Carolina.

Advocate Award

Honoring a commitment to equity and inclusion in geospatial science.

• Student Awardee: Pratikshya Regmi
  Regmi, a Ph.D. student, is committed to making geospatial science more equitable and accessible. She promotes open-access tools and tutorials that help democratize GIS knowledge, reaching learners around the world through LinkedIn. Her outreach includes organizing the GRASS GIS booth at AGU, teaching at NC State’s summer camp for middle schoolers, and volunteering with students with disabilities.
• Employee Awardee: Dr. Georgina Sanchez
  Associate Director of Research Engagement, Dr. Sanchez leads vital work addressing flood risks in underserved communities across Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and North Carolina. Her research focuses on ensuring that under-resourced areas have access to the same planning tools and protections as wealthier regions. She actively engages local stakeholders and empowers students to take part in resilience-building efforts.

Beacon Award

Celebrating those who elevate CGA’s profile in the broader scientific community.

• Student Winner: Felipe Sanchez
  Sanchez, a PhD student, has elevated CGA’s presence in the veterinary sciences through his research on disease transmission between swine farms. He earned international recognition, including Best Student Presentation at the ISVEE conference in Australia, and published a first-author paper in Frontiers in Veterinary Science. At home, he’s been a key contributor to the Geospatial Forum, both as a presenter and long-time committee member.
• Employee Winner: Dr. Aaron Hipp
  As a Faculty Fellow, Aaron has played a key role in expanding CGA’s visibility in social and behavioral sciences. Aaron’s projects include the NC State Greenspaces Map, multiple CGA-affiliated research publications and collaborations with nonprofits, federal agencies and international organizations.

Collaboration & Innovation Award

Awarded to the Land Change Lab, led by Dr. Jelena Vukomanovic, with Dr. Kate Jones, Ph.D. student Christina Perella, and Ph.D. student Rachel Layko. This team’s interdisciplinary and participatory research tackles climate threats through partnerships with federal agencies, tribal communities and other stakeholders.

Creativity in Teaching Award

Recognizing educators who create inclusive and inspiring learning environments.

• Student Winner: Meg Woodburn
  MGIST student and TA extraordinaire, Meg is praised for going above and beyond to support students and encourage creativity in geospatial projects. Faculty have even competed to have Meg as their TA.
• Employee Winner: Dr. Eric Money
  Money’s teaching spans GIS 205, GIS 501, and GIS 590 – guiding students from their introduction to geospatial thinking to the completion of professional, real-world capstone projects. He does all of this while also serving as Associate Director of Educational Innovation, balancing significant administrative responsibilities with an unwavering commitment to students.

Interdisciplinary Advancement Award

Presented to Sheridan Ely and Lexy Boudreau, undergraduates working with Dr. Georgina Sanchez on spatial analysis of urban growth in the U.S. Caribbean. Their unique skill sets in Spanish language and Python exemplify the value of interdisciplinary geospatial work.

Gladys West Award

Honoring the “hidden figures” whose behind-the-scenes work is vital to CGA’s success.

• Student Winner: Christina Perella
  Christina, a Ph.D. student, has been a steady force behind much of CGA’s student programming – handling logistics, budgeting, and event coordination with care. As the instructor for PRT 240, she redesigned the course to make GIS accessible for students from non-technical backgrounds, incorporating real-world examples from her research.
• Employee Winner: Juliana Quist
  A remote CGA team member and MGIST alum, Juliana has mentored nearly 200 capstone students and continues to innovate in online teaching through GIS 550. Her decade-long contribution is deeply appreciated.

Special Recognition Award

Finally, this year we honor Rebecca Composto with a special recognition for her exceptional leadership, scholarship, and service. Rebecca has made significant contributions across nearly every CGA initiative, from teaching a new course (GIS 495: Geospatial Analytics for Environmental Change) to winning prestigious grants and publishing impactful research, all while uplifting the CGA community.