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At the Annual Geography Awards Ceremony on Friday evening, April 27, 2018, undergraduate and graduate students gathered with family, friends, faculty, and staff to honor those students who had distinguished themselves by their scholarship and their service to the community. The awards night included the induction of new members into the the geography honor society as well as individual awards, including a cash scholarship, for academic performance and service.
Following a reception and dinner, 16 undergraduate geography students and 2 graduate geo-information science students were formally inducted into the Gamma Theta Upsilon International Geographical Honor Society (GTU) (Eta Kappa chapter). GTU candidates must be in their junior or senior year, have performed in the top third of their class at Salem State, and maintained a 3.3 GPA in at least four geography courses. Graduate GTU candidates represent the top three students in the Geo-Information Science program. The inductees pledged an oath to advance geography and were presented with certificates of membership along with a pin (alas, no secret handshake).
2018 Undergraduate GTU Inductees:
- Emily Adam
- Alicia N. Badolato
- Justin Burton
- Meghan E. Castonguay
- Joseph Clancy
- MacKenzie Cook
- Megan Couture-King
- Susan M. Fountain
- Jessica E. Freeman
- Kelsey Ann Lima
- Erika MacNeill
- Mark E. Piandes
- Christian Schluter
- Daria Scofield
- Kaylee Steele
- Caroline Sulick
2018 Graduate GTU Inductees:
- Robert Banks
- Meghan E. Castonguay
Following the GTU induction ceremony, individual students were called forth to receive specific awards:
- Christian Schluter received the James J. Centorino Award for superior academic achievement in geography
- Jessica E. Freeman received the National Council for Geographic Education Award for outstanding academic achievement in geography
- Mark E. Piandes received the J. Michael Ruane Award for excellence in digital cartography
- Bridget F. Cannon received the Dr. John George Memorial Award for scholarship and service in geography
- Caroline P. Sulick received the Dr. John George Memorial Scholarship ($2,000!)
- Robert Banks received the graduate student award for excellence in geo-information sciences
The geography department is appreciative of the John George family which has consistently funded the John George Memorial Scholarship for the last two decades and for their reliable support of the geography department and its students. Thanks also to the Centorino family for their support and inspiring words to this year's awardees.
Following the induction and awards ceremonies, the geography department paid tribute to Professor Stephen Matchak for three decades of service to the department and the university. Professor Matchak is retiring at the end of this academic year. Professor Stephen Young presented him with honorary gifts and all attendees were invited to close the evening by singing a song in Professor Matchak's honor.