The ASPRS Potomac Region offers financial support/grant to student chapter planning and execution activities related to geospatial science and technologies at their universities, including participation in regional and national geospatial conferences to support Chapter growth and development, and encourage inter-chapter relations.
The financial support amount will be up to $250 for a single-chapter event (nominally two awards/year) and $500 for an inter-university collaborative student chapter activity – co-hosted by multiple chapters (nominally one award/year).
The region will also provide student memberships (nominally ten) to encourage students’ involvement with the Region and ASPRS national. The region will also provide ASPRS professional memberships (nominally two) to encourage recent graduates’ involvement with the Region and ASPRS national. The number of awards and money will vary and depend upon the Region’s annual budget decisions.
The Region accepts financial support requests for review and approval on a rolling, first-come first serve basis. For more information about additional awards and scholarships offered by ASPRS nationally, please visit the ASPRS awards and scholarships web page.
Proposed educational activities should include components relating to geospatial science and technologies that promote the Region’s mission and values of encouraging and supporting the development of career geospatial scientists. Examples of educational activities include hosting an interactive event on campus, participating in a GIS day, visiting a geospatial organization, or paying transportation expenses for a speaker at a chapter event. Funds can be used to support reasonable costs of these activities, such as speaker fees, refreshments, rental costs, etc. Activity funds are not intended to support individual student travel but can support group travel of the chapter.
The following example activities have been awarded funding in the past:
Eligibility & Evaluation Criteria
Proposed activities should support collaborative efforts on geospatial science and technology. Activities should promote the exchange of ideas and information and fostering relationships in the geospatial sciences across the region. Activities may include organizing a student session or paper session at the ASPRS Annual Conference, AAG Annual Meeting, two or more student chapters coming together to organize a speaker, panel, or discussion series, etc. Submit a joint application for the inter-university awards.
The following types of activities are generally viewed favorably:
Eligibility & Evaluation Criteria
This fund supports new student memberships with the ASPRS National. Key criteria that the region weigh heavily include student member participation in and contribution to their student chapter activities, participation in ASPRS regional and national activities, and good academic performance. The ASPRS student membership fee is nominal ($50/year) and the Region encourages all student Chapter members to become ASPRS student members. The Region views student membership in the professional society as a key component of students’ professional growth.
For more information on student membership, visit the ASPRS website.
Eligibility & Evaluation Criteria
This fund encourages students, upon graduation, to continue to grow professionally and interact with other geospatial science professionals by providing financial support to their annual ASPRS membership. Key criteria that the region weigh heavily include student member participation in and contribution to student chapter activities while a student, participation in ASPRS regional and national activities, strong academic contributions, and recent entry into a related professional position.
The ASPRS membership fee is $150/year and the Region encourages graduating students to become ASPRS members. The Region views membership in the professional society as a key component of professional growth.
