Scholarship Winners 2024

1st Place & Crowd Favorite Winner: Lauren Parsons

Lauren Parsons is currently a student at Austin Community College getting her Certificate 1 in GIS, with plans to continue her education at Texas State University for a Bachelors in GIS. She has recently completed interning for the Geospatial team at the Texas General Land Office (GLO) and now works full time for the GLO survey division as a researcher. Outside of school and work, Lauren enjoys hiking, spending time with her friends, family, and cat Harry.

Gulf Public Beach Access Points

2nd Place Winner: Clarissa Molina

Clarissa Molina is a graduate student at the University of North Texas (UNT) where she is studying wild turkey genetics. She is excited to be working in the emerging field of landscape genetics which combines spatial analysis techniques with the study of genomics. As an undergraduate, she learned from an intro GIS course about the potential for remote-sensing technology in research and conservation. To prepare her for a career as a scientist, she worked with UNT Facilities GIS and became eager to apply her new skills to her graduate research. She is currently pursuing the GIS certificate and hopes to advance the field of ecology in graduate school and beyond. In her rare moments of free time, she enjoys reading, hiking, and sewing her own clothing.

Restoring Wild Turkey to East Texas

3rd Place Winner: Robert Tantiado

Robert Tantiado is a passionate sophomore at the University of Texas at Dallas, is on a mission to uncover hidden stories through cartography. Pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Geospatial Information Sciences, he believes that maps hold the key to understanding human geography. Robert’s academic journey has equipped him with the skills to analyze geographic data, create visual representations, and communicate complex information effectively. Beyond the classroom, he actively advocates for sustainable public transportation solutions as a Policy Researcher for Comets for Better Transit at UTD. With a personal and academic interest in urban planning, Robert envisions a future where geospatial insights drive informed decision-making. When he’s not immersed in maps, he explores Houston’s culinary scene and enjoys the great outdoors.

Distribution of Pizza Chains in Harris Co.