Friends and colleagues of Kenneth J. Osborn (1952-2004) have helped establish the Kenneth J. Osborn Memorial Scholarship as a tribute to him from donated funds administered by the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS).
Recognized nationally and internationally, Osborn was an outstanding practitioner of surveying, mapping, photogrammetry, and geospatial information technology, and a great friend of ASPRS. As a professional cartographer with the U.S. Geological Survey, Osborn made significant contributions to these fields. “This scholarship in Ken’s name helps to keep alive the love he had for the profession – all things geospatial – by recognizing and assisting those who share that love and who are considering entering the profession,” explained Alan M. Mikuni, P.E., Western Regional Geographer, U.S. Geological Survey.
The purpose of the Scholarship is to encourage and commend college students who display exceptional interest, desire, ability, and aptitude to enter the profession of surveying, mapping, photogrammetry, or geospatial information and technology. In addition, the Scholarship recognizes students who excel at an aspect of the profession that Osborn demonstrated so very well, that of communications and collaboration.
This annual Scholarship consists of a plaque and a check in the amount of $500 and a one year student membership (new or renewal) in the Society. “ASPRS is proud to be able to administer this scholarship in memory of an individual who gave so much to the profession and to the Society,” commented ASPRS President Russell G. Congalton. “Ken was a technical program co-chair of two recent ASPRS specialty conferences on Digital Terrain Modeling (2001 and 2003) that were extremely well received.”
The Scholarship is made to an undergraduate student currently enrolled or intending to enroll in a college or university in the United States, who is pursuing a program of study in preparation for entering the profession in the general area of surveying, mapping, photogrammetry, or geospatial information and technology.
Application requirements are outlined on the ASPRS web site (see link, below). Presentation of the Scholarship will take place at the ASPRS Annual Conference in Baltimore, Maryland in March 2005. The recipient of the Scholarship is obligated to provide the Society with a written final report of his/her scholastic accomplishments during the period for which the Award is granted. This report must be submitted by June of the year following receipt of the Scholarship.
A complete description of the awards offered and an application (in PDF format) can be obtained at the scholarships@asprs.org
Founded in 1934, ASPRS is an international professional organization of 6,500 geospatial data professionals.