Funding Doubled for Three ASPRS Scholarships

ASPRS Foundation President Dr. Thomas Lillesand announced that the Foundation Board of Trustees has approved increased prize amounts for three ASPRS Scholarships to be awarded in 2007.  Prizes for the Osborn and Wolf Scholarships and the Colwell Fellowship have been doubled.  Due to an outstanding response from ASPRS members and others in the geospatial community, these scholarships are now fully endowed at the higher levels.  “The ASPRS Foundation gratefully acknowledges all of the donors who fund these scholarships, which enable students of the profession to further their studies.  Additionally, through their support, donors have affirmed the goals of the Foundation and the Society to continue support for educational endeavors in the geospatial sciences,” stated Dr. Lillesand.

ROBERT N. COLWELL MEMORIAL FELLOWSHIP – Now valued at $4,000
The purpose of the Award is to encourage and commend college/university graduate students or post-doctoral researchers who display exceptional interest, desire, ability, and aptitude in the field of remote sensing or other related geospatial information technologies, and who have a special interest in developing practical uses of these technologies.   Over the course of more than a half century, Robert Colwell developed a reputation as one of the world’s most respected leaders in remote sensing, a field that he stewarded from the interpretation of aerial photographs during World War II, to the advanced acquisition and analysis of many types of geospatial data from military and civilian satellite platforms.  His career included nearly 40 years of teaching and research at the University of California, Berkeley, a distinguished record of military service reaching the rank of Rear Admiral, and prominent roles in private industry and as a consultant for many U.S. and international agencies.  Among the many awards bestowed upon Dr. Colwell, he had the distinction of being one of 25 ASPRS Honorary Members chosen from the Society’s more than 6,000 members.

PAUL R. WOLF MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP – Enlarged to $1,000
The purpose of the Award is to encourage and commend college students who display exceptional interest, desire, ability, and aptitude to enter the profession of teaching Surveying, Mapping, or Photogrammetry.  Recognized nationally and internationally, Paul Wolf was an outstanding educator and practitioner of Surveying, Mapping, and Photogrammetry and a great friend of the Society.  As author, teacher, and mentor, Dr. Wolf made significant educational and academic contributions to these fields.

KENNETH J. OSBORN MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP – Increased to $1,000
The purpose of the Award 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 Award recognizes students who excel at an aspect of the profession that Osborn demonstrated so very well, that of communications and collaboration.  Recognized nationally and internationally, Kenneth Osborn was an outstanding practitioner of surveying, mapping, photogrammetry, and geospatial information and technology, and a great friend of ASPRS.  As a professional cartographer with the U.S. Geological Survey, Osborn made significant contributions to these fields.

Applications for the 2007 scholarships are due to ASPRS by December 1, 2006.  Forms are available on line at http://www.asprs.org/membership/scholar.html.

About ASPRS
Founded in 1979, The ASPRS Foundation, Inc. is an independent 501 (c) 3 organization established to provide grants, scholarships, loans and other forms of aid to individuals or organizations pursuing knowledge of imaging and geospatial information science and technology, and their applications across the scientific, governmental, and commercial sectors.  The Foundation is the primary funding source for all non-sponsored awards and scholarships recognized by the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing.

Founded in 1934, ASPRS is an international professional organization of 6,000 geospatial data professionals. ASPRS is devoted to advancing knowledge and improving understanding of the mapping sciences to promote responsible application of photogrammetry, remote sensing, geographic information systems and supporting technologies.