This award is given to the outstanding geography major and/or to the outstanding Secondary Education/Citizenship/Geography concentration major in the graduating class. Evaluation criteria may include: GPA, performance in geography courses, participation in faculty-led research, presentations at professional meetings, and participation in student organizations.
Background
The Delaware Valley Geographical Association (DVGA) is a local chapter of the American Association of Geographers (AAG) dedicated to promoting geography in the Delaware Valley region. Each spring, the DVGA awards one or two high‐achieving geography majors from each of the DVGA region schools. At first the Philadelphia Area Geographers, as the organization was originally named, was guided by an ad hoc committee composed of Richard Bucksar, Gerald Karaska, Richard Keppel, Henry Michael, Clinton Mullen and Cyrus Sharer. By 1969 the present name, Delaware Valley Geographical Association was adopted. At the same time meetings were moved to the western suburbs, to points readily accessible to the majority of the growing membership. Geographers and students from East Stroudsburg University, Kutztown University, Millersville University, Philadelphia Community College, Rowan College of New Jersey, Rutgers (Camden campus), Temple University, Trenton State College, University of Delaware, Villanova University, West Chester University, York College of Pennsylvania, and many other schools, community colleges, private firms, and government agencies in the region actively participate in the DVGA today.
Overview
The award will be conferred upon a Geography major who has epitomized excellence in the Kutztown University Department of Geography. The winner will have one of the top GPAs in the department and will have distinguished him or herself by exceptional service and achievement. The award will be granted at the discretion of the Department Chair and after a formal vote by the Department faculty. The award will not be presented to a student in the Geography Minor.
Recipients
Courtney Moyer 2021
Smantha Butler 2020
Marie Smoyer 2019
Glenn Roedel 2018
William Havrilchak 2018
Zachary Lawlor 2017
Christopher Madden 2016
Zachary Graves 2015
Chelsea Strehse 2014
Laura Kaufmann 2013
Michael E. Mault 2012
Andrew E. Benjamin 2011
Shannon M. Crooker 2010
John Dombzalski 2009
Theodore Conley 2008
Devon Hain 2007
Kathleen Shellington 2006
Jonah Markiewicz 2005
Leo Scott, Jr. 2004
Anne Weigle 2003
Jeff Zimmerman 2002
Deana DeWire 2001
Fiona Kellond 2001
Brandy Davidson 2000
Christian D. Hole 1999
Hugh McGowan 1999
Shelley Degler 1998
Deborah A. Lambdin 1998
Beth Kelley 1997
Kevin Sprague 1997
John L. Hackman 1996
Dianne Bowman 1995
Veronica Rogers 1995
Karl Graybill 1994
David Lorchak 1994
John Marcincavage 1993
Frank Lucas 1993
Petra Zimmerman 1990
Nancy Baldwin 1990
Brian Bloss 1986
Eric Kolodinsky 1986