Announcing the 2025-26 Department of Geography, Environment, and Spatial Sciences Award Recipients
May 18, 2026
The Department of Geography, Environment, and Spatial Sciences at Michigan State University congratulates all of our 2025-2026 GEO Award recipients in recognition of their academic achievements. Students were recognized at the GEO-GTU Annual Spring Reception held on May 1, 2026, in the Ag Hall Atrium.
James Potchen Awards in Geography for Graduate and Undergraduate Students (Undergraduate and Graduate Student of the Year) | Ariel Ooms and Yuean Qiu
The E. James Potchen Award was established in 2008 by Harm de Blij to fund yearly cash awards for one outstanding graduate and one undergraduate student who has demonstrated exceptional leadership and service to the Department of Geography, Environment, and Spatial Sciences. The students will have shown remarkable professionalism and leadership skills in activities within both the department and the campus community. This year's winners are Ariel Ooms (Undergraduate Student of the Year) and Yuean Qiu (Graduate Student of the Year).
College of Social Science - Outstanding Senior in GEO | David Pruder
The Department of Geography, Environment, and Spatial Sciences at Michigan State University proudly announces that David Pruder was named the MSU College of Social Science Outstanding Senior in Geography.
The de Blij Geography Scholar Award | Ainsley Bielman, Leea Hawkins, and Taylor Lee
Instituted in 2013 by Harm de Blij and supported by other major donors, the de Blij Scholars awards scholarships to promising first-year students who choose to major in Geography at Michigan State University. de Blij Scholars will be awarded $1000 each Fall/Spring semester in which they are a primary major in one of the Department’s degree programs. Congratulations to our newest de Blij Scholars, Ainsley Bielman, Leea Hawkins, and Taylor Lee.
Jay R. Harman Undergraduate Scholarship in Geography | David Pruder
Jay R. Harman spent his entire career on the faculty of the Department of Geography at Michigan State University. Harman was strongly committed to field instruction and organized field trips to a wide variety of environments in the eastern United States, including Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, the Ozark-Ouachita Upland in Missouri and Arkansas, the Coastal Plain in northern Florida, and the southern Appalachian Mountains. Undergraduate students with a degree program in GEO with a minimum of 56 cumulative credits, and a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 are eligible to apply. Congratulations to David Pruder.
Michael A. Graff Dissertation Completion Award | Sahel Izadi, Yousef Khajavigodellou, and Sandya Sharma
Graduate students at the Ph.D. level in Geography who have successfully defended their proposals are eligible to apply for this award. The award is meant to provide financial support towards the completion of their dissertation research. Congratulations to our 2026 recipients, Sahel Izadi, Yousef Khajavigodellou, and Sandya Sharma.
Owen Gregg Endowment for Global Climate Change Research | Ainsley Bielman and Harry Fuess
The Owen Gregg Endowment was established in 2012 to support global climate change science research in the MSU Department of Geography. Undergraduate majors or graduate students in Geography pursuing studies that make significant progress toward understanding climate change, its causes, and impacts are eligible to apply. Congratulations to this year's recipients, Ainsley Bielman and Harry Fuess.
Daniel Jacobson Memorial Scholarship in Cultural Geography | Michael Barry
The Daniel Jacobson Scholarship is awarded to an outstanding student at the Junior level, majoring in Human Geography or Economic Geography and especially interested in the cultural geographies of Native Americans, other marginalized groups, and geography education. Human Geography or Economic Geography major at the Junior level (56 or more earned credits), with a minimum GPA (all courses) of 3.0, are eligible for this award. Congratulations to this year’s recipient, Michael Barry.
Marjorie and Lawrence Sommers Geography Graduate Fellowship for International Research & Travel | Leo Baldiga and Phyllis Gyang
The Marjorie and Lawrence Sommers Geography Graduate Fellowship is awarded annually to Master's or Ph.D. students to support international research and travel within the next 12 months. The fellowship honors the contributions of Dr. and Mrs. Sommers, who, for several decades, advanced the study of geography worldwide and supported MSU’s international programs. Congratulations to Leo Baldiga and Phyllis Gyang, the 2026 recipients of this award.
Dr. Harold A. “Duke” Winters Memorial Fellowship in Environmental Geography | Riley Burns
The Dr. Harold A. “Duke” Winters Memorial Fellowship is awarded to an outstanding student at the Junior level, majoring in Environmental Geography. Dr. Winters was a leader in physical geography and geomorphology, with a special interest in the depositional landforms associated with continental glaciation. Environmental Geography majors at the Junior level (56 or more earned credits) with a minimum GPA (all courses) of 3.0 are eligible. Congratulations to this year's recipient, Riley Burns.
2026 Gamma Theta Upsilon Initiates
Congratulations to our newest Gamma Theta Upsilon members: Michael Barry, Max Mallory, Ryan Petrosky, Caroline Roche, and Ty Walliser. Gamma Theta Upsilon (GTU) is an international honor society in geography. Gamma Theta Upsilon was founded in 1928 and became a national organization in 1931. Members of GTU have met academic requirements and share a background and interest in geography. GTU chapter activities support knowledge of geography and awareness.
Graduate Research Presentation Competition Winners
Congratulations to the winners of the 2026 Graduate Research Presentation Competition. First place went to Mehmet Eroğlu, second place to Sahel Izadi, and third place to Angelique Willis.
Congratulations to all of our 2025-26 recipients!