Selected Educators Named For GDT Scholarships to 2003 ESRI Education User Conference.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

ESRI User Conference

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 8, 2003

Geographic Data Technology, Inc. (GDT) today announced recipients of scholarships to the 2003 ESRI Education User Conference. GDT provided funds for travel costs while ESRI provided complimentary admission to the conference in San Diego, California, July 6-9, 2003. Educators selected to attend the conference are:

-- Margaret Chernosky, Human Geography Teacher for Bangor High

School in Corinth, Maine: Chernosky's teaching approach

emphasizes geographic inquiry and independent research. Two

years ago, Chernosky launched the Advanced Placement Human

Geography course. In May, students in the advanced class began

work on the Partnership to Aid and Restore Kenduskeag Stream 

program where they will use GIS to create a natural resource

inventory and history of a local stream. "I want GIS to be

pivotal in the teaching of geography," Chernosky said. "The

chance to learn more at the July conference will propel me

forward as I pioneer the use of ESRI ArcView(R) in my

classroom."

-- Amy Holt Cline, Marine Biology/AP Environmental Science

Instructor for Essex Agricultural High School in Danvers,

Massachusetts: Cline and her students have worked with ESRI

and the USGS Woods Hole Field Center Office to make

professional-looking maps depicting Marine data, and Cline has

taught other teachers to use the Marine data in conjunction

with ESRI ArcView software in classrooms. Next fall, Cline

will begin a masters program focusing on Sea Floor Mapping,

Marine GIS technologies, and Marine Resource Management.

"Marine GIS is an up and coming focus within GIS," Cline said.

"I would like to be a part of this progressive development."

-- Amy Jo Hatfield, Information Systems Librarian for the Ruth

Lilly Medical Library in Indianapolis, Indiana: Hatfield

creates maps from medical school residency program applicant

data to show applicant locations based on their home ZIP

codes, medical school ZIP codes, and other attributes such as

ranked medical schools and ranked applicants. She hopes to

expand her GIS knowledge so she can add census data and other

boundary layers. "I am very excited about how ESRI ArcGIS(R)

can be used in medical applications and want to teach and

promote these ideas within the school," Hatfield said.

-- Art Lembo, Lecturer for Cornell University in Ithaca, New

York: In addition to his duties as a GIS lecturer at Cornell

University, Lembo has been an active participant in ESRI

conferences and publications. He has written for the Higher

Education Newsletter, co-presented papers with ESRI staff, and

provided lecture notes and advice to assist in the writing of

Spatial Analysis with ArcGIS, vol. 2. Lembo also routinely

provides links to his lecture notes to assist educators across

the country.

-- Bob Manley, Sixth Grade Teacher for Hillsdale Elementary

School in Salt Lake City, Utah: Out of 62 elementary schools

in Utah's Granite School District, Manley is the only teacher

to incorporate GIS into the curriculum. Each week, a volunteer

from the USDA's Aerial Photography Division works with the

students on GIS related projects. Manley has also taken his

students to state GIS days and to witness the signing of the

Geography Week Proclamation. "Because I teach in the poorest

school in the state, I especially want to give my kids every

opportunity for future success," Manley said. "I believe that

an understanding of GIS is one such valuable opportunity."

-- Lynn D. Onken, Professor of Mathematics for San Juan College 

in Farmington, New Mexico: Onken helps bring GIS technology

and training to teachers through an outreach center for K-12

educators, many of whom have only basic knowledge of GIS and

no practical experience. "The conference would be a great

opportunity to share ideas with those who have already

implemented outreach programs in GIS and engaged other

educators in the technology," Onken said. "I need to connect

with other educators who have experience with real-life

application, those teaching and conducting research, and

discuss the potential for analyzing needs and trends for GIS

education."

-- David Sparks, Science Teacher, for Queen City High School in

Queen City, Texas: Sparks has put GIS, GPS, and remote sensing

technology to use at teacher and high school camps providing a

hands-on experience for students and educators. At the Queen

City School, he has helped provide another unique learning

experience with an Environmental Technology Conference that

included exhibitors from the EPA, the State of Texas, and the

Stephen F. Austin State University GIS Department. Sparks is

president of River Basins Institute, part of a partnership

that established the River Basin Environmental Technology

Center.

The ESRI Education User Conference is the perfect forum for education professionals to share their experiences, participate in discussion, view demonstrations, and learn about the increasing benefits of GIS in their profession. Last year approximately 500 K-12 teachers, college and university instructors, school administrators, librarians, and museum professionals attended the conference.

About GDT

Geographic Data Technology, Inc. is the premier developer of map databases that help businesses and consumers manage, understand, and analyze geographic relationships. With more than 20 years experience in data management and compilation, GDT's proven and tested processes allow for the detection and management of ongoing change so that customers are assured of complete, current, and correct geographic information. With consistent coverage throughout the United States and Canada, GDT data includes large city centers, rural areas, and fast-growing suburbs. An efficient compilation process coupled with change management systems and tools create cost-effective, flexible data solutions for a variety of markets and applications. For more information, visit the GDT Web site at www.geographic.com.

The GDT logo is a registered trademark of GDT. ESRI, ArcGIS and ArcView are trademarks, registered trademarks, or service marks of ESRI in the United States, the European Community, or certain other jurisdictions.