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Washington GIS Association

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WAGISA Awards


The Summit Award 2024

CONGRATULATIONS Joanne Markert         

During the opening plenary session of the 2024 Washington GIS Conference, WAGISA was pleased to present the 2024 Summit Award for GIS Person of the Year to Joanne Markert. 

Joanne currently works as the Geographic Information Officer (GIO) for the State of Washington and has a long history of GIS in the Puget Sound. If you have ever worked with Joanne, you know exactly why she is receiving this prestigious award. Joanne is a amazing advocate for GIS, collaboration and serving our community.  Congrats and thank you Joanne!

Read about Joanne

Summit Award Info

The Summit Award is presented during the annual Washington GIS Conference for highest contributions by an individual to the Washington State GIS Community.

Criteria for the Summit Award:

  • The nominee has changed the GIS profession in some "significant way.
  • The nominee shall have been practicing the profession for at least 10 years within Washington State.
  • The nominee shall have made a significant contribution to the GIS profession and community in Washington State.
  • The person should be known for their excellent work and successful projects in the GIS field.
  • The nominee should have volunteered significant time for the GIS profession and community in Washington State.
  • The nominee should not be a current WAGISA board member.

The Summit Award nomination form is available at the following link:

Summit Award Nomination Form

See a list of past Summit Award winners.

                Government Helping Government GIS Recognition Award


                We all know that person who goes over and above normal job duties, assisting others with technical issues, extra time for phone calls and answering endless questions. Here is an opportunity as a GIS community to recognize those extraordinary individuals.

                • Here are the criteria:
                  • The organization or individual is a State, county or local government who is assisting another WA government agency
                  • The time/work performed is not part of the agency or persons normal duties
                  • There is no compensation
                      There is no requirement for the person or organization to perform the work.



                        Richard 'Dick' Thomas Memorial Student Presentation Competition & Award

                        Here is the link to our 2022 DTA Competition Recording:


                        2022 DTA Competition


                        The Washington GIS Association (WAGISA) strives to show accomplishments of professionals in the GIS community of Washington State along with working with students who are looking into a career in the GIS field.  

                        Participants must be:

                        • Current students enrolled at least 6 hours in a relevant curriculum at a Washington State secondary school, community college, technical school, or university program, or
                        • Current Washington residents enrolled at least 6 hours in a relevant on-line GIS program
                        • The original work by the student(s)
                        • Only one submission per lead student presenter
                        • Conducted as a school project or under the supervision of a student adviser or professor
                        • Students must be enrolled in a GIS, geography, technology, or related academic program
                        • Papers should relate to geography, GIS, or allied technologies as applied to a social, natural resource, business, government, or similar subject

                          This award was established to honor Washington State GIS pioneer and mentor Richard ‘Dick’ Thomas, who passed away in 2006. The intent of this award is to honor Dick by continuing his work of encouraging students to excel in their studies and to transition successfully into careers in the field of GIS. WAGISA's objective is to inspire students to present their original work related to GIS, geography, or geographic research at the annual Washington GIS Conference.
                          Winners of the Dick Thomas award receive a generous monetary award along with a one year membership to WAGISA and free registration to the next year's WA GIS Conference. 

                          Frequently Asked Questions





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