Charting the Future: 3rd Annual High School Awards Banquet Heralds Rising Stars in Geographical Sciences

Dean Rivera and Professor Hurtt Spearhead Event Honoring Exceptional Students and Promoting Environmental Advocacy 

Speaking to a room brimming with anticipation, Dean Susan Rivera at the College of Behavioral and Social Studies opened the third annual High School Awards Banquet, honoring exceptional students in geographical sciences. Held on April 16 in Adele H. Stamp Student Union’s Grand Ballroom, the event brought together more than 250 attendees, recognizing 74 students from 29 schools, along with their families and teachers.

As Dean Rivera congratulated the awardees, she also commended their families and teachers for their dedication. "Students don’t achieve success alone – only with the support and guidance of family and teachers do they thrive in high school… and in college!" Dean Rivera said.

Nathaniel Grant II, a smiley sophomore at DuVal High School who loves science and science fiction like his father, was among the students whose parents had to give them a little push early on so they could rise to the best of class. 

“When studying reading and math, I remember looking at the ceiling and my dad would try to make me study and understand [what was being taught],” he said. “Now I know that hard work pays off. This [award] feels like a milestone to me.” 

Nani Tadila, a junior from Watkins Mill High School, and her mother were also excited and proud of the award. “It feels like she’s graduating!” her mother said, her eyes fixated on her daughter. Receiving this honor felt like a big accomplishment for Nani and her family, who left Ethiopia a couple of years ago to move to the United States.

Like Nathaniel and Nani, Elias Castro from the Academy of Health Sciences at Prince George’s County has also benefited from his parents’ support. His father, José Castro who immigrated to the United States from El Salvador, said that in his country children were expected to go to school in the morning and work in the afternoons. Here, Elias’ work is to study. 

“I tell them that education is the only thing we can give our children,” Castro said in Spanish. “We don’t understand very well what he’s studying, but we want him to keep going.” 

At school, Elias worked on a project that looked at weather patterns and climate patterns from four different regions in the world. He and his group collected all the data and compared it from 1980 to 2023. Already thinking like a geographical scientist, Elias said he wants to be in a career where he can make a difference. “I want to help, not just have a regular job,” he explained. “If we can control climate change, stop wildfire spreading, keep our resources and natural supply, we can have a sustainable life in the future.” 

Other students echoed Elias’ sentiment: “Making the world livable in the future and making it so that we can all survive and share our resources equally make me happy,” said Corine Ruth, a junior at Northwest High School in Montgomery County.

Delving into the complexities of climate change, wildfires, sustainability, biodiversity loss and a myriad of other urgent global concerns, the Department of Geographical Sciences stands at the forefront of these crises: “They are working on saving the planet,” Dean Rivera declared, speaking of GEOG's unwavering dedication.

Professor and Associate Chair George Hurtt, who along with faculty specialist Valeria Morales organized the awards as part of GEOG’s high school outreach program, also emphasized the role of geographical sciences in tackling some of the biggest questions facing humanity and the planet. 

While much is known about the changes in the environment due to human action, much remains unknown, Hurtt said. “Where and at what rate are these changes occurring? Who and what are the changes impacting? How can we adapt and mitigate or prevent even worse future changes?” These are some of the core questions that geographical scientists are dedicated to exploring.

"Geography has always been about addressing big questions using the tools available at the time," Hurtt explained. "But now, modern geographical sciences utilize the latest technology to tackle pressing global issues." Among these tools are satellites, airplanes, drones, and some of the largest and fastest computers in the world. 

Hurtt, who leads the Global Ecology Lab at UMD, has also been instrumental in fostering student participation in research projects related to ecological systems and land-use sustainability. He created GEOG’s outreach program to recognize and engage the next generation of students. In its third year, the banquet has expanded its reach more than threefold.

The outreach program has begun to see the fruits of its labor, as last year recipients Kendi Gray and Imaan Kasim shared in their presentation during the event. They went on to work as interns at GEOG and participated on Geographical Information Science (GIS) Day — learn more about the High School Pipeline. Both students have been accepted at the University of Maryland. Gray will study linguistics with a minor in GIS and Kasim will major in geographical sciences.

After Gray and Kasim, undergraduate student Stella Shanker and alumni Marie Panday talked about their experiences and insights into the field of geographical sciences. Describing geography as a “hidden gem” and “the best and most supportive department on campus,” they filled the Ballroom with excitement.

DuVal sophomore Destiny Johnson expressed how the presentations were inspiring and prompted her now to consider geographical sciences as a potential career path. “I'm definitely going to look more into it because I'm not sure what my major is going to be.” Johnson’s mother said she had to nag Destiny not to stay up late studying. Destiny really wants to go to UMD. She has UMD stickers all over her computer, her mother said, giggling.

And GEOG wants her and other students like her, declared Professor Tatiana Loboda, chair of the Department. Loboda concluded the event with a message of encouragement: “I hope you feel empowered to keep making your mark on the world. You are the leaders, scientists, innovators and changemakers of tomorrow, and I can’t wait to see where you go.”

This event was supported by the Department of Geographical Sciences and charitable gifts from more than 60 donors. 

Main image: Professor George Hurtt gives a presentation about the Department of Geographical Sciences to high school studens, parents and teachers. All photos by Ruohan Li

 

2024 Winners:

Academy of Health Sciences at Prince George's Community College

Brooke Buggs, Elias Castro, Ayush Dobaria, Oni Amira Marshall and Jeff Minsona Leba

Archbishop Spalding High School

Avery Accinelli, Lily Mullen, James Piertrykowski and Whitaker Shelton

Bowie High School

Isaiah Esteban and Caitlyn Lopez

Chesapeake Math and IT Academy

Michelle Aguin Lorenzana, Nehemiah Howard, Marleni Iglesias, Christian Sopa and Joseph Tinio

College Park Academy

Jourdyn Perkins and Jonathan Velasquez

Crossland High School

Gisel Abarca Reyes, Sergio Argueta, Sean Sanders and Kishore Kumar Senthilvelan

DeMatha Catholic High School

Alejandro Barry-Obregon, Earl Gilliam, Edwin Giron Ayala and Spencer Woods

DuVal High School

Nathaniel Grant and Destiny Johnson

Eleanor Roosevelt High School

David Blaufuss

Elizabeth Seton High School

Adriann Adams, Aria Raphael Colon and Kaia Simms

Fairmont Heights High School

Daniel Bonilla Alvarenga and Jamaal Jackson

Frederick Douglass High School

Daniel Colbert, Zarinah Glaster, Alexa Pedroza and Nataphali Speare

Hammond High School

Taylor Daniello, Dylan Domiguez, Aaliyah Johnson and Martin Neykov

International High School at Langley Park

Merlin Chavarria Villatoro, Jeizon Diaz, Kevin Lopez, Gabriela Majano and Alejandro Rivas Marroquin

International High School at Largo

Mariela Bonilla, Jefferson De Leon, Rosibel Duran and Khatira Rustami

Key School

Caroline Brown, Jonas Craig, Theo Levering and Marina Loewen

Largo High School

Marvellous Adelabu and Abdullah Weaver

Northwest High School

Dylan Brown, Akshaya Mushti and Corinne Ruth

Northwood High School

Nathaniel Ahamazie-Etse, Christopher Edouard and Sam Tyler-Hall

Oakland Mills High School

David Bienoseh, Daniel Lima Jesus and McKenna Gran

Paint Branch High School

Izunna Orimilikwe

Springbrook High School

Melat Ghebreselassie, Amber Li, Saron Shimels and Lily Tran

Watkins Mill High School

Mia Gentry and Nani Tadele

Wilde Lake High School

Kaiden Jacobs

Published on Wed, 04/24/2024 - 15:39