You can make a difference. Be an advocate for geospatial technologies and GIS with the educational connections in your life. Shana Crosson recently shared her, "7 Tips for Bring GIS into the Classroom." We have shared webinars and other articles talking about how working with students is beneficial for the future of our community. Even more content is available on how we use geography in life.
Esri’s ArcGIS Online Competition for US High School and Middle School Students, now in its eighth year, challenges students in high school (grades 9-12) and middle school (grades 4-8) to build a project demonstrating what they have learned, using ArcGIS Online. In participating states, students identify a topic of interest within their state, investigate it, analyze it, map it, and present it in an ArcGIS StoryMap. Following guidelines, students assemble their creation and submit it to their school, which can choose five to submit to the state. The state selects their best five middle school and best five high school projects, and the National Council for Geographic Education presents each of those ten awardees in each state a $100 prize. In sending their data to Esri, states identify one high school and one middle school project for a final level of judging. Esri chooses winners, and publishes all results in May.
What's next?
Only those states that have applied to participate can submit projects in the spring. Before December, someone must raise a hand in each state to say, “Yes, we will allow and encourage our students to enter.” Stories abound featuring “the power of one;” many of us wish for the insight, selflessness, and courage to make things happen for others. Those who step forth earn our admiration as they enable the hopeful, the searcher, and the willing, in schools, districts, and clubs, to seek knowledge, generate ideas, illuminate patterns and relationships, and so join with others across the states to build a better world.