NMGIC Geospatial Awards

Every year the New Mexico Geographic Information Council (NMGIC) opens nominations for two awards, for Outstanding Service and for Lifetime Achievement.

Nominations

An announcement will be made at the NMGIC fall meeting requesting nominations for the Outstanding and Lifetime Achievement awards. Information will be posted on the NMGIC website, and members will receive e-mail reminders.  Letters of nomination can be e-mailed to the awards coordinator, Leland Pierce, at leepsbackup@comcast.net.  The letter should explain why a particular person should be honored with this award, given the criteria listed above.  Letters should be no more than 2 pages long and should be received no later than January 31 of the awarding year.

Awards Working Group:

A small working group will be formed, composed of previous award winners, to review nominations and to consider nominations of their own.  Winners of one award are eligible for the other award. The working group will provide recommendations to the NMGIC Board for final approval.  Members of the NMGIC Board that are not part of the Awards Working Group are eligible for nomination.  The Awards Working Group will convene in February of the awarding year.

Announcement of Winners:

Award winners will be contacted directly in March to confirm that they will accept the award and to make arrangements for them to attend the spring NMGIC meeting.  Award winners will be requested to provide a brief summary of their careers to that point.  The awards will be officially presented at the spring NMGIC meeting and summaries of the awards will be posted to the NMGIC website thereafter.

Green and Red Chile Outstanding Service Awards

Purpose

The Green and Red Chile Outstanding Service Awards were established by the board of the New Mexico Geographic Information Council to honor individuals that have provided service to the geospatial community above and beyond the call of duty.

Criteria

Up to two outstanding service awards will be given each year. If only one nomination is selected by the board of NMGIC, the board will then determine if it is to be a “Green Chile” or “Red Chile” Outstanding Service Award.  If no nominations are deemed suitable by the board of NMGIC, the award will not be presented that year. Candidates will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Significant contributions that have benefited our state and its citizens for at least five years. Contributions may be in almost any area in the geospatial industry: software design, data distribution, education, policy development, etc.
• Demonstrated leadership, energy, and creativity.

The Award

Each award winner will be honored in the following manner:

• Each award winner will receive a plaque at the spring NMGIC meeting.
• Summary of the justification for the winner’s award will be published on the NMGIC website.
• Employer is sent a letter of appreciation and an invitation to attend the award presentation at the spring NMGIC meeting.

Nominations

Letters of nomination can be e-mailed to the awards coordinator, Leland Pierce, at leepsbackup@comcast.net. The letter should explain why a particular person should be honored with this award, given the criteria listed above.  Letters should be no more than 2 pages long and should be received no later than January 31 of the awarding year.

Wheeler Peak Lifetime Achievement Awards

Purpose

The Wheeler Peak Lifetime Achievement Awards were established by the board of the New Mexico Geographic Council to honor individuals for a lifetime of achievement in the service of the geospatial community and New Mexico.

Criteria

This award is not given every year, and some years there are multiple recipients.  There is no limit to the number of awards per year. The selection criteria for this honor are:

• The contribution by an individual to the geospatial community of New Mexico must be significant and done for the greater good.  Their work should have:
• Advanced the geospatial field in New Mexico and beyond
• Employed geospatial technologies and coordination to improve quality of life in New Mexico.

The Award

Each award winner will be honored in the following manner:

• Each award winner will receive a plaque at the spring NMGIC meeting.
• Summary of the justification for the winner’s award will be published on the NMGIC website.
• Employer is sent a letter of appreciation and an invitation to attend the award presentation at the spring NMGIC meeting.

Previous Award Winners