In its second year, Azavea Summer of Maps is a program that offers $5,000 stipends to student GIS analysts to perform pro bono data analysis projects for non-profit organizations. We received applications from students and nonprofits from all over the United States. This year, the number of selected students increased from two to three thanks to sponsorships from Esri and Tri-Co Digital Humanities.
The applications we received from both the non-profit organizations and students were outstanding, so the competition was fierce but we are thrilled to have selected Lena Ferguson, studying Growth and Structure of Cities at Bryn Mawr College; Julia Reeves, also studying Growth and Structure of Cities at Haverford College; and Tyler Dahlberg, Master of Science in GIS for Development and Environment at Clark University. Ms. Ferguson will be working with the Delaware Valley Association for the Education of Young Children on mapping the need and capacity of high-quality childcare in the Delaware Valley. She will also be working with the Sunlight Foundation on mapping and analysis of political influence on members of the U.S. Congress. Concurrently, Ms. Reeves will be working with the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society on an analysis of urban tree mortality with local tree tender volunteers; and with the Texas Trees Foundation on an analysis of tree planting locations to prioritize planting projects while evaluating the impact of canopy change in the City of Dallas. Mr. Dahlberg will be working with the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia on the analysis and visualization of bicycle activity in Philadelphia; and with the Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger on the visualization of high-need residents and under-served areas in Philadelphia for Coalition Against Hunger assistance.
We are planning to renew this initiative next year, and encourages nonprofits and GIS students so continue checking the Azavea Summer of Maps web site or sign up for announcements related to the 2014 program: http://summerofmaps.com/