Geography Student Organization
The GSO/GTU club is composed of active undergraduate and graduate students in geography and related fields. Various group activities are held every semester in addition to promoting geography in the UNL and greater Lincoln community.
Meetings are held every other Friday at 3:30 pm in Hardin Hall, room 207. (Next meeting is October 17, 2008.) Examine last week's minutes for exciting news, upcoming events, and the date of the next meeting!
Gamma Theta Upsilon - Alpha Phi Chapter
Gamma Theta Upsilon (GTU) is an international honor society in geography. GTU was founded in 1928 and became a national organization in 1931. UNL's Alpha Phi Chapter was established on December 9, 1952 and is represented through the activities of the Geography Student Organization (GSO). Members of GTU have met academic requirements and share a background and interest in geography. To be eligible, students must complete a minimum of three geography courses, have a 3.0 average in geography, and must complete at least three semesters (36 credits) of course work at UNL. Membership forms are sent to eligible students each spring and are inducted during a ceremony held in April. For more information, contact the Alpha Phi Chapter President (see below) or visit the international GTU website.
2008-2009 Officers
| President: James Thayer | Treasurer: Nataliya Lys |
| Vice President: Jad Callahan | Secretary: Trish Larson |
Holiday Party 2008
James has made arrangements with The Parthenon to host our Holiday Party this year. The Holiday Party will be Thursday, December 11, 2008 at 7:00 P.M. The whole Geography Department is welcome to join, along with their spouses. Please send James an email if you plan on going and how many, so he can notify The Parthenon approximately how many people are coming. His email is jthayer@huskers.unl.edu.
Dr. Susan Hanson Visits GSO and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln
In a regular meeting of the GSO in October 2007, the members voted on asking Dr. Susan Hanson of Clark University to be a visiting scholar the following spring. Dr. Hanson graciously accepted and, on Friday April 25th, 2008, the university community as well as the public was invited to spend the day with the visiting scholar. Dr. Hanson's visit was made possible by contributions by the UNL Geography Student Organization (GSO), Gamma Theta Upsilon (GTU), Department of Anthropology and Geography, Women's and Gender Studies, and the Association of American Geographers (AAG) Visiting Scholar Program.
See the official flier for more information.
Dinner with Dr. Hanson at The Blue Orchid: (left to right) Cynthia Williams, ABD; Dr. Katherine Nashleanas; Dr. Susan Hanson; Becky Buller; (front) Lesli Rawlings, ABD; Dr. David Wishart; Dr. Kenneth French; and Dr. J. Clark Archer.
12th Annual Undergraduate Geography Bowl
On November 13, 2007, GSO hosted the 12th Annual UNL Undergraduate Geography Bowl. Over seventy-five participants competed, in teams of two, with prizes going to the top four teams. The prizes ranged from books to free movie passes and were donated by twelve sponsors, including the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and doctors Archer, Johnson, and Wishart.
Top Teams: (left to right) 1st Place- Todd Parkening and Andrew Shroll; 2nd Place- Colin Punt and Brian Storm; 3rd Place- Chris Hannagan and John Oberle; 4th Place- Tim Laughlin and Bill Altizer.
GSOers helping to make the 2007 Bee possible included (front, left to right) Nick Erickson, Jason Byers, Kenny French, Becky Buller, Lesli Rawlings, Ting Chen, Cyndi Williams, (back, left to right) Jeff Nothwehr, Ryan Weichelt, Ezra Zeitler, Eric Bigham, and Ashley Barnett.
GTU Inductees
Alpha Phi Chapter 2008 Inductee Glenn Williams
Alpha Phi Chapter 2007 Inductees (L to R): Cynthia Williams, Nataliya Lys, James Thayer, Christopher Harkins, Brian Schott, Christine Cary, and Benjamin Barnette. Not pictured are inductees Jack Dohrman, Christopher Ladegard, and David Weekley.
GSO at Prescott Elementary
The joy of geography. Local students enjoy learning with the newly created map.
GSOers Jad Callahan, Amy Callahan, and Nick Erickson
On Saturday March 29th, 2008 the UNL Geography Student Organization painted a playground map at Prescott Elementary School in Lincoln. Pictured are (L to R) Ezra Zeitler, Trish Larson, Lesli Rawlings, Nick Erickson, Amy Callahan, Kenny French, Jad Callahan, and Becky Buller.
Download a short video of the Joy of Geography.
GSO Assists AAG Centennial Fund
In a meeting on March 11, 2005, the UNL Geography Student Organization voted unanimously to donate $100 to the Association of American Geographers Centennial Fund for the second consecutive year. The fund seeks to stumulate innovative approaches that will reach the broader public and provide money for special training among AAG members. GSO members present at the March 25 meeting (when the check was sent) were (front, L to R): Matt Engel, Chad Smith, Paul Kelly, Kenny French, Jeff Nothwehr, Angela Pochanasomburana, (middle, L to R) Gerald Pruitt, Mark Steele, Michal Petr, Darr Street, Victoria Clouatre, Staci Blaschko, Robeto Bonifaz-Alfonzo, Lesli Rawlings, (back, L to R) Ezra Zeitler, and Marcela Doubkov.
GSO Repaints Norwood Park Playground Map
On September 16, 2005 the UNL Geography Student Organization repainted a playground map done by the club in March of 2003. Pictured are (front, L to R) Kenny French, Ryan Weichelt, Angela Pochanasomburana, (middle L to R) Jeff Rhodes, Lesli Rawlings, Katie Hazelwood, Anita Clark, and (back L to R) Chad Smith, Matt Engel, Jeff Nothwehr. Not pictured are Sean Pummill and Ezra Zeitler.
Other Club Activities
"Weekly Wind Down", camping, kickball, holiday party, annual bowling tournament
Geography Promotion/Community Service
Geography Week, including a campus-wide Geography Bee
Big Red Welcome (an event for incoming UNL students held every August)
Multiple Sclerosis Walk - Lincoln (2005, 2006, 2007)
Books for Africa (2004, 2005)
Playground Map at Norwood Park Elementary (March 2003)
Repainting of Playground Map at Norwood Park Elementary (September 2005)
Playground Map at Atkinson, Nebraska Elementary School (August 15-16, 2003)
Cultures of the World Nights at Holmes and Hawthorne Elementary Schools in Lincoln (May 13 and 20, 2003) and Hawthorne Elementary School on May 12, 2004
Nebraska State Museum Family Day "Cultures of the World" - February 15, 2003
Adopt-a-Highway - Interstate 80 mile markers 410 to 412 (2003-2005)
Sandhill Crane watching - every March
