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WIU senior Alexis Araoz
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WIU Students Wins GIS Award for Second Year in a Row

November 15, 2016

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MACOMB, IL – For the second year in a row, Western Illinois University senior Alexis Araoz has been awarded the Outstanding Student Award during the Illinois Geographic Information Systems Association's (ILGISA) annual conference.

Araoz, a geography and geographic information science major from Macomb, was nominated for the award by WIU GIS Center Director Chad Sperry.

"It was a pleasure to nominate Alexis for the ILGISA student award two years in a row," said Sperry. "The WIU Department of Geography and the GIS Center have a long history of our students being honored with this award, and it is gratifying to see Alexis continue in this tradition."

Araoz has served as a student worker in the WIU GIS Center since 2014, taking a lead role on numerous projects in the office. Prior to coming to Western, Araoz developed her GIS interest while she was an intelligence analyst for the U.S. Army.

"Winning this award the first time was a huge accomplishment for me," said Araoz. "Winning it this second time, above all, serves as a reminder that this is the right field for me. I'm confident I can make a big impact doing this kind of work, and I have to thank the Geography Department, my instructors and staff and the GIS Center for instilling that in me through their encouragement and work opportunities."

For more information about the WIU GIS Center, visit wiu.edu/GIS.


Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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