All undergraduate or graduate students enrolled at Montana colleges or universities, carrying the minimum number of required credits for full time enrollment, engaged in geospatially-related projects or research, are eligible to apply to the Higher Education Scholarship.

Award packages include an invitation to present at the annual MAGIP Big Sky GeoCon, accompanied by a complimentary registration. A stipend of $150 is also granted to those traveling more than 100 miles to awardees presenting at the conference.

2026 Higher Education Scholarship Recipients

Three (3) scholarships totaling $3,500 were awarded to undergraduate or first-year graduate students studying GIS at a Montana college or university.

Daniel Bose, PhD Student | Montana State University, Department of Earth Sciences

“Spatiotemporal Deep Learning for Seasonal Rainfall Prediction in Southern Africa”

Daniel’s work of integrating data streams, climate modeling and machine learning is both timely and relevant. The advanced techniques he is developing facilitate processing of large data cubes that are used to interpret the complex relationships between sea surface temperature and precipitation, and the heavy reliance on rainfed agriculture to sustain Southern Africa’s (SAF) population, it is imperative to improve the accuracy of Austral Summer monsoon precipitation predictions in the region. Considering the broader implications, appropriating limited resources, especially water, is something the world will have to get better at and developing systems to address those needs is highly valued, and we want to help support his important work. 

View Award Letter

Caroline Kane, PhD Student | Montana State University, Department of Ecology

“A Burning Need for Connectivity: Using spatial analysis to quantify the impact of fuels treatments and wildland fire on habitat connectivity in the Custer-Gallatin National Forest”

Wildfire and, subsequently, wildfire suppression have increasingly altered forest structure across the American West. Caroline’s project uses geospatial modeling to answer the question, “Do fuel reduction treatments create a net-positive impact on landscape resilience, despite localized shorter-term reductions in habitat suitability and connectivity?” Western landscapes are facing unprecedented challenges, especially in the context of forest management, fire, and wildlife habitat. She presents a compelling modeling approach to addressing pressing contemporary questions and we want to help support this important work.  

View Award Letter

Beau Milton, B.S. Student | The University of Montana, Department of Geosciences

“Geospatial Hydrologic Characterization and Monitoring Framework Development in the Blackfoot Watershed, Montana”

The Blackfoot watershed is currently undergoing an update to its Watershed Restoration Plan, with expanded emphasis on drought monitoring, irrigation efficiency, fishery protection, and long-term water budgeting. However, hydrologic monitoring infrastructure within the watershed remains limited and spatially concentrated. Without a spatially integrated framework that evaluates precipitation and snowpack variability, watershed segmentation, and existing monitoring coverage, future infrastructure investments risk inefficiency and limited interagency coordination. In response, Beau is asking the important questions of how precipitation and snowpack variability differ across the Blackfoot watershed, what spatial gaps exist in current hydrologic monitoring coverage relative to watershed climatic variability, and how GIS-based analysis can provide a defensible preliminary water budget framework sufficient to guide phased monitoring expansion. With many stakeholders in this iconic watershed, his observations should help establish enduring water monitoring as this resource becomes increasingly valuable.

View Award Letter

View the 2026 Scholarship Application Announcement (pdf)

Application Deadline:  March 27, 2026

Email the Scholarship and Grants Committee Chair for more information

2025 Higher Education Scholarship Recipients

Three (3) $1,000 scholarships totaling $3,000 were awarded to undergraduate or first-year graduate students studying GIS at a Montana college or university.

Miles Fenolio, Undergraduate Student from the University of Montana

Miles is an undergraduate student at the University of Montana. He has been working at the O’Conner Center for the Rocky Mountain West and as an early academic developed a firm understanding of geospatial technologies. In addressing urban planning concerns, he plans on mapping the high-water mark within Missoula to help planners and enforcement officials understand the environmental delineations to urban camping regulations. His work will surely be of vital importance to planners in Missoula and many other cities like it that are facing ever-pressing pressures on city resources.

Eqi Luo, PhD Student from Montana State University 

Eqi is a PhD student in the Earth Sciences Department at Montana State University. He has a strong interest in human geography and will focus on the development of methods that integrate remotes sensing of landcover and climate to model human settlement in response to climate change. As the world faces unprecedented demands on all resources, developing innovative methods to understand human population dynamics will be highly valued.

Ali Saud, PhD Student from Montana Technological University

Ali is a PhD student in the Geological Engineering department at Montana Technological University. He has a background in electrical engineering and is focusing on the development of a multi-directional magnetic gradient sensor. This work will enhance the ability to detect and map mineral resources, including rare earth metals. Prototypes will be tested at known deposits in the Bearpaw mountains, and the results of this work will undoubtably help meet an ever-increasing demand for resources that are fueling the technological revolution of our time.

View previous MAGIP Scholarship Recipients