Published: November 20, 2008 01:29 pm      

Second annual group of Chesapeake scholars announced

ADA — Eight outstanding students at East Central University in Ada have been named recipients of Chesapeake Cartography Scholarships. Dr. Gregory Plumb, professor and chair of the Department of Cartography and Geography, announced the awards which range from $1,000 to $1,500. The scholarship program is in its second year.

The scholars for 2008-09 are Brittney Burton, a freshman from Purcell; Jacob Lempges, a junior from McLoud; Ben Matlock, a senior from Ada; Corey Miller, a senior from Tishomingo; Jeannett Phillips, a senior from Stratford; Robert Rothell, a senior from Roff; John Toombs, a sophomore from Ada; and Kristy Watson, a sophomore from Pauls Valley. Lempges, Rothell and Toombs are two-time recipients.

The program, funded by Chesapeake Energy Corporation in Oklahoma City, rewards some of the brightest students majoring in cartography at ECU.

“Chesapeake is among the growing number of companies and governmental organizations within Oklahoma that recognize the high value of geotechniques, a term that collectively includes the geographically inspired disciplines of cartography (map-making), geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing, and global positioning systems (GPS),” Plumb said.

“We continue to be very impressed with ECU students,” said Henry Hood, Cheasapeake’s senior vice president of land and legal. “These Chesapeake Scholars have distinguished themselves in academics as well as industry involvement. Modern cartography techniques these students learn today provide great assistance to the oil and gas industry in the process of selecting well locations, roads and pipeline rights of way.”

ECU is the only university in Oklahoma, and one of only seven in the United States, that offers an undergraduate degree in cartography.

Chesapeake has committed $50,000 in scholarships through 2012 for incoming and current cartography majors at ECU, Plumb said. Scholarship guidelines can be found at www.ecok.edu/colleges/health_sciences/cartography_geography/chesapeake.asp and links to applications for prospective students wishing to enroll at East Central University can be accessed from www.ecok.edu/apply.