International Geographic Information Fund (IGIF) Scholarship

Deadline: October 15, 2026 (by midnight, Eastern)

The International Geographic Information Fund (IGIF) is an endowed fund established through generous gifts from Laura and Jack Dangermond and the Environmental Systems Research Institute (Esri). Its purpose is to support scholarships that advance student career development in the academic areas of applied spatial analysis and geographic information science/systems (SA/GISS).

The Award

These scholarships are designed for students who show clear career goals and strong potential for growth. They are especially intended for students who would significantly benefit from financial support as they work toward their professional aspirations. Scholarships are not limited to students with already well-established academic or professional records. The AAG reserves the right to determine whether scholarships will be awarded in a given year.

The AAG will distribute up to thirty-four (34) scholarships of $1,200 to undergraduate and graduate students pursuing careers in SA/GISS. Funds are intended to support activities that help students take meaningful steps toward their professional goals. Scholarship funds can be used for:

• Travel to national or international conferences, symposia, or professional meetings related to SA/GISS (including transportation, lodging, meals, and other travel expenses reasonably related to travel for attendance at such meetings). 

• Tuition, books, equipment, laboratory, or other academic fees at accredited U.S. institutions. 

Scholarship funds may not duplicate support from other awards and must be used within one (1) year of acceptance. Scholarship recipients are strongly encouraged to attend the AAG Annual Meeting, where they will be invited to an Esri Young Professionals Network (YPN) reception and recognized at the AAG Awards Reception. Recipients are expected to acknowledge Esri IGIF support in any work funded by this scholarship.

Eligibility

• Be a full‑time student. 

• Be enrolled at an accredited higher education institution within the United States of America. 

• Be pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree or specialization in SA/GISS. 

• Not have previously received this scholarship within the same academic category (undergraduate or graduate), to help broaden opportunities and recognition for more students. 

Applications

A complete application must be received no later than the close of business on the deadline (Eastern Time). Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

1. Curriculum Vitae (maximum 2 pages).
2. Faculty Advisor Letter (maximum 1 page, on letterhead). The advisor must confirm that the applicant:

o Is a full time student in good standing.
o Is enrolled in an SA/GISS program.
o Shows strong promise in their stated career goals (and why).

3. Applicant Statement (maximum 3 pages, with up to 2 pages of optional supporting illustrations). The statement must include:

o Introduction and Professional Interests – Briefly describe your academic background and current interests in SA/GISS.
o Career Goals – Outline your short and long term career goals and explain how your academic work supports them.
o Proposed Use of Scholarship Funds – Clearly describe the activities or expenses you are requesting support for and explain their relevance to your career development.
o Justification and Financial Need – Explain why this scholarship is essential for enabling the proposed activities, including financial constraints and why these costs cannot be supported through other funding sources.

Criteria

Applications are evaluated on the clarity and strength of the written materials, alignment of career goals with SA/GISS, proposed use of funds, and demonstrated financial need. Undergraduate and graduate applicants are evaluated within their academic level.

• Faculty advisor’s letter – 10% 
• Clarity, organization, and quality of written statement – 25% 
• Clarity and alignment of career goals within SA/GISS – 25% 
• Proposed use of funds and connection to career development – 25%
• Justification and financial need – 15% 

Each year, AAG staff convene an IGIF Esri Scholarship Committee to review applications and select recipients. The committee includes board members from AAG Communities specializing in SA/GISS, such as the Spatial Analysis and Modeling Specialty Group (SAM) and the Geographic Information Science and Systems Specialty Group (GISS‑SG), or other SA/GISS leaders within the AAG Community. 

Final selections are made at least 45 days before the AAG Annual Meeting, and applicants are notified shortly thereafter. In its review, the committee aims to:

• • Prioritize applicants whose career development would be meaningfully advanced by this scholarship, particularly those with clear goals, strong potential, and limited access to other funding sources. 

• • Recognize the most deserving students. 

• • Find an appropriate balance of undergraduate and graduate awardees based on the applicant pool, though the number of awards in each category may vary from year to year. 

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Previous Recipients

2026

IGIF Student Scholarship

IGIF Graduate Research

IGIF Student Paper

• Chen Chu
• Chen Wei
• Emily Zhou
• Gabriel Agostini
• Hao Tian