Awards & Scholarships
Each Spring the Department recognizes superior students at Honor's Day with the following awards. See previous award recipients.
Be sure to register in Academic Works to apply.
Geography Awards
Dr. Charles F. Hess Graduate Student Award
Dr. Charles Frank Hess was born in Amsterdam the Netherlands, and survived the Holocaust and post war uncertainty. At the age of 18, emigrated to the U.S. Once in the U.S., he joined the Army; and, upon completing his service, he entered university and earned his BS, MS and PHD in Geography from Michigan State Honors College. He was a Fulbright Fellow, Woodrow Wilson Fellow, and National Science Foundation Cooperative Fellow.
He was a professor of Earth Science, Geography and Urban Planning at Temple, University of Wyoming and his last post was Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville (SIUE) where he taught from 1970 to 1994. His focus as a professor was to teach students to think critically, question conventional wisdom and become lifelong learners.
Charles was an avid reader and lifelong learner. He had an extensive knowledge of any period of world history, natural science and current events. He was also an avid wood worker and enjoyed many years sailing on Lake Carlyle. Dr. Charles Frank Hess passed away on July 31, 2017. He was 86 years old.
Given to a graduate student who demonstrates outstanding achievement.
Dr. Robert L. Koepke Graduate Student Award in Geography
Dr. Robert Koepke, was born on December 4th 1936 and died on February 11th, 2011 aged 74. Robert was Professor Emeritus of Geography: Economic Development at SIUE. He taught from 1964 until his retirement in 1995 for a total of 31 years. He served on, to name only a few, the I-55 Corridor Planning Team, The Charles Price Army Material Support Center Redevelopment Team and The Commonwealth Edison Economic Development Education Team.
Dr. Koepke received a host of regional and national awards including Honorary Life Member of International Economic Development Council (since 1990), the 1987 Richard Preston Award for Educational Merit from the AEDC Educational Foundation, the International Economic Development Council 2008 Chairman's Award and the Edwardsville-Glen Carbon Chamber of Commerce 2010 Lifetime Achievement Award.
Given to a graduate student who demonstrates outstanding achievement.
Dr. Carl Lossau Distinguished Student in Geography Award
Dr. Lossau received his undergraduate, masters, and doctoral degrees at Northwestern University Chicago. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving during the occupation of Germany. Dr. Lossau was professor emeritus at SIUE, serving in both the urban and regional planning and geography departments for 30 years, retiring in 1994. He was an alderman with the Edwardsville City Council, served on the city planning commission and was active with the Edwardsville Little League and Boy Scouts. During his retirement he was active at the YMCA as an officer in the Fencing Club.Dr. Carl S. Lossau, age 74, of Edwardsville, died at 10:24 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 16, 2006. An award in geography for undergraduate students was established in his memory.
Given to an undergraduate Geography major with high academic achievement.
Dr. Robert E. Mendelson Graduate Student Award in Geography
Dr. Mendelson received a master's degree in Urban Planning from the University of Illinois in 1966. He was jointly appointed as a faculty member in the SIUE Urban Planning prpgram and the Center for Organizational and Research Development (CORD).
Given to a graduate student who demonstrates outstanding achievement.
Gloria Man-wai Cheung So Award in Geography
Gloria Man-wai So graduated with a Master’s in Geography from SIUE in 1986. She was a graduate assistant in the Department of Geography. After graduating from SIUE with her master’s degree, Gloria worked part-time as a real estate broker. She saw potential in the economic development in the towns of Edwardsville and Glen Carbon and started her own business, investing in commercial and residential properties. Gloria also returned to her first love of oil and watercolor painting.
After moving with her husband, Dr. Jacky Yuk-chow So, to Texas A&M International University in 2004, Gloria became a part-time instructor of Chinese Language and Culture, a role she continued in when the couple moved to the University of Macau in 2009. Gloria passed away in 2012.
The Gloria Man-wai Cheung So Award in Geography was generously established by the family of Gloria So (MS Geography, 1986). The student selected to receive this award is determined by a committee appointed by the Chair of Geography. Preference is given to international students, especially those from China and Asia, however the award is open to all students.
The Noble R. Thompson Award
Noble Richard Thompson III, professor emeritus, former Chair of the Department of Geography at Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville, died 1 July 2001. As an undergraduate at Auburn University, Noble majored in mathematics and minored in geography and psychology. He earned both his Masters and Doctoral degrees in geography from the University of Tennessee. He had taught at SIUE since 1968. He served as Chair from 1995-2000. His teaching interests included cartography, climatology, meteorology, and the geography of Latin America. During his career he published a book on the economic geography of the mining industry in Honduras. He also was one of the first geographers to develop maps for blind students. Thompson received awards for teaching excellence at SIUE including the Senior Teaching Excellence Award in 1980; the School of Social Sciences Teaching Excellence Award in 1990; the SIUE Teaching Recognition Award in 1991, 1992, and 1994; and the Emerson Electric Excellence in Teaching Award in 1994.
The Noble R. Thompson, III Student Award in Geography was established through donations to a fund established to celebrate his commitment to geography and geographic education. The undergraduate or graduate student(s) selected to receive the award exemplify in some way Noble's ideals, character, and commitment to geography.
Susan York Memorial Award
Susan was employed by the SIUE Office of Contract Archaeology since 1992 and participated in the archaeological excavation project for the Mid-America Airport. Susan passed away in 1997.
Given to an outstanding student in Geography.
Melvin and Shirley Kazeck Memorial Assistantship Endowment
Dr. Melvin Kazeck, was the founding Chair of the Department. He attended St. Cloud College and later received a Masters Degree from the University of North Dakota followed by a Doctorate Degree from Columbia University. He was a Professor in the Department of Geography at the University of North Dakota with a specialty in meteorology and climatetology. Later he was a Chair at the Geography Department at Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville Campus from which he retired in 1976. Dr. Kazeck was a highly regarded Professor and popular with his students. He was active as a golfer, traveler, bridge master and belonged to several dance clubs. Dr. Melvin Kazeck, born in 1915, passed away November 2, 2011.
Funds Graduate Assistantships
Geography Student Alumni Recognition Award
Given to a geography major who has demonstrated exemplary leadership in his or her graduating class.
