awards, publications & connections

ESRI Community Atlas Award (2002)

Left to right: Steven Branting, Ian Coleman, Nate Ebel, Jack Dangermond (ESRI), Gilbert Grosvenor (National Geographic)
[22nd International ESRI Users Convention, San Diego CA]

“A stunning example of how good teaching and the permission to explore and think analytically yield powerful education for the students and benefit the community as a whole.”

Orchid Award for the Preservation of Historical Legacies (2004) "People's Choice" [Lewiston]

Left to right: Ian Coleman, Nate Ebel, Chris Wagner

Orchid Award for Cultural Heritage Preservation (2004) [Idaho Historic Preservation Council]

Citation Award, Association of American Geographers (2005)

"The 5th Street Cemetery Necrogeographical Study is a substantive piece of research, which not only incorporates a number of geographical concepts and techniques, including those associated with geographic information systems, but it demonstrates the application of those concepts and techniques in ways that are instructive, informative and societally relevant." (Dr. Barry Wellar, University of Ottawa, Canada)

Save Our History (2005)

The project was a finalist for the national awards presented in Washington DC, 24 May 2005.

Governor's Innovative Award, Idaho (2005)

Geography Excellence in Media (2005)

Mr. Branting was recognized for his outstanding contribution to geographic education and meritorious scholarship outside the normal geographic media that promotes geographic education.

Award of Distinction, American Association for State and Local History Award (2005)

"...This is an exceptional project that introduces students (and members of the wider public) to both traditional research methods and the most recent technologies.  In many ways I see this project as social history at its best." (Dr. James Ronda, Barnard Professor of Western History, University of Tulsa)

Excellence in Public Education, Society for American Archaeology (2007)

Gold Award, Geography World (2007)

Outstanding Cemetery Site Award, TheCemeteryClub.com (2007)

Governor's Innovative Award, Idaho (2007)

William Gilbert Award (nomination, 2009), for the article "Not Your Father's History Lesson" [see below]

Best Student Project Poster, 24th Northwest GIS Users' Conference (2009)

publications

"Asking a Good Question," INTEL Odyssey. June 2003.

"Child of Innocent Sweetness."  Publication pending.

"Course of Discovery," Northwest Education.  Volume 8, Number 4. 2003.

"Digging Up the Past," Idaho Magazine.  April 2004.

"In Lewiston, Idaho, GIS Students Solve a 'Grave' Problem," ArcNews (ESRI).  Winter 2002/2003.

"Lewiston Students Rack Up Honors," Lewiston Tribune. 9 June 2005.

"Lewiston students' graves project wins archaeology award," Lewiston Tribune, 25 April 2007.

"Local History Comes Alive,"  Idaho Yesterdays.

"Lost: 2 Headstones from the 1860s," Lewiston Tribune, 24 July 2006.  Follow up story.

"Not Your Father's History Lesson," The Western Historical Quarterly, Summer 2007.

"Rest in Peace," GeoWorld, May 2006.

"Resurrecting a Pioneer Cemetery,"  Idaho Yesterdays.  Fall/Winter 2006.

"Searching for Remains in Pioneer Park,"  KLEW-TV (CBS).   7 October 2004.

"Students discover remains missing from under tombstones," Deseret News, 14 June 2005.

"Students, Graveyards and GIS," URISA News.  May/June 2004.

"Uncovering a Mystery in the L-C Valley," Lewiston Morning Tribune.  8 July 2002.

"Unraveling Local Mysteries,"  GIS Educator.  Spring 2005.

foreign language

“Den Ahnen auf der Spur,” Business-Geomatics: Wirtschaftszeitung für Geoinformatik.  22 November 2004.

“Некрогеография и ГИС,” PC Week (Russian edition).   30 July 2004.

connections

Center for Historic Preservation
GIS Lounge
GISuser.com (GISuser named the project one the best feature stories of 2004.)
Public Cemeteries Information Network (The project is the most popular history site.)
Saving Graves
Society of American Archaeology