3:38 p.m., May 30, 2008--Nicole Minni, policy specialist II in the Water Resources Agency (WRA) of UD's Institute for Public Administration, received the 2008 Geographic Community Service Award at the annual Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Conference in April in Dover. The award honors the memory of the late Vern Svatos, an early leader in GIS in Delaware, who served as UD GIS coordinator.
A GIS/graphics specialist, Minni has developed many graphic materials for WRA, local governments and civic groups. She has been recognized for her work in digital cartography and spatial analysis and has completed many diverse mapping projects, ranging from the “State of Delaware National Wetlands Inventory Map” to “Municipal Mapping for Livable Delaware.” She has taken first place in the Professional Map Gallery category in 2005 and 2006 and first place in Best Cartographic Map in 2000 at GIS conferences at Towson University.
In recommending her for the award, Andrew Homsey, GIS services coordinator for WRA, wrote that Minni “has actively been involved in K-12 education, in watershed protection, in the tenets of Livable Delaware and in the implementation of GIS special data framework in Delaware. Her commitment extends well beyond the parameters of her work; she consistently volunteers her own time and expertise toward the common good.... her enthusiasm, professionalism, expertise and selfless assistance across the state have indeed made a real difference.”
According to Deborah Sullivan, conference chairperson, “Whenever Delaware's GIS community comes together to work in support of education, to help local governments or to plan major events such as this conference, Nicole is there with a cheerful face, an engaged and creative mind and willing hands. She exemplifies the spirit that this award was set up to honor.”
Photo courtesy of Lillian Wang, Delaware Geographic Data Committee