A Learning Experience

Student assistants and young professionals participate in GEOINT 2016 programs

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The GEOINT 2016 Symposium features two exclusive experiences for next generation GEOINTers—a Student Assistant Program as well as a Young Professionals Golden Ticket Program.

Twelve student assistants representing 11 universities across the country have the unique opportunity to participate in GEOINT 2016 as part of USGIF’s Student Assistant Program. Each student will work 20 hours throughout the Symposium by helping out during training sessions, in general session, or at the USGIF booth in the exhibit hall.

“The student assistant program is a fantastic opportunity for these hand-selected students to experience GEOINT 2016,” said Justin Franz, USGIF’s volunteer engagement manager. “The program offers the opportunity to network and engage with professional analysts, engineers, developers, and data scientists.”

In addition to providing onsite support, students will have the chance to tour the exhibit hall, attend receptions, and network with government and industry attendees.

“I applied to attend GEOINT 2016 to get a first-hand experience of the GEOINT profession and the evolving technologies that help influence it,” said Kyle Phillips, a sophomore GIS major at Lakeland Community College in Ohio, who will be a student assistant this year.

Liling Lee, a student in the University of Southern California’s geographic information science and technology graduate program, said she had a valuable experience last year as a GEOINT 2015 student assistant.

“I absorbed so much information and have reflected upon discussions which are helping me grow as a geospatial intelligence thinker,” Lee said. “The peers and professionals I met and befriended at GEOINT 2015 will be invaluable sources of support and knowledge as I progress as a geospatial analyst. I am thrilled to be part of the GEOINT Community.”

Student assistants will wear bright green T-shirts emblazoned with the phrase “got questions?” throughout the week. If you see a student, please say hello and share your experiences and advice about pursuing a career in the GEOINT Community.

Additionally, the student assistants—alongside 2015 USGIF Scholarship recipients and students from USGIF-affiliated universities—will display their student research posters Sunday from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. and during lunch in Osceola Ballroom AB. Attendees can vote for their favorite student poster at GEOINT2016posters.org. The student with the most votes will win complimentary, full Symposium registration to GEOINT 2017 in San Antonio, Texas, and a one-year individual membership to USGIF. Second and third place winners will also receive a one-year membership.

The Young Professionals Track

The USGIF Young Professionals Golden Ticket Program offers the opportunity for exceptional young professionals from the GEOINT Community to receive complimentary full Symposium registration and access to exclusive GEOINT 2016 events.

This year marks the sixth group of young professionals to participate in the Golden Ticket Program. The GEOINT 2016 Golden Ticket agenda will include special mentoring sessions, attendance at the invitation-only USGIF Chairman’s reception, and luncheons with NGA Deputy Director Sue Gordon and IBM Fellow and Chief Scientist of Context Computing Jeff Jonas. Golden Ticket winners will also participate in the GEOINT 2016 outreach project by hosting 50 Junior ROTC cadets from Oak Ridge High School in Orlando at the Symposium Wednesday.

USGIF’s Young Professionals Group (YPG) will host a panel discussion with speakers from DigitalGlobe, OGSystems, and Google from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Monday in Gainesville 1-2. The group will also host a networking reception from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in Sarasota 2-3. Both events are open to all Symposium attendees.

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