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HIGICC recognizes outstanding community members and students through two programs: The Mark Lierman Memorial Scholarship Award and the President's Award.


Mark Lierman* Memorial Scholarship

The Mark Lierman Memorial Scholarship is a $1,000 scholarship that recognizes deserving students who have demonstrated an appreciation for and understanding of geospatial data and  geographic information systems (GIS). Applicants must be enrolled at an accredited college or university for the Award year and have graduated from a high school in Hawaii or be attending school in Hawaii.

The HIGICC Board of Directors are happy to announce the winner of this year's Mark Lierman Scholarship: Liam Felix. Liam is a Student GIS Assistant in the Office of Systems Integration at the University of Hawai'i. He impressed the Scholarship Committee with his knowledge and current use of GIS and his career goals of utilizing GIS in the field of hydrology or hydrogeology. Liam will be presenting at the HIGICC Annual Meeting in October so be sure to attend or join us online to help congratulate him.

Mahalo Liam! We look forward to seeing how your career in GIS develops. 

2023 Scholarship Application
Scholarship Award Recipients:
  • 2023 Liam Felix
  • 2022 Kailey Pascoe
  • 2021 Tierra Bartolotti
  • 2020 Gina McGuire
  • 2019 Yoko Uyehara
  • 2018 Eszter Collier
  • 2017 Katie Taladay
  • 2016 Nick Turner and Megan Mulley
  • 2015 Mapuana O'Sullivan
  • 2014  Charles Devaney and Nick Yamauchi
  • 2013  Abby Frasier
  • 2012  Erik Franklin and Kathyrn Massaro
  • 2011: Kosta Stamoulis and Elena Abe
  • 2010: Christopher Hamilton
  • 2009: Mele Chillingworth and Jessica Nalani Leonard
  • 2008: No award
  • 2007: Lisa Wedding - GIS and remote sensing applications for coral reef management
  • 2006: Garrett George and Kealoha Kinney

President's Award

The President's Award is bestowed on a deserving individual who has made a meaningful impact on Hawaii's geospatial community. This award is selected by the Board's President and announced at the HIGICC annual meeting.

President's Award Recipients:
  • 2022 Ken Schmidt
  • 2021 Brennan O'Neill
  • 2020 Katie Taladay
  • 2019 Meyer Cummins
  • 2018 Dr. Everett Wingert
  • 2017 Edward Carlson
  • 2016 Dr. Everett Wingert & Dr. Matthew McGranaghan
  • 2015 Anthony Kimmet
  • 2014 Lisa Canale
  • 2013 Joan Delos Santos
  • 2012 Karen Kemp
  • 2011 Henry Wolter
  • 2010 Craig Clouet
  • 2009 Ken Schmidt
  • 2008 Chris Chiesa
  • 2007 Darcee Killpack
  • 2006 Rhett Rebold
  • 2005 Royce Jones
  • 2004 Joan Delos Santos
  • 2003 Susan Bevacqua & Ron Salz
  • 2002 Nami Ohtomo

* Mark Lierman Memorial Scholarship


Mark Lierman was born in Twin Falls, Idaho.  He worked in GIS for over 25 years, and came to the City and County of Honolulu in 1992. As a GIS Analyst with over 17 years of service and a key senior member of the City’s Department of Planning and Permitting, Honolulu Land Information System (HoLIS) program, he was a major contributor to the development of Honolulu's GIS program.  He was also an instrumental leader in the development, deployment and management of the City’s building, land use, and construction permitting system known as POSSE.

Mark was a tireless advocate for and an enthusiastic promoter of GIS technology to many citizens, professionals, civil servants, and politicians throughout the State of Hawaii. He was a cheerful participant in local GIS user groups, including HIGICC, and was a fixture at GIS Day events at McCoy Pavilion. Known for his playful roles (as a butler, as a globe, etc.), he used humor and self-deprecation to put a human face to GIS and reduce the intimidation factor of the technology to make it more accessible to the kids and volunteers alike.


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