Mark Bellncula, who's earning a GIS certificate at CMC Leadville, took the People's Choice award for his "Race to the Clouds" map at the recent Elevation Geospatial Conference held May 11-13 at CMC Steamboat Springs. Judging among about 85 geospatial professionals and students put Bellncula's map at the top spot during the conference.
Colorado Mountain College GIS student wins big at geospatial conference
By Carrie Click
A Colorado Mountain College Leadville student from Breckenridge received top honors at the recent Elevations Geospatial Summit Conference held at CMC Steamboat Springs May 11-13.
Mark Bellncula is currently earning a certificate in occupational proficiency in geographic information systems. In a mapping contest among professionals and students, Bellncula won the overall People’s Choice award, among both industry pros and students and in all categories – map, art and app.
Held at the CMC Steamboat Springs campus, the three-day conference drew about 85 geologists, geographers, climate scientists, planners and dozens more geospatial professionals and students to discuss relevant topics in the geospatial industry such as field studies mapping, data collection, wildlife habitat study, large scale vegetation monitoring, and providing topographic information to governments and citizens, among many more.
Bellncula’s map was one of seven submissions from CMC students. Titled “The Race to the Clouds,” the map details the upcoming Pikes Peak International Hill Climb on June 26. It received the most votes at the conference.
In addition to Bellncula, other CMC students competing in the contest included Lucy Kepner, Michelle Walker, Kayla Turner, Joe Tayabji and Chelsea Johnson.
The conference was sponsored by GIS Colorado and WyGEO, which brought together geospatial professionals and students from Colorado, Wyoming and beyond.