2008 Awards

ISGS Honors Awarded

Twelve individuals and one company were honored at the 2008 Illinois State Geological Survey awards program, held December 5, 2008, on the campus of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The awards were presented to the honorees by ISGS Interim Director E. Donald McKay III in recognition of their outstanding contributions for the benefit of the people of Illinois.

The award presentations followed the State of the Survey address by McKay and a brief message by the Executive Director of the newly formed Institute of Natural Resource Sustainability, William W. Shilts.

The awards and their recipients are listed here.

The Special Recognition Award was presented to William W. Shilts in appreciation of his vision, determination, and actions as ISGS Chief that led to the merger of the four scientific Surveys with the University of Illinois and to the creation of the Institute of Natural Resource Sustainability.

Thelen Sand and Gravel Company was honored as Outstanding Cooperator for its provision of time, equipment, and quarry access in support of the ISGS geologic mapping program and field trips.

Congressman Timothy V. Johnson received the Outstanding Advocate Award in appreciation of his outstanding support of FutureGen, the Height Modernization Program, and geologic mapping.

The Outstanding Alumni Contributions Award was presented to Morris W. Leighton, former ISGS Chief, in appreciation of his post-retirement dedication to the ISGS through his contributions to the ISGS centennial celebration and annual open house and for his continuing support of the ISGS.

The Distinguished Achievement Award was given to ISGS petroleum geologist Hannes E. Leetaru in recognition of his contributions in geologic research, interpretation of refraction seismic data, 3-D geologic modeling, and his education and outreach efforts.

Robert J. Krumm, retired head of the ISGS Geospatial Analysis and Modeling Section, was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award in honor of his twenty-five years of leadership in the application of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to geologic problems.

ISGS Geochemist William R. Roy received the Outstanding Contribution to Survey Health and Safety Award for his work in this area, both at the ISGS and in coordination with the University of Illinois.

The Kane County Mapping Project Team members William S. Dey, B. Brandon Curry, Alec Davis, and Curtis C. Abert were honored with the Special Achievement by a Team Award in recognition of the ISGS team's outstanding contributions in completion of the three-dimensional geologic and aquifer maps of Kane County.

Two ISGS scientists were honored as Outstanding New Staff Member. Seyed Dastgheib was recognized for his outstanding contributions in the development of the water-energy research program. Steven E. Brown received the award for his outstanding leadership of the ISGS Quaternary Geology Section and geologic mapping programs.