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Seven outstanding students at East Central University in Ada have been awarded Chesapeake Cartography Scholarships in the third year of the program funded by Chesapeake Energy Corporation in Oklahoma City.

Dr. Gregory Plumb, professor and chair of ECU's Department of Cartography and Geography, announced the awards, which range from $1,000 to $1,500. The program rewards some of the brightest students majoring in cartography at ECU.

The scholars for 2009-10 are Michael Barnes and Colby Brown, both juniors from Latta; Amber Cannon, a freshman from Collinsville; Christopher Cox, a sophomore from Coalgate; John Toombs, a junior from Ada; Kristy Watson, a junior from Pauls Valley; and Casey Yearby, a freshman from Comanche.

Toombs is a three-time recipient and Watson has received the award for the second consecutive year.

"Chesapeake is among the growing number of companies and governmental organizations in Oklahoma who recognize the high value of geotechniques, a term that collectively includes the geographically inspired disciplines of cartography (map-making), geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing, and global positioning systems (GPS)," Plumb said.

"We continue to be very impressed with ECU students," said Henry Hood, Chesapeake's senior vice president of land and legal. "These Chesapeake Scholars have distinguished themselves in academics as well as industry involvement. Modern cartography techniques these students learn today provide great assistance to the oil and gas industry in the process of selecting well locations, roads and pipeline right of ways."

ECU is the only university in Oklahoma, and one of only seven in the United States, that offers an undergraduate degree in cartography.

Chesapeake has committed $50,000 in scholarships through 2012 for incoming and current cartography majors at ECU. Scholarship guidelines can be found at www.ecok.edu/colleges/health_sciences/cartography_geography/chesapeake.htm and links to applications for prospective students wishing to enroll at East Central University can be accessed from www.ecok.edu/apply/

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