Auditor’s Office Launches Student Map Competition for GIS Day
Geauga County Auditor Charles E. Walder has announced his office will host a series of educational events in celebration of Geographic Information System Day on Nov. 19.
Geauga County Auditor Charles E. Walder has announced his office will host a series of educational events in celebration of Geographic Information System Day on Nov. 19.
GIS Day is part of the international Geography Awareness Week and highlights the real-world uses of GIS technology. This year marks the 26th anniversary of the global event.
“This is an exciting opportunity to introduce GIS to students,” Walder said in an Oct. 20 press release. “GIS is a tool that combines geography, technology and problem-solving to explore and address real world challenges. I invite students to compete in our first ever Geauga County Map Making Competition with the chance to win some great prizes.”
The map making competition features three grade-level categories:
Mini Map Makers (Grades K–3)
Students will design a map based on the theme “The Storyteller’s Map.” Entries may include treasure maps, playground maps, or maps of imaginative lands.
My Map, My World (Grades 4–8)
With the theme “Maps of Geauga County,” students may submit maps of the county, their township, a favorite park or their neighborhood.
NextGen Map Challenge (Grades 9–12)
Students will explore the theme “Maps of the World,” creating maps of the globe, individual countries, cities or landmarks of their choice.
Submitted maps will be displayed in the GIS Department at the Geauga County Auditor’s Office in the weeks leading up to GIS Day. One winner will be selected from each category. Winners will receive a trophy and T-shirt, and their maps will remain on display at the GIS Office for the following year. Each winner’s classroom also will receive an educational desk globe featuring a world map.
“On Nov. 19, 2025, submissions will be reviewed by competition judges Kate Jacob, my office’s chief compliance officer, GIS department staff and myself,” said Walder. “We are excited to encourage the ingenuity of Geauga County’s youth and work with the next generation of map makers.”
For more information about GIS Day or the map making vompetition, follow the link provided by the auditor’s office.
Questions may be directed to Sarah Perry, GIS solutions architect, at sperry@geauga.oh.gov or 440-279-1624.
