CURRENT PROGRAMS

The APSG Education Foundation’s Work in Program Development

Program development often takes years to achieve, and requires the identification of targets, relationship building, partnering, development of the program framework and operating policies and procedures, plus the final agreements between the Foundation and representatives of the partner organization.  These are often other non-profits such as an education institution’s foundation, an education institution itself, or a non-profit whose goals align with those of the APSG Education Foundation.  Our first program at Texas A&M College Station took two and a half years to develop from start to program initiation.

The APSG Education Foundation presently has a work group who is scoping for new program development, as well as initiating relationships with potential partners.  These partners vary in characteristics ranging from local school districts, community college districts, state universities, and other non-profits whose purpose is to support education towards careers.

All board members participate, but the core work group is led by a team that includes Kandice O’Malley, Bruce Carter, and John Conner.

We seek to build programs that honor our fellow APSG members as well as others who have at any point supported or exhibited the character and ethics that we uphold.

Jim Cain receiving a lifetime achievement award from Ellen West Nodwell in 2010, at the Fall APSG Meeting...
Jim Cain (center bottom row) with fellow APSG Members
Jim Cain with his "APSG family"

Texas A&M College Station – Jimmy Darrell “Jim” Cain Memorial Program

Jim Cain

Who was Jim Cain?

Jimmy Darell “Jim” Cain graduated from Texas A&M University in 1966 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Meteorology, and in 1971 with a Masters of Science in Oceanography, where he was also an enthusiastic member of the Singing Cadets. Jim was a world-renowned geodesist and worked on the original EPSG Geodetics Sub-Committee, that became the EPSG authority, with the original members and continued to work on the committee until his death. That committee was/is part of the IOGP, the standards authority for international oil and gas standards, including geomatics and geodesy. Jim was a founding member of the Association for Petroleum Surveying & Geomatics (APSG) Professional Organization. During his service to the organization he served in many roles including, at the time of his passing, as the Head of the Strategic and Advisory Committee.

In Honor of Jim Cain the TAMU Jimmy D. Cain Memorial Program was Established in 2019

In Spring of 2019, the TAMU Department of Geography partnered with the APSG Education Foundation to honor the memory and legacy of Texas A&M University Alumni Jimmy D. “Jim” Cain ‘66 and ‘71 by strengthening the concepts of geodetics and data integrity within geospatial education and professional development for the next generation of industry leaders.

This partnership integrates the leadership of the the APSG Education Foundation, the expertise and experience of Association of Petroleum Surveying & Geomatics (APSG) members and organizations, and the College of Geosciences in the classroom, field and workplace through instruction, mentoring and professionalization to ultimately provide more and better prepared career placements within the energy industry.

The collaboration with the APSG Education Foundation in memory of Jimmy D. Cain positions the College of Geosciences at Texas A&M University as a leader in preparing industry-ready geospatial graduates, and recognizes the APSG Education Foundation as the preeminent non-profit champions of broadening and deepening knowledge of geodetics and geomatics in the geospatial profession.

Surveying in the field is a critical geomatics skill. Understanding the theories and how they are applied are critical to avoid “buttonology” which introduces potential errors in the positioning of field-captured data.

In-Person events at TAMU provide an opportunity for students to inquire about the disciplines supported by the APSG Education Foundation.

JIMMY D. CAIN TRAVEL AWARDS

The Jimmy D. Cain Travel Awards seek to formalize the development professionalization and soft skills for students entering the geospatial and energy industries by providing opportunities for students to interact with industry professionals and to describe and deliver the outcomes of their work at professional meetings. This program supports conference travel for Texas A&M University (TAMU) students to attend and present at APSG and energy industry conferences. This program provides up to $500 in support for conference registration, travel, housing and meal costs for students to attend APSG and other energy industry meetings courtesy of the APSG Education Foundation.

A total of two awards will be granted: one award will be made to a student at the undergraduate level, and one will be made to a student at the graduate level.

For full details on eligibility and the application process, view the TAMU Geography website.


JIMMY D. CAIN EXCELLENCE AWARDS

The Jimmy D. Cain Excellence Awards recognize outstanding achievements in the fields of geomatics, geospatial techniques and/or applications for the energy industry, data integrity, and/or data management for undergraduate and graduate students at Texas A&M University. Awardees will each receive a designated value amount per student under individual categories determined each year to apply as a scholarship courtesy of the APSG Education Foundation. Students will be recognized at the next APSG Meeting and online.

Each year, the number of awards will be determined by the Chair and Vice-Chair in consultation with the Treasurer, then recommended to the Board for a vote: Awards will be made to one or more students at the undergraduate level, and or more will be made to students at the graduate level.

Awardees are tracked for their future professional progress and this information will be incorporated into future requirements to make certain that students fully incorporate the scholarship towards career needs in our designated subject areas.

For full details on eligibility and the application process, view the TAMU Geography website.


JIMMY D. CAIN GEOX SCHOLARS PROGRAM

High school level students attend the GeoX Scholars Summer Program at TAMU ahead of acceptance and enrollment at TAMU. This is a “taster” for what future learning opportunities hold for students in Geospatial Courses at TAMU. The APSG Education Foundation supports GeoX as one component of the Jimmy D. Cain Memorial Program.

The Jimmy D. Cain GeoX Scholars Program provides funding to support the travel, housing, and meal costs for four students to participate in the TAMU School of Geoscience’s GeoX Program in College Station. This program is directed toward high school students, supporting in-depth GIST and geodetic hands-on experiences for these attendees.

For full details on eligibility and the application process, view the TAMU Geography website.