Kenneth J. Osborn (51), chief, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Southwest Geographic Science Team in Sacramento, California, passed away on Saturday, March 6, 2004 from complications resulting from a recent heart attack and stroke. Osborn had been with USGS since 1975.
Among his most notable achievements, Osborn was directly responsible for authoring an historic aerial photography and mapping agreement with Mexico, as the Department of the Interior and USGS Representative for Mapping during the 1996 Bi-National Committee Meetings. In recognition of this endeavor, he received a Special Achievement Award from U.S. Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt.
In honor of Osborn's love for surveying and mapping ("all things geospatial") a memorial scholarship for students seeking a career in the profession, has been established. The American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS), a national professional society to which Osborn made significant contributions throughout his career, will manage the Ken Osborn Memorial Scholarship Award for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. The Award will be presented annually to recognize a student's academic achievements in geospatial science, information, and technology, as well as, their activities demonstrating skill in communications and collaboration -- personal attributes that Osborn demonstrated so very well. The Northern California Region of ASPRS will administer the selection process for the award.
All contributions to this memorial scholarship fund should be made to:
American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing
Ken Osborn Memorial Scholarship Fund
5410 Grosvenor Lane. Suite 210
Bethesda, MD 20814-2160
Founded in 1934, ASPRS is an international professional organization of 7,000 geospatial data professionals. ASPRS is devoted to advancing knowledge and improving understanding of the mapping sciences to promote responsible application of photogrammetry, remote sensing, geographic information systems and supporting technologies. For additional information about ASPRS, visit our web site at http://www.asprs.org.
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