2025 U-Spatial Mapping Prizes

Each year, U-Spatial hosts a contest that celebrates great design and cartography through the use of maps. The contest is open to graduate and undergraduate students at the University of Minnesota, and prizes are awarded in several categories. The prizes are made possible by a generous gift from Jack Dangermond, a U of M alumnus and the founder and president of Esri, which makes geographic information system (GIS) software. 

Nine prizes were awarded for the 2025 competition, with a wide variety of topic areas. The winner for Best Overall Map discussed the racially diverse North Minneapolis neighborhood, the history of redlining and racial covenants in the city, and the availability of green space. The complete list of winners, with links to their maps, can be found on the Spatial University website. 

The submission period for the 2026 U-Spatial Mapping Prize will open soon; see the submission link at the webpage linked in the previous paragraph. Graduate and undergraduate students from all U of M system campuses are eligible to enter.