Each year, U-Spatial hosts a contest that celebrates great design and cartography through the use of maps. 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. 

In 2023, nine prizes were awarded, on topics as diverse as tracking and preventing bird collisions with buildings, an interactive directory of Black-owned businesses in Minneapolis and surrounding suburbs, and spontaneous reforestation in Puerto Rico. The complete list of winners, with links to their maps, can be found on the Spatial University website. 

U-Spatial has begun accepting submissions for the 2024 prize. Graduate and undergraduate students from all U of M system campuses are eligible to enter. A link to competition rules and guidelines and the submission form can be found at the link above. The deadline for submissions is May 10, 2024.