2025 WLIA Map Contest Awards - May I Have the Envelope, Please?

Posted By: Grace White Awards & Recognition, Annual Conference,

A highlight of the 2025 WLIA Annual Conference was the highly anticipated Map Contest, which this year featured an impressive 63 map entries.  The Map Gallery served as a hub of inspiration, conversation, and consumption of delicious map-themed brownies and cookies.  Congratulations to all who participated in the Map Contest, including our Junior Cartographers in the Youth Map category!

A special thank you to the Map Gallery Sponsors: GeoComm, Robert E. Lee & Associates, and Ruekert & Mielke. Their support played a crucial role in making this event a success. Additionally, a huge thank you to our dedicated volunteers whose hard work and commitment helped bring the map contest to life.

To view all of the map entries, please check out the 2025 WLIA Virtual Map Gallery.

Special Awards

People's Choice (Adult)

WISCONSIN COUNTIES WALL QUILT - Debbie Anderson, Ruekert-Mielke, Inc


People's Choice (Youth - ages 9 & younger)

1st Place

OUR INTERSTELLAR NEIGHBORS - Leopold Deutsch, Age 6

2nd Place

THE STORY OF A FAMILY FINDING HALLOWEEN DECORATIONS - Seraphine Buehler, Age 7


People's Choice (Youth - ages 10 - 13)

1st Place

ORIGINS OF WISCONSIN COUNTY NAMES - Clara Prowse, Age 11

2nd Place

REGIONS OF THE UNITED STATES - Jack Seidel, Age 11


President's Choice

THE ABOVE AIRBORNE CAMPAIGN - Ian Bohachek, UW-Madison, NASA Carbon Cycle and Ecosystems Office


Keynote's Choice

ORIGINS OF WISCONSIN COUNTY NAMES - Clara Prowse, Age 11


Best Private Sector Map

WISCONSIN COUNTIES WALL QUILT - Debbie Anderson, Ruekert-Mielke, Inc


Best Public Sector Map

WISCONSIN HISTORIC AERIAL IMAGERY FINDER - Robinson Map Library, State Cartographer’s Office, Cartography Lab


Best Student Map

LEGO TOPOGRAPHIC MAP OF NORTH AMERICA - Atlas Guo, UW-Madison


Best Hand-Drawn Map

1st Place

WHERE HARRY “GOES”... - Christine Koeller

2nd Place

VILAS RUINS THE DAY - Emily Sudar


Category Awards

Base & Reference Map

1st Place

WISCONSIN AERONAUTICAL CHART (2024-2025) - Christine Koeller, WisDOT Bureau of Aeronautics

2nd Place

THE CENTENARY LEGACY OF SUN YAT-SEN UNIVERSITY… - Atlas Guo, UW-Madison


Thematic Map

1st Place

UNITED STATES OF BLOOMING RISKS - Atlas Guo, UW-Madison

2nd Place

HARNESSING CLEAN POWER -   A FUTURE FOR WINDSCONSIN - Eugenie Huang, University of Wisconsin


Mapping Poster

1st Place

WHERE IS THE SNOW? - Mike Zuege, East Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission

2nd Place

A MINI GALLERY OF LEGO TOPOGRAPHIC MAPS - Atlas Guo, UW-Madison


Black & White Map

1st Place

HISTORIC RAILROADS IN MENOMINEE & SHAWANO CO - Atlas Guo, University of Wisconsin-Madison

2nd Place

TID 5 FUTURE IMPROVEMENTS - Tyler DeBruin, Town of Grand Chute


Brochure & Small Format Map

1st Place

NORTH BARSTOW STREET SCULPTURE LOOP - Reagan Phillips, UW - Eau Claire

2nd Place

BAYFIELD COUNTY ROAD MAP - Heather Lee, Bayfield County


Map Book or Atlas

1st Place

PCB EXCAVATION AND SAMPLING RESULTS OVERVIEW - Marie Galarneau, Ramboll

2nd Place

RECYCLING ROUTES MAP BOOK - Evan Petrie, City of Oshkosh


Most Unique

1st Place

EXCLUDED MILWAUKEE - Chelsea Nestel, UW - Milwaukee

2nd Place

TOWN OF WASHINGTON - ASCII - Natalie Blackert, Bay-Lake Regional Planning Commission


Interactive Map

1st Place

WISCONSIN HISTORIC AERIAL IMAGERY FINDER - Robinson Map Library, State Cartographer’s Office, Cartography Lab

2nd Place

SPIRIT FUND DASHBOARD - Adam Dorn and Adam BellCorelli, Winnebago County


Story Map

1st Place

THE ABOVE AIRBORNE CAMPAIGN - Ian Bohachek, UW-Madison, NASA Carbon Cycle and Ecosystems Office

2nd Place

CITY OF RACINE - SMART CITY - Amanda Miller, City of Racine


If you have any questions or are interested in joining the WLIA Map Contest team, please email the Map Contest Co-Chairs.