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History

Gamma Theta Upsilon (GTU) is an international geography honor society.  It was founded in 1928 and became a national organization in 1931.

Colgate is home to the Epsilon Psi chapter, founded May 3, 1977.

Members of GTU have met academic requirements and share a background and interest in geography. GTU chapter activities support geography knowledge and awareness.

 

Goals

1. To further professional interest in Geography by affording a common organization for those interested in the field.
    
2. To strengthen student and professional training through academic experiences in addition to those of the classroom and laboratory.
    
3. To advance the status of Geography as a cultural and practical discipline for study and investigation.
    
4. To encourage student research of high quality, and to promote an outlet for publication.
    
5. To create and administer funds for furthering graduate study and/or research in the field of Geography.
    
6. To encourage members to apply geographic knowledge and skills in service to humankind.

 

GTU memberships include opportunities for scholarships, research, internships, and networking for current students and the affiliated alumni organization, Omega Omega.

 

Current Members

2012 -- Sara Branz, Cloe Bushnell, Alexander Crawford, Eric Spencer 

2011  -- Sara Aschheim, Stephanie Bohar (Vice-President), Nicole Dennis, Katrina Engelsted, Amanda Fernley, Margaret Hanley, Christine Kana, Meghan Kiernan, Stephanie O'Brien, Grace O'Shea, Lesley Parrish, Malcolm Piper, Lisa Plenderleith, Alexandra Pons (President), Kathlin Ramsdell, Kaitlyn Soule, Elisabeth Tone, Samuel Walker, Timothy Yeskoo

Past Members 

2010 -- Kathryn-Louise Meng, Shae Frydenlund, Erin Hatch, Becky Kahn, Emily Oliver, Becky Plesser, Kathlin Ramsdell, Ali Stokes, Allison Taylor, Sarah Titcomb, Kevin Williams, Sam Zuhlke.

2009 -- Janney Jones, Meredith Rosenberg, Erin Sinnott, Sam Torrey, Sarah Hesler

 

GTU Initiation Speakers

For the initiation event, usually held during the fall, distinguished geographers are invited to give a lecture on a topic in geography and meet with faculty, students and administrators.

 

The Badge

The GTU badge is a key that symbolizes achievement of quality in the field of geography. The base or body of the key is a seven-sided shield, with each bevel bearing the initial of one of earth's great landmasses.

Spread across the base of the key are five wavy blue lines representing the five great oceans that have carried voyagers to all the lands of the Earth: the Atlantic, the Indian, the Pacific, the Arctic, and the Antarctic.  A white star above the waves symbolizes Polaris, the great guide to early travelers over the northern hemisphere's uncharted vastness.

At the key's top are the letters Gamma, Theta, Upsilon, the initials of the Greek words Ge (Earth), Thalassa (Sea), and Hypaithrois (Atmosphere), a reminder of the three environmental domains of concern to geographers.

The colors of GTU symbolize these three geographic domains: brown for the earth, light blue for the sea, and gold for the sunlight or sky.