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Course Quick Search Use the pulldown lists below to go immediatley to any of our materials. Search by title or by course. --Select By Title-- -A Geospatial Industry Series (Industry Application)   AGIS: Introduction to Geospatial Technology   AGIS in Agriculture (Coming Soon) -SPACE Titles (Community Development)   GIS in Economic Development   GIS in Homeland Security   GIS in Law Enforcement   GIS in Mosquito Control (Coming Soon) -STARS Titles (Certification)   Intro to GIS/RS Concepts (Series 1)   Intro to GIS/RS Tools and Processes (Series 1)   Advanced Tools in GIS (Series 2)   Intro to Extended Tools in Remote Sensing (series 2)   Extended Tools in Surface Analysis (Series 3)   Extended Tools in 3D Visualization (Series 3)   Exentended Tools in Routing analysis (Series 3)   Creating a Campus Model (Series 4)   Geospatial Applications Projects (Agriculture) (Series 4)   Geospatial Applications Projects (Public Safety) (Series 4)   Geospatial Applications Projects (Business and Marketing) (Series 4)

Current News:

February 2008
3rd Annual Geospatial Competition to Showcase Best Geospatial Students in the Nation
Ridgeland, MS – Digital Quest, Inc. and SkillsUSA are pleased to announce the 3rd Annual Geospatial Technology Competition. This contest was created to provide post secondary students an opportunity to showcase their skills on a national level and compete for the SkillsUSA title of best in the U.S. for geospatial technology. The competition is being held in Kansas City, Missouri, June 23-June 27, 2008.

Registrations for the contest are currently being accepted at www.digitalquest.com/SkillsUSA08.

Read Full text of Article here

January 2008
More National Attention for Joppatown High School in ABC News Article
Homeland security is one of the hottest issues in this year's presidential election, the candidates sparring daily over who is best qualified to protect the nation against terrorist threats.

Meanwhile, Leah Beaulieu is busy educating the next generation of security experts. Beaulieu teaches the nation's first homeland security high school program at Joppatowne High School in Joppa, Md.

Read Full text of Article here

December 2007
Directions Magazine Reviews our New AGIS Series: Educational Product Review: AGIS (A Geospatial Industry Series)
Ever since the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced that there will not be enough trained geospatial technologists in the coming years, there's been a "land rush" to grow new practitioners. There are efforts aimed at the youngest students (visit the kids section of the NGA website, linked off the main one), at those a bit more mature (for example, the KidzOnline DOL funded, but not yet online training program) and at those specifically looking to jump start a geo-career (new online GIS certificate programs abound). Some of these are government funded; others are from entrepreneurial businesses reacting to demand. No matter the backing, we in the industry need to keep an eye on these efforts to ensure they are teaching the skills we need now and into the future.

With these ideas in mind, I contacted Digital Quest to ask for a review copy of the first book in that company's new series AGIS (A Geospatial Industry Series).

Read Full text of Article here

Decmber 2007
Joppatown High School Sees National Attention for Homeland Security Program in USA Today
The nation's first comprehensive high school homeland security program, a three-year course to help kids land jobs in the growing anti-terrorism industry, is in its infancy in Maryland. But it's recently been attracting the attention of educators and school districts from as far away as California and Florida.
The program, started at Maryland's Joppatowne High School with 61 sophomores, provides "an opportunity for kids to see relevance to being in school," says Frank Mezzanotte of the Harford (Md.) County Public Schools. "It gives kids additional options."

Read Full text of Article here

October 2007
Digital Quest Develops Geospatial Industry Book Series
Digital Quest is pleased to announce the development of a new series of course books that examine 16 industry/career clusters to demonstrate how GIS technology impacts and improves those industries. A Geospatial Industry Series (AGIS) will examine the relationship between the particular industry and GIS. In addition, guided lessons and scenarios will give students hands-on experience with a variety of applications of GIS using ESRI’s ArcGIS Software.

The career clusters are based on the 16 Career Clusters developed by the NCTEF/NASDCTEC (National Association of State Directors of Career Technical Education Consortium) as a means to provide a link between "what students learn in school with the knowledge and skills they need for success in college and careers." (Career Clusters Institute, www.careerclusters.org) The link between education and careers makes this program ideal for students and professionals alike. Since the career clusters encompass all industries that are pertinent to a specific cluster, students can learn what they need to know to begin a career in a variety of industries. Professionals will also find this book useful in defining the best ways GIS can be used in their organization.

Read Full text of Article here

September 2007
Digital Quest's STARS Approved by Maryland for Homeland Security Ed. Program
Digital Quest, Inc. is pleased to announce the adoption of its GIS in Homeland Security Course and its flagship product, the STARS Certification, by Harford County Public Schools for their Career and Technology Education Pathway Program for Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness. This program, housed at Joppatowne High School, is the first of its kind in the nation. It is dedicated to providing students with career skills and technological expertise in the areas of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (HSEP).

The HSEP program provides a foundation-level course followed by advance options that include courses designed to advance student knowledge and skills and lead to industry certification and/or college credit. The Information/Communications Technology option prepares students for certification in the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) as it is used in relation to Homeland Security. Students will generate geospatial maps and emergency response plans specific to their community.

Read Full text of Article here

August 2007
Digital Quest and SkillsUSA Announce 2007 Geospatial Technology Champion
Digital Quest, Inc. and SkillsUSA are pleased to announce the gold medalist in the Postsecondary Geospatial Technology Challenge at the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference and Competition that was held in Kansas City, Missouri on June 26, 2007

June Garneau of Berlin, New Hampshire won first place and is the recipient of thousands of dollars in ArcGIS software and a cash award both donated by ESRI of Redland, California. Garneau's gold medal was based upon an extensive pre-challenge project, STARS testing, and completion of challenge events at the conference. Garneau is a 2007 graduate of the one-year Spatial Information Technology/Geographic Information Systems (GIS) certificate program at New Hampshire Community Technical College in Berlin.

Read Full text of Article here

July 2007
Digital Quest's STARS Certification Selected for DoL National Standards of Apprenticeship
Digital Quest, Inc. is pleased to announce that the national Spatial Technology And Remote Sensing Geospatial Apprenticeship Program (STARS Geo AP) has adopted the STARS certification curriculum materials as part of the National Standards of Apprenticeship developed in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Apprenticeship for the occupation of Geospatial Technician.

The Spatial Technology And Remote Sensing Geospatial Apprenticeship Program (STARS Geo AP) was established to increase the level of skilled workers in the Geospatial Industry based on national industry-backed standards. The program provides a standardized way for schools, individuals, and employers to train skilled workers for geospatial jobs. The combination of on-the-job learning (OJL) and the successful completion of the STARS certification materials will result in well-rounded, competent Geospatial Technicians for the geospatial field, one of the fastest growing career fields in the U.S.

Read Full text of Article here

March 2007
Digital Quest featured in "Pointe Innovation" magazine's article: "No Boundaries: Geospatial Training Moving Full Throttle in Mississippi"
“The Mississippi geospatial community is playing a direct leadership role in the advancement of geospatial technology throughout the U.S.,” noted Eddie Hanebuth, president of Digital Quest.

Growing the geospatial industry dovetails nicely with the state’s goal to grow more higher-paying, high technology jobs. According to the Enterprise for Innovative Geospatial Solutions, the average annual salary for geospatial jobs in Mississippi is $55,000. In the last decade, Mississippi’s geospatial industry has grown from a dozen to nearly 700 jobs. Geospatial revenues have jumped from $15.8 million in 2001 to $75 million in 2006. Last year, state income tax generated from the geospatial industry was $1.4 million; more than $50 million has been invested in Mississippi geospatial companies. Cash investment in Mississippi’s geospatial cluster activity from 1998 to 2006: $208 million.

Pointe Innovation Magazine, Lynne Jeter, Spring 2007. Read Full text of Article here

February 2007
Digital Quest and SkillsUSA award Gold Medal in Inaugural National Geospatial Student Competition
Digital Quest, Inc. and SkillsUSA are pleased to announce the winners from the inaugural National Geospatial Student Competition that was held in Kansas City, Missouri on June 20, 2006, during the SkillsUSA national convention.

The winner of the gold medal was graduate Student Sue Roussie from the University of New York at Buffalo. She is currently working on her Ph.D. in environmental science. The silver medal was awarded to Kevin Williams, a STARS-certified freshman student currently attending the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith. He is working on his GIS Associates Degree.

Read Full text of Article here

November 2006
Digital Quest’s SPACESTARS Listed in Geographic Information Science and Technology Body of Knowledge
Digital Quest, Inc. is pleased to announce that it’s flagship product -- SPACESTARS, a fully-developed series of "turn-key" geospatial curriculum for workforce development, technical schools, colleges, and universities -- is listed in the newly published Geographic Information Science and Technology Body of Knowledge. SPACESTARS is a partnership between Digital Quest Inc., and Berkley Geo-Research Group.

Read Full text of Article here

06/29/05
DVD from STARS Geospatial Forum
Still not sure if GIS is right for your organization? Check out the DVD from our STARS Geospatial Forum. This DVD features speakers from NASA, Law Enforcement, Private Industry, ESRI, the Department of Labor, and our own staff. Click the link below to go to the order page.

STARS DVD Order Form