NDSU Student Honored at National Transportation MeetingPosted: Feb 13, 2008 Natalie (Beck) Easterday was named an Outstanding Student of the Year by the U.S. Department of Transportation University Transportation Center program. Easterday received the award Jan. 12 during the Transportation Research Board's Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C. The award recognizes Easterday's excellent communications skills and her academic contributions. Easterday is a master's student studying emergency management at NDSU. She also holds a bachelor's degree in business administration. She is interested in the role of transportation in emergency operations. The honor included a trip to the TRB meeting and a $1,000 award. Each year, the U.S. DOT recognizes an outstanding student from each participating University Transportation Center. Easterday is a graduate research assistant with the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute's Small Urban & Rural Transit Center. She has done research examining the planning differences between rural and urban communities with regard to the use of public transportation in emergency operations. Easterday also has become a student expert on the use of geographic information system software. "I was very surprised by the recognition. I really enjoyed being at the meeting and having the opportunity to talk with other students from different universities, and sharing our experiences," Easterday says. "While at the meeting, I had the opportunity to attend a subcommittee on emergency planning in transportation. I found it really interesting and I was very impressed by the progressive research being done in the area." Published in NDSU's staff newsletter |