The South Dakota Section of the American Institute of Professional Geologists (AIPG) announced today that Dr. Alvis Lisenbee has been named the 2008 J. P. Gries Geologist of the Year . The award is given each year by the Section in memory of Dr. John Paul Gries, a longtime professor of geology at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. The 2008 award was presented to Lisenbee for his many contributions to our current understanding of Black Hills regional geology. Lisenbee, professor emeritus of geology at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, began his career at the School of Mines in 1972 and published the first tectonic map of the Black Hills uplift and surrounding region in 1985. This seminal map is used as a base map for further structural and tectonic studies within and adjacent to the Black Hills region today. His contributions have been numerous throughout his career. Presently, Lisenbee is overseeing the creation of a geologic atlas as part of the Black Hills Development Corridor study focusing on continued urban sprawl along I-90 and State Highway 70 in South Dakota. This atlas will aid in the ability of making informed decisions regarding new housing developments as well as expanding our knowledge of aquifer vulnerability and susceptibility as ways to protect our sensitive groundwater supplies.