Ben Abbott

Hometown: Orem, UT

Senior in Watershed and Earth Systems

   "I worked at the Toolik Research station this last summer (2007), and will be taking this next semester off as a writing sabbastical to record some of my experiences there and submit them for publication.  I loved running for NR Senator and love being on NR Student Council.  Being involved in planning activities and interacting with faculty and administration has broadened my understanding of the College and the University at large.

    The College of Natural Resources has been absolutely flexible and accommodating -- enriching my education consistently and creatively.  The counseling has been attentive and personable.  Applying for the Quinney Scholarship was definitely the most important decision I made in my education so far."

Dani Babbel

Hometown:  Corvallis, OR

Junior in Geography and Anthropology

"During Summer 2007, I traveled to Campeche, Mexico on behalf of Dr. Claudia Radel to gather data for her project on emigration and its effects on land use and the division of labor among gender.  I conducted interviews and filled out surveys in the ejidos (small farming communities in Mexico) La Virgencita and La Guadelupe, as well as attended community meetings."

Picture:  Dani with Dalia Luz Hoil who also helped with interviews, in Zoh Laguna, Campeche

Natalie Jean Gibson 

Hometown: Providence, UT 

Sophmore in Conservation and Restoration Ecology

"I have had the opportunity to work in Dr. Helgo Van Miegroet's soils laboratory, learning a lot about the important roles and life supporting traits of soils. I've been able to obtain field data and soil samples of Aspen Zones and Conifer zones and have compared the CO2 production in the soils. I've also been able to go to the Teton mountain range in Wyoming with a graduate student, Jen Minnick, and assist her in some of her soil research. Helga has discussed with me possible research opportunities I would like to do in Kenya or Ethiopia -Looking at how soil erosion from large fruit cororations (such as Del Monte) are effecting the communities below and focusing on the ability of communities to still maintain farms of healthy land and clean water."

Quinn G. Larson

Hometown:

"I grew up near Philadelphia. I'm a new freshman at the CNR but I love it so far. The professors seem to really love what they are teaching and the people are all dedicated to their major. I'm excited to be a Quinney Scholar in the CNR and can't wait for some great opportunities to help the College and to do some research."

Kelly J. Sivy

From Connecticut, Colorado, and Logan, UT

Junior in Conservation and Restoration Ecology

    "Since my freshman year, I have worked as a lab technician in Dr. Gene Schupp’s plant restoration and ecology lab.  From this involvement, I was able to do an undergraduate research project examining the influence of predators on the foraging behavior of kangaroo rats.  Last summer, I worked as a field technician for one of Dr. Eric Gese’s graduate students on research concerning the relationship between coyotes and pronghorn fawn survival. At the Pinyon Canyon Maneuver Site near Trinidad, Colorado, I participated in the radio-collaring of pronghorn antelope fawns and telemetry tracking of fawns and coyotes." 

Ashley Walker Workman 

Hometown:  Pocatello, ID  

Junior in both Environmental Studies and International Studies

"I would like to eventually go into humanitarian work.  My dream is to work with, or to start an effective Non-profit organization that helps people in a developing country.  I would like to educate and help people link their individual actions with the consequences they have on the natural environment. 
This last summer I was able to spend three weeks in Kenya studying four lakes in the Great Rift Valley and interviewing stakeholders in the area.  It was amazing and I hope to return soon."