Drew Rayburn (PhD student with Gene Schupp) has been selected as the 2007-08 CNR Graduate Teaching Assistant of the Year. Drew comes from a family of teachers and sought out teaching experience as part of his graduate work here. Nominating letters for Drew cite his knowledge of the material, positive attitude, attention to detail, care for the students in the class, and his obvious passion for teaching.
Randy Larsen (PhD student with John Bissonette) has been selected as the 2007-08 CNR Graduate Research Assistant of the Year. Randy is working on the impact of water developments on wildlife and the protection of critical habitat. Randy has an impressive publication record, has given multiple presentations, and has generated sufficient external funding to support his PhD work. He has also helped and provided financial support for 4 Masters students.
The African Safari Club of Florida selected David Stoner, Randy Larsen, and Dylan Brown to receive scholarships to support their graduate studies in Wildland Resources.
Melissa Sanders, a senior majoring in Conservation and Restoration Ecology, has been recognized for her Undergraduate research efforts. Melissa worked for Dr. Chris Luecke for three years and last year conducted an independent study on the environmental factors affecting growth of fish in lakes in northern Alaska. She has presented these results in a poster at the Posters on the Hill event in Salt Lake City and will participate in the Student Showcase here at USU in April.
Utah State University alums Cynthia Driggs McArthur and Cody B. Scott, both graduates of the College of Natural Resources, were named 2008 Outstanding Young Range Professionals by the Society for Range Management. Cody conducted research with Professor Fred Provenza in USU's Department of Wildland Resources.
Fiery Field School: Teaching and Learning in Rural Ethiopia
Eric LaMalfa, Wildland Resources Graduate Student
The Conclave Team of our Wildlife Club (the USU student chapter of The Wildlife Society) took 4th place in the quiz-bowl competition during last week’s TWS Western Student Chapter Conclave in Fort Collins, Colorado. There were 11 western universities competing. The quiz-bowl team members included Jamie Reynolds, Leia Tyndall, Craig Fackrell, Adam Clark, and Dustin Lamoreaux. In addition to the quiz-bowl, Elizabeth Goss participated in the oral presentation with her talk on the Wildlife Club’s work at the Stokes Nature Center property in Nibley, Craig Fackrell competed in the wildlife calling contest, and all Conclave Team members participated in the animal behavior skit competition. Another major achievement, and perhaps their most significant, is that our team WON the bid to host the TWS Western Chapter Conclave here at USU next year!
Tammy Wilson (PhD student with Tom Edwards) has been chosen as the Stokes-Leopold Scholar for the 2008-09 academic year. The award is for an outstanding WILD PhD student in their final year (comprehensive exams completed) and is intended to maintain the legacy of Allen Stokes.
Wildland Resources Students Honored at Statewide Gathering
College of Natural Resources Honors Top Scholars
Utah State University Wildland Resources graduate student Ryan Wilson received a Grant-in-Aid of Research from the American Society of Mammalogists for the 2008-09 academic year. His award will be formally announced during the society's annual meeting this month in Brookings, S.D.