Student Success celebrated in the College of Forest Resources
Contact: Vanessa Beeson
STARKVILLE, Miss.—Students in Mississippi State’s College of Forest Resources were recently honored with several prestigious awards for academic excellence, research innovation and competitive performance.
Wes Burger, dean of the College of Forest Resources and director of the Forest and Wildlife Research Center, emphasized student excellence across the college’s three academic departments: Forestry; Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture; and Sustainable Bioproducts.
“It is an honor to recognize our outstanding students who continue to excel in academics, research and service,” Burger said. “Our students are regularly recognized as the best in the nation, proof of their dedication to making an impact on the environment. I also want to congratulate our internationally renowned faculty who advise and mentor our students.”
The students were recognized at the CFR student awards banquet in April. In addition to the student awards, students in professional organizations have been recognized for their knowledge and skills. The Mississippi State chapter of the Society of American Foresters brought home several awards from the Southern Forestry Conclave, and the university’s chapter of The Wildlife Society placed first in the Wildlife Conclave team competition for the third year in a row. The team also placed first in the Quiz Bowl.
This year’s honorees and their awards are listed by hometown:
ARMUCHEE, Georgia—Chris Jacobson, forestry senior, U.S. Forest Service Science Award, George Switzer Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award and Forestry Senior Academic Achievement.
ATHENS, Alabama—Anna Jenkins, forestry senior, first place in log burling, Southern Forestry Conclave.
BALLWIN, Missouri—Max Arnold, forestry master’s student, Outstanding Graduate Student Poster, 23rd Biennial Southern Silviculture Research Conference.
BARTLETT, Tennessee—Nyla Jones, natural resource and environmental conservation senior, George Hopper Award for Undergraduate Student Research and George Switzer Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award.
BAUXITE, Arkansas—Charley Collins, forestry junior, first place in wood identification, Southern Forestry Conclave.
BEAVERCREEK, Ohio—Aidan Russell, wildlife, fisheries and aquaculture sophomore, Sophomore Academic Achievement Award.
BILOXI—Quentin Boccaleri, forestry master’s student, Moehring Outstanding Graduate Student Award, master’s level.
COLLIERVILLE, Tennessee—Bailee Gean, wildlife, fisheries and aquaculture sophomore, Sophomore Academic Achievement Award.
COVINGTON, Louisiana—Kilian Henderson, wildlife, fisheries and aquaculture sophomore, Sophomore Academic Achievement Award.
DIAMONDHEAD—Illyrian Wolfstorm, natural resource and environmental conservation sophomore, NREC Sophomore Academic Achievement Award.
EDWARDSVILLE, Illinois—Jonas Akeman, natural resource and environmental conservation senior, NREC Senior Academic Achievement Award.
GREENVILLE, South Carolina—Jessica Moroso, wildlife, fisheries and aquaculture senior, Senior Academic Achievement Award.
HOOVER, Alabama—Jacob Upton, wildlife, fisheries and aquaculture sophomore, Sophomore Academic Achievement Award.
LEBANON, Tennessee—Emily Lawson, sustainable bioproducts sophomore, Outstanding Undergraduate Award, Sophomore Academic Achievement Award.
MAGEE—Cameron Brewer, forestry senior, first place, pole felling, and first place, DBH estimation, Southern Forestry Conclave; Dakota Parish, wildlife, fisheries and aquaculture senior, first place, Quiz Bowl, Southeastern Wildlife Conclave.
NORTH CHILI, New York—Michael DeBona, wildlife, fisheries and aquaculture sophomore, first place, Quiz Bowl, Southeastern Wildlife Conclave.
OLIVE BRANCH—Chachi Hehir, wildlife, fisheries and aquaculture sophomore, first place, field measurements, Southeastern Wildlife Conclave.
ONEONTA, Alabama—Grace Bellow, wildlife, fisheries and aquaculture senior, Outstanding Undergraduate Award, second place, lab practicum, and first place, Quiz Bowl, Southeastern Wildlife Conclave.
ORRTANNA, Pennsylvania—Luke Resop, wildlife, fisheries and aquaculture doctoral student, Scott Veum Jr. Memorial Award.
SANFORD, Florida—Caleb Cranor, wildlife, fisheries and aquaculture senior, third place, archery, Southeastern Wildlife Conclave.
SHREVEPORT, Louisiana—Maddie Gnann, sustainable bioproducts senior, Senior Academic Achievement Award.
SIGNAL MOUNTAIN, Tennessee—Austin Lisowski, wildlife, fisheries and aquaculture senior, first place, bait casting, and first place, Quiz Bowl, Southeastern Wildlife Conclave.
SILVER SPRINGS, Maryland—Lily Behnam, wildlife, fisheries and aquaculture and animal and dairy sciences junior, second place, law enforcement interview, Southeastern Wildlife Conclave.
STARKVILLE—Sushma Bhattarai, forestry doctoral student, Moehring Outstanding Graduate Student Award, doctoral level, and second place, Inspiring and Outstanding Forest Business Economics Research Presentation, International Society of Forest Resource Economics; Isaac Boden, wildlife, fisheries and aquaculture senior, first place, Quiz Bowl, Southeastern Wildlife Conclave; Daniel Egerson, wildlife, fisheries and aquaculture doctoral student, Ernest Gluesing Memorial Outstanding Graduate Student, doctoral level; Kevin Jones, wildlife, fisheries and aquaculture master’s student, David H. Nabi Memorial Award; Abigael Laisa, sustainable bioproducts master’s student, Outstanding Graduate Student Award, master’s level; Suman Pradhan, sustainable bioproducts doctoral student, Outstanding Graduate Student Award, doctoral level; Zoe Scott, wildlife, fisheries and aquaculture master’s student, Ernest Gluesing Memorial Outstanding Graduate Student, master’s level.
STEENS, Mississippi—Dylan Hill, forestry sophomore, Forestry Sophomore Academic Achievement Award.
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