TFF/THF 2009 Scholarship

We are awarding a scholarship of $2000 this year. Anyone from a senior in high school through graduate level student is eligible. You must be pursuing or interested in a career related to fishing/hunting, such as an outdoor communicator, fisheries biologist, wildlife biologist, game warden, forestry service or the like.

Please email your resume and a cover letter to jpg@outdoorsites.net.

We are accepting applications through November 15th, 2009. The 2009 scholarship winner will be announced December 1st, 2009.

*last minute donations have raised the amount of the scholarship

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I received a nice email a few days ago from Josh Perkin, our 2007 TFF/THF Scholarship recipient. It looks to me like we made a really good choice in Mr. Perkin.

J.P.,

I hope all is well with the Texas Fishing Forum these days! I was the 2007 scholarship recipient and just wanted to share with you some press the forum recently received in the Lone Star Outdoor News. The article about Guadalupe bass beginning on page 1 and continuing on page 16 details my master's thesis at Texas State University, which the scholarship from TFF supported. In the concluding paragraph, funding sources are listed including the TFF ( http://www.lsonews.com/images/stories/issues/oct0909.pdf ). A peer-reviewed article of the study will likely appear in the next issue of the North American Journal of Fisheries Management, I'll be sure to get you a copy of it.

The forum's scholarship was a huge contribution to my education and career, keep up the great work!

Sincerely,

Josh

It was really tough making a decision this year. We received more applications than ever.

After reading every single one of them, we were able to narrow it down to three extremely qualified students. After that, we were stuck and decided a drawing would be the best solution. The three names were placed on tickets in a hat and Chris Bartley was the name we drew.

Congratulations Chris! You are the 2009 TFF/THF Scholarship winner.



I want to thank every person who applied for this scholarship. We really enjoyed reading about all of your goals and aspirations. We wish all of you the best of luck in your pursuits!

Christopher's cover letter.

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Mr. J.P. Greeson
Texas Hunting Forum Staff

Dear Mr. Greeson,

I would like to apply for the scholarship being offered by the Texas Hunting Forum and Texas Fishing Forum. I have been an active member of each of these forums since 2007 when I moved to Texas from Michigan. Through these forums I have gained knowledge of Texas hunting and fishing while educating others by providing information I have learned about wildlife in school from a biology standpoint as well as my personal experiences. I am a daily visitor to the waterfowl section of the hunting forum, and post regularly in catfish section of the fishing forum in the spring.

I will be graduating with a Bachelor’s of Science in the December 2010 semester from Stephen F. Austin State University majoring in Wildlife Management with a minor in Wildlife Biology. I am currently carrying a 3.2 GPA in major courses and a 2.4 overall GPA. I hope to either work for a government agency such as US Fish and Wildlife Service or Texas Parks and Wildlife working with waterfowl ;or for a private landowner managing hunting lands.

I am currently employed through Stephen F. Austin State University was as a wildlife technician. My duties include live trapping meso-predators (raccoons, opossums, and striped skunks) and placing radio collars on them. I then track these animals using radio telemetry equipment to estimate home ranges and how they interact with each other when in close proximity.

During the summer of 2007 I worked as a wildlife technician for California Waterfowl Association (calwaterfowl.org) where I was the crew leader of a banding team. In doing so, I was responsible for bait trapping, recording data, and banding waterfowl. I also have conducted nest searches and learned to test for Avian Influenza with both the USDA and USGS. Prior to the banding project, I did a body condition study for CWA at the University of California Davis campus. This study consisted of molt scoring, dissecting, and recording data on recently harvested waterfowl.

I have also worked for Honker Hangers Outfitters located in Lexington, Michigan. This was a part time job in which I served as a hunting guide. My main duties were to follow flocks of Canada geese and receive owner permission to access private land.

In 2008 I was involved in a volunteer project in the SFASU Wildlife Lab. I volunteered my services to Dan Collins who was researching body condition of waterfowl in East Texas. The duties included the same jobs I performed at the UC Davis campus.

I have also recently become RED card certified through the National Wildfire Coordination Group which allows me to aid in prescribed burns and work fire suppression on wildland fires. If you would like to contact me, please feel free to email me at bartleycj@titan.sfasu.edu or call 000-000-0000.

Thank You,

Christopher Bartley

Resume

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Christopher John Bartley
Email: bartleycj@titan.sfasu.edu

Career Objective
To build a career maintaining wildlife habitat, doing field work, and dealing with environmental issues surrounding wildlife in Texas.

Education
Bachelor of Science, Stephen F. Austin State University, Expected December 2010
Major: Wildlife Management
Minor: Wildlife Biology
Associates of Science, St. Clair County Community College May 2005
Major: Forestry

Work Experience
Wildlife Technician, Stephen F. Austin State University January 2009-Present
Nacogdoches, TX
• Trap and place radio collars on meso-predators
• Night track meso-predators using radio telemetry to estimate home ranges
• Estimate home ranges using Arc GIS and Microsoft Excel
Waterfowl Banding Technician, California Waterfowl Association May 2007-August 2007
Sacramento, California
• Bait trap and band ducks
• Test for Avian Influenza with USDA and USGS
• Nest search and record data of nesting mallards
• Body condition study of resident waterfowl at University of California Davis.
Waterfowl Hunting Guide, Honker Hangers Guide Service August 2005-January 2007
Lexington, Michigan
• Hunting guide for guests
• Scout land and receive permission from land owners

Volunteer Work
Waterfowl Lab Technician, Stephen F. Austin State University March 2008- June 2008
• Aid in body condition study of East Texas waterfowl
• Molt score, pluck, dissect, analyze data
Hunter Education/Kids Camp Weekend Helper, California Waterfowl Association July 20007
• Aid in providing hunters education to young hunters
• Teach safe gun handling, archery, and wilderness survival

Personal
Active member of The Wildlife Society and Ducks Unlimited.
RED card certified through U.S. Fire Administration for fire suppression and prescribed burns