Scholarships and Travel Funds
All students in Forest Science and Wildlife Ecology are strongly encouraged to also apply for scholarships the Scholarships@UW-Madison common scholarship application and utilize the resources on the CALS Financing Your Education webpage.
Both Forest Science and Wildlife Ecology have a number of scholarships administered by the department for declared majors. Additionally, there are a few CALS scholarships that require nomination by the department. These scholarships are listed below. Click the boxes to expand the box and see the details; click the box again to close it.
Forest Science
The Helen H. Miller Forestry Scholarship was established by her estate in 1990 and is to be awarded to either a graduate or undergraduate pursuing a degree in forestry. The annual award is approximately $1,300. There are no preference restrictions for this scholarship
The Robert B. Hendricks Memorial/Hardwood Manufacturers Association Scholarship was established in 1993 in memory of Mr. Hendricks. Any junior or senior majoring in forest science with a minimum GPA of 3.0 or any forestry graduate student with a minimum GPA of 3.5 is eligible. The annual award is approximately $3,400 and may be split into multiple scholarships.
The Earle D. Lyon Memorial Scholarship was established in 1962 in memory of Mr. Lyon. It is awarded to a junior in forest science with preference based on financial need. Preference is also given to a student graduating from high school in Washburn or Sawyer Counties. The annual award is approximately $500.
The Forestry and Wildlife Ecology Departmental Scholarship was established in 2011. Preference for this scholarship is based on GPA and financial need. The annual award is approximately $5,000 and may be split into multiple scholarships.
How to apply – declared Forest Science majors will receive an email with more information regarding the application process.
Professor Kyung Joon Lee Award for Best Paper by a Forestry Graduate Student.
About the Award
Each fall the Lee Award will be given for the best peer-reviewed publication among Forestry students in the Department.
The student who applies must be the first author on the publication and the paper must be published in proceeding six months or be “in press.”
Award amount: $1,000.
How to Apply
Please submit:
- An explanation of the contribution this paper makes in your field (300 words or less)
- An electronic copy of the paper.
Application Deadline
Nominations are due by October 1 of each year. Submit applications to the FWE Grad Awards Committee Chair.
Questions
If you have questions about this award, please contact the FWE Grad Awards Committee Chair.
The O’Brien Research Innovation Award provide up to $5,000 to extend research in innovative directions.
Overview
Award Amount
How to Apply
Award Information
Questions
- to provide science-based research, instruction, and extension that supports forest management in an ecologically, economically, and socially sustainable fashion.
This award has two criteria:
- Contribution to the mission of the Department
- Scholastic aptitude
In addressing the contribution to the Department’s mission, students should clearly select at least two of the three primary roles of research, instruction/mentorship, and extension/outreach or service to the Department/University.
Students may select one or more of the dimensions of sustainable forest management, including ecological, economic, and/or social sustainability.
Award amount: $1,000
How to Apply
To apply for this award please submit:
- A brief essay (< 400 words) describing how your research advances the Department’s research, instruction, and/or extension programs by supporting forest management that is ecologically, economically, and/or socially sustainable
- A current CV
- A letter of support from your advisor.
The essay and CV should be submitted in a single PDF by email by October 1st to the FWE Grad Awards Committee Chair.
The advisor’s support letter should be submitted separately.
Questions
If you have questions about this award, please contact the FWE Grad Awards Committee Chair.
.
Wildlife Ecology
$1000 to $1200 (5 awards per year)
Scholarships for meritorious and needy students in Wildlife Ecology, minimum GPA of 3.2, $1500 (3 to 4 awards per year)
Scholarship given to student who is studying wild bird life, consideration is based on academic standing, financial need and extracurricular activities, minimum GPA of 2.5, $1000 to $2000 (1 award per year)
Preference is given to students interested in pursuing a career in wildlife habitat, juniors or seniors, $1000 to $1500 (1 award per year)
Fund established on December 12, 1991 by Joy and Francis Spurrell in memory of Francis’ father John A. Spurrell, scholarship alternates every other year between Wildlife Ecology and Animal Science, minimum GPA of 3.5, $1500 (1 award every other year)
Nominating departments include Agronomy, Forest & Wildlife Ecology, Horticulture, Landscape Architecture, and Soil Science, order of preference given in the following areas of study: 1) Conservation 2) Horticulture 3) Landscape Architecture, juniors with satisfactory academic performance, minimum GPA of 2.75, $3500 (1 award per year)
How to apply – students who wish to be candidates for these awards should be alert to announcements in wildlife ecology classes and via email
Overview
Award Amount
How to Apply
Award Information
Questions
Overview
The Terry Amundson Memorial Scholarship is awarded annually to 1-2 graduate students in Wildlife Ecology or Veterinary Sciences. The awards are presented at the local Ruffed Grouse Society Banquet, typically in August or September. Awards range between $500 and $1,000.
| Academic Year | Awardee(s) |
| 2011-2012 | Stacie Robinson |
| 2012-2013 | Rocio Jara |
| 2013-2014 | Rocio Jara & John Pokallus |
| 2014-2015 | Emily Cornelius & Becky Kirby |
| 2015-2016 | Bieneke Bron & Michelle Verant |
| 2016-2017 | Marcus Mueller |
| 2017-2018 | Michael Hardy & Julia Poje |
| 2018-2019 | Amy Shipley & Amy Wray |
| 2019-2020 | |
| 2020-2021 |
Criteria
There are two criteria for awards: 1) preference to students conducting research the area of wildlife disease or wildlife ecology, and 2) scholastic aptitude.
How to Apply
Graduate students may be nominated or apply for this award by submitting: 1) a brief description (1-page maximum) that includes the student’s area of research, scholastic aptitude, and justification for this award, and 2) a CV for the student. Nominations should be submitted electronically (.doc or .pdf) by 29 July each year.
Award Information
Questions
Contact the FWE Grad Awards Committee Chair.
Overview
The purpose of the award is to support graduate students majoring in Wildlife Ecology.
Criteria
Award Information
Questions
Contact the FWE Grad Awards Committee Chair.
Overview
The Graduate Awards Committee is seeking nominations for annual Leopold award. Description and qualifications for the award are listed below. Please feel free to nominate one of your graduate students or another meritorious graduate student.
About the Scholarship
The Aldo Leopold (Green Tree Garden Club) Scholarship is awarded to a graduate student who has demonstrated talent, ability, and interest in natural resources, and who plans to continue studying at the University in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. Recipients shall be selected from the fields of wildlife ecology, the plant life of such environments, or plant / animal ecology.
Eligibility
Recipients are selected by the Scholarship and Loans Committee upon the recommendation of the departments of Wildlife Ecology, Forestry, Horticulture, and Landscape Architecture.
Eligible majors – graduate students from Forest and Wildlife Ecology, Horticulture, Landscape Architecture, Environmental Sciences.
How to Apply
Please send a one paragraph nomination to the FWE Grad Awards Committee Chair for evaluation by the committee.
Questions
If you have questions about this award, please contact the FWE Grad Awards Committee Chair.
Graduate Student Travel Award
FWE Department guidance and application process for graduate student travel awards.
The Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, through the generosity of past and current donors, is able to offer graduate student travels awards. The Forestry Travel Awards are provided through an annual gift to the UW Foundation. The Wildlife Ecology travel awards are from the Henry L Russell Memorial Fund managed by the UW Trust Funds.
To apply, please complete this form. (problems logging in? You must be logged into UW Google Apps using your UW netid.)In order to ensure the equitable distribution and long-term stewardship of our graduate travel awards, the Chair has developed the following guidance.
- Award level targets
- Present at national/international meeting — $500
- Present at in-state conference — $300
- Non-presentation conference travel – not to exceed $300; Chair’s discretion to award and at what amount
- Priority is for presentation of scientific results associated with degree work, but is first come, first serve.
- Target annual spending is $2,500 per program.
- Maximum total award to anyone student is $500 over the course of either an MS or PhD program. That is, if a student pursues an MS and a PhD, they could get $1,000.
These are flexible and dependent on investment returns and demand.
Key contact and responsible party: F&W Ecol. Chair.
Process for updating or changing policy: The Chair developed this guidance to inform her/his decisions related to distribution of the graduate travel awards.
No departmentally approved policy exists, though one could be created.
History of changes: Current guidance was slightly revised when Rickenbach became Chair in 2016.
Questions
If you have questions about this guidance, contact Eric Kruger.