Jim Patton Wildlife Management Scholarship

Jim Patton served as Undersecretary at Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries from 1998-2004. Both of Jim's parents and his maternal grandfather attended Montana State College. The scholarship honors Jim’s Montana heritage, recognizing the importance of the quality education provided by Montana State University. The scholarship supports a Master’s student with wildlife ecology as their area of study.

2023 Recipient:  Parker Levinson

Parker  studies Weddell seals in Antarctica and what factors might be influencing an observed increase in pups being born each year.

Don C. Quimby Graduate Wildlife Research Scholarship

This scholarship honors Dr. Don C. Quimby, a biology teacher, student advisor and founder of the Wildlife Program with Montana State University’s Biology Department in 1948.  Dr. Quimby served as the head of that program until his retirement in 1975. This scholarship supports a student with a field research project focused on a free-ranging wildlife species within the state of Montana and a commitment to a career in wildlife management.

2023 Recipient:  Claire Bresnan

Claire studies how bison group movements are driven by social and environmental conditions and how bison grazing patterns affect grassland productivity.

Dr. Lynn Irby Fish & Wildlife Biology Graduate Scholarship

This scholarship was established by Jeff Carpenter in honor of Dr. Lynn Irby, who was his advisor while he was a student at MSU. Dr. Irby’s studies have improved management of wild ungulates and carnivores throughout the Northern Rockies and Great Plains and he chaired 43 graduate committees during his 26-year career at MSU. The recipients of this award will be graduate students pursuing an advanced degree in the Ecology Department.  There are two awards in 2023.

2023 Recipient #1:  Ben Goodheart

Ben studies African Wild Dogs in Zambia and has interestingly worked to establish a pilot program on improving carnivore-human interactions in Bozeman by promoting bear proof trash cans.

2023 Recipient #2:  Stacy Schmidt

Stacy studies crayfish species distributions and interactions, and the influences of crayfish disease in Montana. She is also working for the MT FWP while pursuing a graduate degree. 

Matthew F. Clow Memorial Award

Matthew Clow was an MSU graduate student who died in 1998 while conducting research on whirling disease and wild trout.  The award was established by his parents in his memory to recognize graduate students who share Matt’s love and commitment to wild trout and native fishes. There are two awards in 2023.

2023 Recipient #1:  Rob Eckelbecker

Rob studies how invasive species influence native fishes, and specifically how invasive trout might be leading to a decline in native burbot populations in Wyoming, with plans to inform management scenarios and decisions.

2023 Recipient #2:  Tori Ogolin

Tori studies feeding relationships between Pallid sturgeon and their prey in the Missouri River using stable isotope analysis.

Daniel Goodman Conservation Biology Scholarship

This scholarship honors Dr. Daniel Goodman, a quantitative ecologist and conservation biologist, who was a professor in MSU’s Ecology Department from 1981 until his death in 2012. This scholarship supports a MSU Ecology Department graduate student whose research is both quantitative and within the broad field of conservation biology, with potential to improve the management of at-risk species or ecosystems.

2023 Recipient: Kadie Heinle

Kadie uses analytical techniques, including ecological-evolutionary simulation models and genetics, to investigate how Yellowstone cutthroat trout are influenced by invasive species and climate.

Sara Amasa Madsen Conservation Biology Scholarship

Mary and Jerry Madsen established this fund in loving memory of their daughter, Sara Amasa Madsen, who graduated from the University in 2019 with a degree in biological sciences.  This scholarship is meant to support students that share Sara’s heart and enthusiasm for the wilderness, particularly wildland firefighting and water resources. There were two awards in 2023.

2023 Recipient #1:  Sam Fritz

Sam studies the roles that animals play in engineering aquatic ecosystems, from vertebrates such as beavers and trout to invertebrates such as caddisflies, under global change drivers related to nutrients and microplastics.

2023 Recipient #2:  Stephen Huysman

Stephen studies interactions between water, fire, and trees, specifically investigating how pine trees that live at high elevations respond to water resource thresholds in the face of stressors such as climate change, mountain pine beetle, and wildfire.

Jim Belsey Graduate Student Scholarship

Jim Belsey was an avid trout angler and conservationist.  Jim established this award to support graduate students pursuing a degree in the Fish and Wildlife Ecology and Management Program with research emphasizing coldwater fisheries. There were two awards in 2023.

2023 Recipient #1: Cody Vender

Cody studies population dynamics of Yellowstone cutthroat trout by investigating growth patterns through time to inform recovery and conservation efforts of this native fish species in Yellowstone Lake.

2023 Recipient #2: Lukas Draugelis

Lukas studies how invasive rainbow trout disperse in hopes of better quantifying their movement patterns and informing our understanding of hybridization potential and possible suppression plans to support of native fishes.

John H. Rumely Award

The John H. Rumely Award supports the instructional, research and scholarly activities in the area of Botany, and supports graduate students conducting field studies of native Montana plants. There were two awards in 2023.

2023 Recipient #1:  Lou Duloisy

Lou is researching Whitebark Pine and Limber Pine trees to better understand how seasonal and long-term physiology of these two species contrasts and may influence their resilience under global change.

2023 Recipient #2:  Lauren Gedlinske

Lauren is researching how floral scents influence pollination of native plant species and reproductive success using network analysis.

Jim Posewitz Memorial Scholarship

Jim Posewitz was one of Montana’s most respected conservation leaders who pioneered protections for fish and wildlife during his 32-year, distinguished career with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. The family and friends of Jim Posewitz wanted to honor his conservation legacy through establishment of the Jim Posewitz Memorial Scholarship. Jim was a fisheries biologist and administrator who worked to protect in-stream flows for fish and wildlife.

2023 Recipient:  Elise Loggers

Elise is researching adaptive management plans for the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and how grizzly bears will be influenced by climate change.