The Southern Division of the American Fisheries Society is dedicated to improving the quality of education for fisheries students by promoting the exchange of information and providing opportunities for continued learning. Together we can advance the conservation and sustainability of fishery resources and aquatic ecosystems around the world.

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Scholarships and Awards

Southern Division: Noreen Clough Memorial Scholarship

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Southern Division:  Robert M. Jenkins Memorial Reservoir Research Scholarship – Sponsored by Mossback Fish Habitat

The Reservoir Committee (RC), a technical committee of the Southern Division AFS, created the Robert M. Jenkins Memorial Reservoir Research Scholarship in 1997. The Scholarship is intended to provide financial assistance to graduate students conducting reservoir-related fisheries research in the southeastern United States which show exceptional progress in their research, education, and professional endeavors.

The 2017 recipient of the Jenkins Scholarship will receive a check for $500 and will be recognized at the Spring SDAFS business meeting. The award will be made directly to the student and not the student’s educational institution. It can be used for any aspect of the graduate education including, but not limited to, tuition, textbooks, equipment, travel or living expenses. It is not intended to replace any funding obligated to the student.

Selection criteria are based on research, education, professional and civic activities, among other things. Research and education activities can be associated with any aspect of reservoir ecosystem management. Professional activities in fishery-related student organizations, AFS Chapters, and similar organizations are desirable. Applicable public services include any voluntary activities but those pertaining to conservation and fishing are most desirable. A committee of RC members will review applications and present recommendations to the RC Chair for approval. All application materials must be received by December 1st each year.

2016 Recipients: The SDAFS Reservoir Committee is proud to recognize Clay Raines and Cole Harty as the 2016 recipients of the Robert M. Jenkins Memorial Reservoir Research Scholarship sponsored by Mossback Fish Habitat. Clay’s M.S. research at Mississippi State University focused on the influence of shade on reservoir water quality, macroinvertebrates, and fish. He currently works for the Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute restoring wild populations of endangered and threatened aquatic species in the southeastern US and hopes to pursue a PhD and remain in fisheries conservation. Cole expects to graduate with his M.S. from Tennessee Tech University in December of 2016. His research centered on the use of popular catfish sampling gears in large reservoirs. The use of these gears in large reservoir systems had not been extensively studied. Upon graduation Cole plans to pursue a career as a fisheries biologist and hopes to land a job working with sport fish in large river or reservoir systems. Congratulations Clay and Cole!

Scholarship Application Process:

1. Application materials must be received by close of business December 1. This includes the APPLICATION FORM and associated documents and letter of recommendation. Application materials should be submitted via email to Jeremy.Shiflet@ky.gov. Please contact Jeremy to make other arrangements for application material delivery, if necessary.   The RC scholarship committee chair will distribute the application packets to the review committee.
2. The application can be found HERE
3. Provide a copy of your research proposal which indicates relevance to reservoir fisheries science in the southeastern United States.
4. Provide a letter of introduction and recommendation from the applicant’s major professor or faculty adviser. This letter should state how long and in what capacity they have known the applicant. In addition, the letter should address the applicant’s promise as a future fisheries scientist. It should be submitted via email to the scholarship committee chair (see info above).
5. After the deadline has passed, the review committee will rank the compiled information for the applicants and present their selection to the RC Chair for approval. Scholarship recipients will be notified upon RC Chair approval and are encouraged to attend the Spring SDAFS meeting to present their research and be recognized.

Application Deadline: December 1 (annually)

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Southern Division:  Jimmie Pigg Memorial Outstanding Student Achievement AwardThe Warmwater Streams Committee (WWSC) was established in 1976 as a technical committee within the SDAFS in order to address issues related to warmwater streams. The Committee promotes the conservation and management of warmwater streams by providing a forum for the exchange of ideas, information, and concerns. The WWSC is also committed to the development of fisheries professionals. In pursuit of this effort the Committee created an Outstanding Student Achievement Award in 1997 to recognize university students showing exceptional progress in their research, education and professional endeavors. In 1999 the award was re-named the Jimmie Pigg Memorial Outstanding Student Achievement Award (JPMOSAA) in honor of Jimmie Pigg, a longtime supporter of student activities and AFS. Learn more about Jimmie Pigg here. The recipient of the JPMOSAA receives a plaque, funds for travel to an AFS meeting, and a one-year membership to AFS. Recipients have historically been recognized at the SDAFS Spring Meeting. Beginning in 2011, students attending other AFS meetings became eligible to receive the JPMOSAA (see details below).

Each year, the WWSC will select one recipient for the JPMOSAA. Both MS and PhD students are eligible to apply but preference is given to MS candidates. Students must be either currently enrolled or have been enrolled during the previous academic year in a university within an SDAFS member state. Selection criteria are based on research, education, professional and civic activities. Research and education activities can be associated with any aspect of warmwater streams ecosystems. An outstanding undergraduate or higher educational record including courses pertaining to fisheries or aquatic biology and warmwater streams ecology and management are highly desirable. Professional activities in fishery-related student organizations, AFS Chapters, and similar organizations are also desirable. Applicable public services can include any voluntary activities but those pertaining to conservation and fishing are most desirable. All nominees must be willing to present their research at any of the following meetings: the SDAFS Spring Meeting, the AFS national meeting, or any state AFS chapter meeting. A committee of WWSC members will serve as the selection committee. All nomination materials must be submitted by December 1st each year. The application can be found HERE.

2015 Recipient: The SDAFS Warmwater Streams Committee is proud to announce their selection of Mr. Tomas Ivasauskas to receive the Jimmie Pigg Memorial Outstanding Student Achievement Award for 2012. Mr. Ivasauskas, a student at North Carolina State University, was selected for his commitment to student excellence in warmwater streams-related research, education, and professional and public service. He was presented with the award at the SDAFS business meeting in Savannah in January 2015. Congratulations, Tomas!

 

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Catfish Management Technical Committee Scholarship

This scholarship was created at the 2015 Southern Division Spring meeting to provide financial assistance to a graduate student (Master’s or Doctorate level) in the southeastern United States (Alabama, Arkansas, Washington D.C., Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Virgin Islands, West Virginia) who is studying catfish-related fisheries management. This scholarship was also developed in an attempt to garner more student involvement in the Southern Division Technical Committees. A 3-person sub-committee (Chair, Secretary-Treasurer & Chair-Elect) will review applications and present recommendations to the Committee at the annual winter meeting held in conjunction with the SDAFS Spring Meeting.
One $300 scholarship will be awarded annually to a student with outstanding research and academic performance. This award will be made directly to the student and not the student’s educational institution. It can be used for any aspect of the graduate education including, but not limited to, tuition, textbooks, equipment, travel or living expenses. It is not intended to replace any funding obligated to the student. Scholarship recipient is notified ahead of time and is required to present the results of their study to the Committee or at a conference where the Committee is holding a regular meeting.
Scholarship Application Process:
1. Complete the application process by December 15, each year. The application can be found HERE.
2. Provide a copy of your research proposal indicating its relevance to catfish fisheries management and research in the southeastern United States. It can be submitted via email to Jerry Brown, Committee Chair, jerryb@mdwfp.state.ms.us. The committee chair will distribute copies to the review committee members.
3. Provide a letter of introduction and recommendation from the applicant’s major professor or faculty advisor. This letter should state how long and in what capacity they have known the applicant. In addition, the letter should address the applicant’s promise as a future fisheries scientist. It can be submitted via email Jerry Brown, jerryb@mdwp.state.ms.us. The committee chair will distribute copies to the review committee members.
4. After the deadline has passed, the review committee will rank the compiled information for the applicants and make selections several weeks before the Southern Division meeting. If the scholarship winners are attending the SDAFS Spring Meeting they will be presented an official AFS plaque and scholarship check at the Business Meeting.
5. Winners of the Catfish Management Technical Committee Scholarship are encouraged to present their research at future AFS meetings.
Application Deadline: December 15, each year.

LINKS

• AFS Student Subsection
• SDAFS Chapters and Student Subunits

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CONTACTS

Students at NC State University have put together an outstanding blog. Check it out!

http://www.thefisheriesblog.blogspot.com/

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Credits: The photographs on this page are courtesy Brandon Brown, Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.