Awards

Professional Awards

The Virginia Chapter annually offers two professional awards that are presented at our annual business meeting.  Please download and complete this nomination form to recommend an award recipient for the Surber award or the Natural Resource Conservationist award.  The completed nomination form should be emailed to the current Past President listed on our Officers page.

Nomination Deadline:  February 7, 2023

EUGENE W. SURBER AWARD

The Eugene W. Surber Award recognizes an outstanding fisheries scientists based on either number of years of significant contributions to the field of fisheries science or on the basis of a single very significant contribution during the calendar year.

NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATIONIST AWARD

The Natural Resource Conservationist Award is given to a citizen or non-fisheries professional who has demonstrated outstanding protection or enhancement of aquatic resources on their property or who has made significant contributions to the protection of aquatic resources within the state of Virginia.

Past Award Recipients

 

Student Awards

ROSS GRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP

The Virginia Chapter offers the Robert D. Ross Graduate Scholarship to graduate students demonstrating academic excellence in fisheries or another related aquatic program at an accredited Virginia university or college.  A single winner will be selected from the applicant pool and receive a prize of $1,500.  Awards are given out at the Virginia Chapter’s annual meeting, which is typically in February.

Criteria for the scholarship are:

  1. The applicant must be a graduate student in fisheries, biology, or a related aquatic science program at an accredited Virginia university.
  2. The applicant should demonstrate academic excellence at both the undergraduate and graduate levels as well as promise for future contributions to fisheries and aquatic resource conservation.
  3. Preference will be given to applicants who wish to pursue a career in fisheries or related aquatic fields and who have demonstrated interest in professional activity in addition to required academic activities.

How to apply:

Applications should consist of (1) a letter from the applicant (not to exceed 500 words) describing his/her background in fisheries and related sciences, the significance of his/her research to management/conservation of fisheries and aquatic resources, and career aspirations, (2) copies of transcripts from all institutions of higher learning attended (unofficial acceptable), and (3) two letters of recommendation, at least one of which should be from the applicant’s major advisor.

Applications, transcripts and letters of recommendation should be emailed or mailed to the current Past President listed on our Officers page.

Application Deadline:  February 7, 2023

JENKINS UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP

The Virginia Chapter offers the Robert E. Jenkins Undergraduate Scholarship to undergraduate students demonstrating academic excellence in fisheries or another related aquatic program at an accredited Virginia university or college.  A single winner will be selected from the applicant pool and receive a prize of $1,000.  Awards are given out at the Virginia Chapter’s annual meeting, which is typically in February.

Criteria for the scholarship are:

  1. The applicant must have junior or senior class standing at an accredited Virginia college or university.
  2. The applicant should be pursuing a 4-year degree and should demonstrate in his/her letter of application a desire to pursue a career in aquatic resource management or conservation, or in a field consistent with these areas.
  3. The applicant should demonstrate academic excellence.
  4. The scholarship is for one academic year but may be awarded to the same student for up to two years.

How to apply:

Applications should consist of (1) a letter from the applicant (not to exceed 500 words) describing his/her background, qualifications and interest in fisheries or related aquatic sciences, (2) copies of transcripts from all institutions of higher learning attended (unofficial acceptable), and (3) one letter of recommendation from a professor in the applicant’s major field of study.

Applications, transcripts and letters of recommendation should be emailed or mailed to the current Past President listed on our Officers page.

Application Deadline: February 7, 2023

 

BEST STUDENT PRESENTATION AWARDS

The Virginia Chapter recognizes outstanding graduate and undergraduate student presentations at its annual meeting, which is usually in February. We typically select a first place winner and a runner-up for each of the following categories:

  • Best Undergraduate Presentation
  • Best Graduate Presentation
  • Best Poster (graduate or undergraduate students)

Presenters MUST complete payment for their meeting registration in order to be eligible. Best Poster contestants must also be present at their poster during the poster session when judges come by in order to be considered.

For more information on our student presentation awards, please review these contest details.

 
Please direct any questions regarding awards to the Past-President listed on our Officers Page.