Ecology Department Scholarship

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Skyler Ochs

This departmental scholarship was established to assist an ecology student financially in achieving their degree goals.   To be considered for this award, students must have at least a 3.5 GPA or higher.

Awarded to Skyler Ochs

Skyler Ochs was selected as the 2025 recipient of the Ecology Department Scholarship.   Skyler is from Manhattan, Montana, and is majoring in Conservation Biology and Ecology with a minor in Soil Science.  Skyler will graduate in Fall of 2025 and plans to continue her education in grad school.  Her research interests are in ornithology.

 

Ecology Memorial Scholarship

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Riley Parker

 This award is given to a full-time junior or senior majoring in biological sciences in memory of John C. Wright, C.J.D. Brown, and T.B. Holker who all contributed greatly to ecology and conservation.   John C. Wright was a MSU professor of Botany & Bacteriology and served as the director for the Center for Environmental Studies. C.J.D. Brown was a MSU professor of Zoology and Entomology and wrote the book “Fishes of Montana.”   T.B. Holker was a MSU student in the Fish & Wildlife Program and had a lifelong love of Montana’s wildlife.  He was killed during a flying mission in the Pacific in 1954 while serving as a captain in the US Air Force.

Awarded to Riley Parker

Riley Parker was awarded the Ecology Memorial Scholarship.   Riley is from Rockport, Texas and is in her second year of the Fish & Wildlife Ecology and Management program.  She is currently doing independent research characterizing environmental effects on grizzly bear foraging sites in the GYE.   Her goal is to become a research biologist, and she would love to incorporate art more into science communication.

 

Montana Trout Unlimited Fisheries Scholarship

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Jonathan Onken                         Photo by Lukas Draugelis

This scholarship was established by the state of Montana chapter of Trout Unlimited to support undergraduates who seek an education and career in fishery science, especially in the area of coldwater fisheries.

Awarded to Jonathan Onken 

Jonathan Onken is currently a sophomore at MSU seeking a B.S. in  Fish and Wildlife Management as well as a B.A. in Film.  Hailing from Tijeras, New Mexico, his passions are native trout and the art of storytelling through film.  He hopes to make conservation films that give a voice to species and habitats that don’t have one.

 

Sara Amasa Madsen Conservation Biology Scholarship

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Axl Wolfcale

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 Biology in the option of Conservation Biology and Ecology.  Sara was extraordinary, kind, and independent.  Mary and Jerry created this scholarship to support students that have Sara's heart and enthusiasm for the wilderness, particularly wildland firefighting and water resources.

Awarded to Rowen "Axl" Wolfcale

Axl Wolfcale is a Montana State University freshman, double majoring in Ecology (Conservation Biology and Ecology Option) and English (Writing Option), with a minor in Global Studies. He is from Missoula, Montana, where he was involved with research on fire-adapted forests, including physiological responses of trees to drought, and in Montana’s first FireWise Demonstration Garden, which educated homeowners in the wildland-urban interface about strategic landscaping to reduce wildfire risk to property.  Axl is interested in international conservation biology research and hopes to contribute to conservation and wilderness protection in diverse parts of the globe.

Yarnall Family Scholarship

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Coral Mercer

John and Kristi Yarnall are former MSU students who remain passionate about wildlife and conservation biology.  They have established this award to help support a junior or senior in good academic standing who is studying fish and wildlife or conservation biology.

Awarded to Coral Mercer

Coral Mercer received the Yarnall Family Scholarship.  Coral grew up exploring the outdoors in Eagle River, Alaska, where she has seen how human activity is affecting ecosystem functions and the importance of conserving these wild places.  She is currently a junior in Conservation Biology & Ecology with a minor in Soil Science.  She hopes to be a restoration ecologist, working to restore degraded ecosystems due to mining or other disturbances.