For the second time, the Student Chapter of The Wildlife Society at Missouri Western State University is on top of the world: the chapter was named International Student Chapter of the Year for 2013 by The Wildlife Society. Dr. Cary Chevalier, professor of biology, was named International Student Chapter Advisor of the Year, the first time a Missouri advisor has won the honor and the first time a chapter and advisor have won the award in the same year. The awards will be presented at The Wildlife Society annual conference next month in Milwaukee, Wis.
“Our student chapter is the only chapter from the state of Missouri to win this most prestigious recognition available to student organizations, and now they have done so twice,” Dr. Chevalier said. “Missouri Western can be very proud of the work they have done to earn this recognition out of a field of 120 student chapters across 50 states, Guam, Costa Rica and Canada, and I’m humbled to be honored alongside them.”
This is the fifth consecutive year and sixth time the Missouri Western chapter has been honored by The Wildlife Society. They previously won the International Chapter of the Year award in 2011 and the North Central Region Chapter of the Year in 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2012.
A member of The Wildlife Society collects biological samples during a managed deer hunt at Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge.Student chapters are evaluated in several categories, including workshop development, professional development, contributions to wildlife management, community service and contributions to natural resource education.
Missouri Western’s students volunteer thousands of hours every year at Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge, Swan Lake National Wildlife Refuge, and with the Missouri Department of Conservation. Volunteer activities include deer surveys, managed deer hunts, habitat work days, teaching hunter safety classes and much more. All of these volunteer experiences working alongside professionals in the field prepare wildlife and conservation management majors for careers, Dr. Chevalier said.
While student members contribute a lot of hours, they credit the professor they call “Dr. C” for creating learning opportunities.
“He is wonderful,” said Mary Kate Wiley, senior wildlife and conservation management major from Kansas City, Mo., who worked with Dr. Chevalier on a research project this summer. “Dr. C is very hands-on and accessible. He’s really knowledgeable. Dr. C is a mentor for sure.”
Missouri Western State University is a comprehensive regional university providing a blend of traditional liberal arts and professional degree programs. The university offers student-centered, high quality instruction that focuses on experience-based learning, community service, and state-of-the-art technology. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit www.missouriwestern.edu.