CNR NEWS WINTER 2021 INSIDE THIS ISSUE • RMEF Leadership Awards • Research in the Rotunda • Project WildLIVE • Black Bear and Mussel Research • Faculty, Staff, and Program Highlights • The Blind Naturalist • New Major Gifts Officer • Alumni Updates • In Memory
UW-Stevens Point Students find Support through Veteran Services For U.S. Army veteran and University of WisconsinStevens Point senior Julian Phan and other veterans on campus, the university’s Veterans Club office in the Dreyfus University Center is a safe zone. A senior from Rochester, Minn., Phan has appreciated having the support of the Veterans Club and Veteran Services Office as he earned his degree in natural resource management. “Being stationed in Alaska was very much an adventure,” he said of his more than three years as a communication specialist at the Fort Wainwright Army Base in Fairbanks as part of Julian Phan Photo credit: Myke Williams the 25th Infantry Division. He also served a few months at Camp Casey in Korea. At the end of his service, he decided to study natural resources. Throughout his life, Phan heard about his dad’s experiences in the army and traveling overseas and wanted those same opportunities. When he graduated from high school, he didn’t feel ready for college but was eager for new experiences. “Growing up, I was always outdoors, and in high school I took environmental classes that solidified my interests,” he said. “My work in Alaska gave me a realistic idea of what it would be like to work in all aspects of natural resources and its impact on the economy.” It’s not always easy for student veterans to adjust from a military life to the classroom, Phan said. His first year in school at another institution was not the right fit, so he transferred to UW-Stevens Point for his sophomore year. Phan found Stevens Point to be an active, friendly and outdoorsy community. “I had friends that recommended UW-Stevens Point’s natural resources program to me,” he said. “I have had great professors and specialized classes you find at larger institutions. Everyone here is passionate about their field.” (continued on page 8)
CNR NEWS UW-Stevens Point Students Receive Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation National Wildlife Leadership Awards UW-Stevens Point students were awarded four of twelve national Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) Wildlife Leadership Awards. These prestigious scholarships were established in 1991 to recognize, encourage, and promote leadership among future wildlife management professionals. Presented to undergraduate wildlife students in their junior year, they include a $5000 scholarship and a one-year membership to the RMEF. Congratulations to Samuel Andres, Brilyn Brecka, Danni Brosend, and Hayden Walkush.
Samuel Andres “You can learn so much about different species when you hunt them.” Sam’s passion for wildlife and conservation burgeoned from the hunting knowledge his father and grandfather passed down. Sam wants to continue working outdoors in the field with large mammals as a wildlife research biologist. His goal is to improve our understanding of wildlife behavior so managers can better sustain populations.
Brilyn Brecka “I want to improve the land and improve wildlife so people who come after me enjoy it as I do right now.” Growing up, Brilyn thought her fisheries biologist father had the coolest job. She has wanted to be a wildlife biologist since sixth grade. She hopes her career will help protect not just wildlife habitat but public access as well.
Danni Brosend “I’ve kind of always been teaching people, it’s kind of full circle for me.” Long before she dreamed of becoming a wildlife professor Danni sowed the seeds of her passion for the outdoors and its creatures. As a teenager she worked at the Severson Dells Nature Center in her hometown of Rockford, Ill. Her time spent educating children was a precursor to her goal of mentoring future wildlife ecologists.
Hayden Walkush “Hunting was my gateway to the rest of the natural world” Hayden spent his falls chasing whitetails, summers casting to largemouth bass, and his springs banding birds at the Waupaca Biological Field Station. He is currently an undergraduate research fellow with Boone and Crockett.
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WINTER 2021 Research in the Rotunda The annual Research in the Rotunda event brought 189 undergraduate students from around the University of Wisconsin System to the state capitol in Madison on March 9, 2022. The event provides an opportunity for students to showcase their research to legislators, regents, faculty and fellow student researchers. The University of WisconsinStevens Point is limited to eight posters with applicants submitting their research for consideration in January. This year’s representatives included 16 students and five faculty members. Of those, two projects featured student research from within the College of Natural Resources. Hannah Lukasik, a hydrology student, shared her research titled "Using Acesulfame to Determine Septic System Impact to Wisconsin Lakes" and a team of students including CNR students Christian Howerton, environmental science and management, Adam Laehn, soil science, and Sophia Risch, natural resource planning, shared their research titled "Phytoremediation in hemp (Cannabis sativa) – using an alternative crop to diversify Wisconsin agriculture and clean-up the environment.” Visit https://www.wisconsin.edu/research-in-the-rotunda/ for additional information and photos from the event.
Hammiller named 2021 Youth Conservationist of the Year Samantha Hammiller, a first-year student in soil and waste resources at UWStevens Point, was named the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation WWF 2021 Youth Conservationist of the Year. This award honors a person under 19 who has shown outstanding conservation effort, and demonstrates leadership and accomplishment in any phase of conservation. “Sam helps teach younger kids about the outdoors, from assisting game wardens with a game feast, helping with deer processing, teaching ice fishing and pitching in on learn to hunt events” Trent Tonn, Hammiller’s teacher from Burlington High School.
UW-Stevens Point student presenters pictured with Brian Barringer (center), a faculty adviser in the College of Letters and Science.
(From left) Secretary of the Department of Safety and Professional Services Dawn Crim, Rob Manzke the UW-Stevens Point chief of staff, Hannah Lukasik, and UW-Stevens Point Chancellor Thomas Gibson.
Samantha currently serves as a delegate to the Wisconsin Youth Conservation Congress and participates in the WWF’s Youth Leadership Council.
Student researchers from across Wisconsin attended the annual Research in the Rotunda event. UW-Stevens Point students presented their research and met with legislators at the Research in the Rotunda event.
Samantha Hammiller
Photo Credit: Wis. Wildlife Federation
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CNR NEWS Fire Science Certificate UW-Stevens Point now offers a Fire Science Certificate, providing the basics for a student in any major interested in wildland fire. The skills-based certificate includes required field experiences, certifications, and formal classes. Visit www.uwsp.edu/cnr for more details on this and other certificates. Kaylee, a UW-Stevens Point wildlife major, participates in the gray squirrel research project with the UWSP Wildlife Society.
Project WildLIVE The UW-Stevens Point student chapter of the Wildlife Society created educational resources for elementary school-aged children to learn about wildlife through the chapter’s ongoing research projects. Check out the links below, or click here to see the videos and their respective educational resource sheets for teachers. • The Waterfowl Project • The Gray Squirrel Project • The Adopt a Wildlife Area Project • The Wild Bird Project • The Small Mammal Project • The Flying Squirrel Project
Collaborative Mussel Research Project Underway The UW-Stevens Point Wildlife Society is collaborating with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources on a mussel research project. Students gathered initial data on the 1 1/2-yearold fatmuckets before releasing them into the Plover River and Mill Creek. The students will revisit the 700+ mussels in the spring to learn more about the winter survivability of stocked mussels, with hopes of presenting their findings at the 2022 Jim and Katie Krause CNR Student Research Symposium on April 8, 2022. Learn more about this collaboration and mussel research in Wisconsin here.
UW-Stevens Point student volunteers released 700+ mussels as part of a collaborative research project with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
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WINTER 2021 Faculty, Staff, and Program Highlights Michael Demchik, UW-Stevens Point forestry professor, was named the 2021 Forestry Conservationist of the Year by the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation (WiWF). Michael Demchik has been helping the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation, DNR, Wisconsin Wetlands Association, the Village of Plover, and their partners develop restoration plans for wetland, floodplain, and forest habitats in the Little Plover River watershed of Central Wisconsin. WiWF stated, “Mike’s level of expertise, joy, and commitment to forest health and restoration stand out as extraordinary and worthy of the Federation’s Forestry award.” Paul Doruska, UW-Stevens Point forestry professor, was named a 2021 Society of American Foresters (SAF) Fellow. This prestigious award recognizes SAF members for long-standing service to SAF, the profession, and are ambassadors for the advancement of forestry. More details at https://bit.ly/Doruska2021SAFfellow. Extension Lakes is hosting the 44th Annual Wisconsin Lakes and Rivers Convention during Wisconsin Water Michael Demchik, Forestry Professor Week on April 6-8, 2022, in Stevens Point, Wis. The conference will focus on success stories and recommendations of resilience, adaptation, and action in a changing climate. They will also be intentional about highlighting efforts and ideas supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion in water resource protection and management. Visit https://wisconsinwaterweek.org/home/lakes-and-rivers-convention/ for more details. Wildlife professor, Christopher Yahnke, is a collaborator on Squirrel-Net, a website devoted to the integration of meaningful scientific research with mammals into undergraduate biology education. Yahnke and other collaborators have developed and implemented a series of course-based undergraduate research experiences investigating the behavior and ecology of squirrels. Read his latest contribution, “SquirrelsOne: What’s on Your Campus.” Paul Doruska, Forestry Professor
The Center for Watershed Science and Education is involved with stream flow monitoring year round. To bring awareness to some of their work, they highlighted creeks they currently monitor as part of a regular Facebook feature. The posts include general information on the creek and ways the public can enjoy these beautiful natural areas. Visit https://www.facebook.com/ UWSPCNRCWSE to explore these waterways. A team of researchers from UW-Stevens Point, UW-Madison, Michigan State University and the Wisconsin and Michigan Departments of Natural Resources is working to find a less expensive and more sustainable solution for disposal of CWD-infected deer. The full story is available here. “The goal of this research is a very practical, quick and safe way to dispose of the large amount of CWD-infected deer generated not only in Wisconsin and Michigan but across the Midwest,” said Professor Robert Michitsch, soil and waste resources. “If successful, this composting method captures the infection, destroys it and reduces the large volume of biomass that needs to be treated.” Our bachelor’s degree programs in paper science and engineering and chemical engineering have both been accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. This accreditation assures that the programs meet standards to produce field-ready graduates. Learn more at https://bit. ly/3x2AhMz.
UW-Stevens Point researchers Alex Thomas, Professor Rob Michitsch, Amber Smith, and Susanne Baker prepare to work on research on the effects of composting on CWD-infected deer.
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CNR NEWS Join us at the Jim and Katie Krause CNR Student Research Symposium The 23rd annual Jim and Katie Krause College of Natural Resources Student Research Symposium will be held on Friday, April 8, 2022, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Trainer Natural Resources building on the UW-Stevens Point campus. The CNR Research Symposium is organized by a steering committee of students working with faculty and staff members. Each year approximately 100 undergraduate students showcase their research to 400-500 peers, faculty, staff, and the public. Students invest considerable time conducting research in areas including fisheries and water resources, forestry, human dimensions Students present their research at the annual Jim and Katie Krause CNR Student Research Symposium. of natural resource management, paper science and engineering, soil and waste management, and wildlife ecology and management. The Symposium allows students to present data they have collected, explored, and analyzed during their research. Faculty mentors play an essential role in guiding students through the process in a spirited and educational fashion which expands beyond the traditional bricks and mortar of the classroom. This experience is a great way to hone presentation skills in preparation for their professional career. In addition, all presenters choose to be evaluated by a judge, with the highest honors awarded to the upper quartile. View last year’s winners and learn more about the Symposium at www.uwsp.edu/cnr/studentsymposium.
A student presents their research at the annual Jim and Katie Krause CNR Student Research Symposium.
New Major Gifts Officer Brian Stezenski-Williams has joined the CNR and UW-Stevens Point team as the new major gifts officer, replacing Steve Menzel. Brian comes to us after a long career in non-profit, primarily in and around the Wausau area, where he was the leader in establishing the Boys & Girls Club in Wausau. He served as Executive Director of the Wausau Boys & Girls Club for 20+ years, where he learned a great deal about resource development and philanthropy along the way. He has recently been working as a non-profit consultant, focused on organizational capacity building along with major gift and capital campaign fundraising. Brian is also an academic holding BA and MS degrees in History from Boston University and a Ph.D. in History from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He has taught at the high school and university levels, making the transition to day-to-day life at UWSP (hopefully) that much easier. On the personal side, he and his wife Tammy have two boys, Sam, 15 (Wausau East HS) and Xander, 18 (UW-Madison), and a Pointer dog named Oscar. He is fluent in French, an avid runner and downhill skier, and loves to travel and explore new places. Brian can be found in TNR room 109, via email at bstezens@uwsp.edu, or phone at 715-346-2032. Brian Stezenski-Williams
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WINTER 2021 The Blind Naturalist Shannon Columb’s (B.S. Resource Management - Environmental Education and Interpretation ‘20) relationship with nature started when she was a child exploring her parent’s farm. She enjoyed galloping through the pastures on her stick horse, climbing on hay bales, riding her bike through mud puddles, and walking through the woods with her dogs. Shannon was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) at an early age, a degenerative eye condition characterized by night blindness and limited peripheral vision. The disease affects people differently. Some lose their sight rapidly, while others’ vision slowly degrades. In addition to night blindness and limited peripheral vision, Shannon also lost depth perception, has light sensitivity, and difficulty seeing detail. This diagnosis did not impede her love of the natural world. She attended summer camps for the blind, received her first guide dog at 17, and adapted to her vision loss. She vowed to maintain a positive attitude despite the limitations RP presents. Immersing herself in nature was one of the ways she found helped her stay positive. Her passion for the outdoors led her to complete a degree in Environmental Education and Interpretation from UW-Stevens Point. As one of the few students in her program with a disability, she felt isolated at times, but her professors were passionate about diversifying the field and ignited her desire to make outdoor education accessible to under-served communities, particularly for blind or visually impaired individuals. After graduation, Shannon moved to southwest Wisconsin, the Driftless Area. The region, untouched by glaciers and filled with bluffs and winding rivers, is an ideal setting for her first foray into reaching those under-served communities by creating an accessible website, The Blind Naturalist (www.theblindnaturalist.com). Shannon hopes the website will serve as an educational resource, providing tools to make the outdoors more accessible for all. From five weeks in Europe with a guide dog to a trip to Isle Royale with friends, she shares her adventures and ways she has adapted to be able to continue traversing the outdoors. Shannon also works as an AmeriCorps Naturalist for WisCorps in La Crosse, her second 1700-hour term with them. She leads various environmental education programs, from day camps to community programs, and has also developed curricula for some of their programs.
Shannon Columb with her dog Frasier. (Photo Courtesy of Shannon Columb)
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CNR NEWS Two Pointers Honored with Society of American Foresters National Awards Rebecca Barnard (B.S. Forestry - Ecosystem Restoration and Management ‘05) received the Society of American Foresters (SAF)Young Forester Leadership Award. This award recognizes outstanding leadership by a young forestry professional in developing and promoting an individual program or project or for a sustained leadership role benefiting the practice of forestry and SAF. Rebecca has shown strong leadership with various forestry and allied organizations and demonstrates a solid science-based collaborative leadership approach to forest management. Rebecca’s passion for forestry has been a constant across the years. She maintains a strong presence in the forestry community, looks for opportunities to partner with others to expand forestry’s reach and is recognized as a leader among her peers. In service to SAF, Rebecca has been involved at all levels. She is a life-long learner and prioritizes her involvement in SAF to maintain her keen Rebecca Barnard, far right, received the 2021 SAF understanding of forest best practices Young Forester Leadership Award. and works within SAF to advance sensible forest policies. She has been a member of the Committee on Forest Policy since 2017 and currently serves as chair. Rebecca is a forestry certification manager for Sappi North America where she ensures that forest certification standards are aligned with how forest management is conducted in the U.S. and Canada. James Bednar (B.S. Resource Management ‘88) received the 2021 SAF Presidential Field Foresters Award. The award recognizes foresters who have dedicated their James Bednar, left, received the 2021 SAF Presidential professional careers to the application of forestry on the ground using sound, scientific Field Foresters Award. methods and adaptive management strategies. The awards will be presented to individuals who have displayed uncommon talent, skill, and innovative methods to achieve a record of excellence in the application of forest management.
In a Service First the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Presented Second National Chittenden Award to Bischoff ‘89 U. S. Army Corps of Engineers Natural Resource Specialist Park Ranger Timothy Bischoff (B.S. Resource Management ‘89) received the service’s Hiram H. Chittenden Award in November, for the second time. Bischoff is the service’s first ever two-time recipient of the award and whose namesake is legendary for his engineering feats, extensive scholarship and a rugged ‘can-do’ spirit in overcoming some of the nation’s fiercest natural and man-made challenges. Fifty-five-year-old Bischoff has worked at the Corp’s Rend Lake Project in Illinois as part of the Saint Louis District since 1994, he was recognized for his leadership in rapidly prototyping, digitizing and delivering school-aged student curricula as part of what is now called the #USACEeducates program. Bischoff’s team’s product reached a nationwide network of schools that were early in the stay-at-home phase of the pandemic, were hungry for easily accessed and pre-packaged distance content. “I came up with the idea as to how to solve these problems, so I contacted our teaching team and we brainstormed and started recruiting talent to make it all happen,” said Bischoff. His first Chittenden recognition came 15 years ago and had Bischoff participating in the Army’s coast-to-coast reenactment of the Lewis and Clark Expedition where the humble 5-foot-8-inch living-history buff gained a coveted role in the three-year excursion after his hobby of reenacting a French Territorial Marine locally was revealed, by chance, to the expedition’s “Corps of Discovery Bicentennial Expedition” planning officer. Read more here.
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Timothy Bischoff (Photo credit: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)
WINTER 2021 Alumni Highlights Adam Abel (B.S. Soil and Waste Resources - Soil and Land Management ‘04) was named the state grazing-lands specialist in Wisconsin by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. After graduation, Adam became a grazing specialist for Pri-Ru-Ta Resource Conservation and Development. He then worked for an environmental consulting firm before joining the Natural Resources Conservation Service as a soil conservationist. In his years of experience with the agency, Abel has designed and planned conversions of row crops to rotationally grazed pastures with farmers in central and northeastern Wisconsin. Abby Carr (B.S. Fisheries and Water Resources - Water Resources) started a new position with the National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NAD)P). She will be working with their sample receiving and processing team. NADP oversees the longterm sampling and analysis of precipitation across the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
Adam Abel, right, collaborates regularly with other conservationists including Barry Bubolz, (B.S. soil and Waste Resources - Soil Science ‘99) left, a soil conservationist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service in Shawano, Wis. (Photo Credit: Mainline Media News)
Abby Carr (Photo Credit: NADP)
Violet Thielke (B.S. Forestry - Forest Management ‘22) became the 2021-22 AmeriCorps member with the Wisconsin Woodland Owners Association. She writes their member-wide emails, facilitates the Woodland Mentor Program, operates their Facebook page, among other duties. Jeff Bruggink (B.S. Forestry – Forest Management ’86) received the 2021 Natural Resources Conservation Service’s (NCSS) Cooperator of the Year Award. Jeff is the regional soil and postfire program manager for the USDA Forest Service Intermountain Region. Throughout his career, he has been involved with some aspects of the NCSS. He was a field mapper, contract and soil steward, and grassland ecological site specialist. Currently, he is the Forest Service regional partnership coordinator for completing soil and Terrestrial Ecological Unit (TEU) inventories.
Violet Thielke
Korey Lofy (B.S. Forestry - Forest Recreation/Urban Forestry ‘11) and Joe Aiken started a podcast focused on all things tree and landscape. They discuss the trends, concerns, and opportunities in the fields of forestry and arboriculture. Their December 13, 2021, episode features two UWStevens Point alumni, Sarah and Andrew Gollnick. Check it out at https://apple.co/33vnRCo.
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He also found the support of Veteran Services and then coordinator, Ann Whipp before he even began his classes. An expert on what he would need to collect Veterans Affairs benefits, Whipp gave Phan a great start to his Pointer experience, he said.“She knew everything I needed,” he said. “I really appreciated how closely she worked with all veterans.” Melanie Cychosz took on the role of coordinator in June 2021, after Whipp’s retirement. “My most important job is to make veterans feel appreciated and welcome,” she said. “These are mostly non-traditional students, so we want them to feel at home on campus.” Having a Veteran’s Club and dedicated Veteran Services Office and coordinator are among the reason’s UW-Stevens Point has continuously been named a VIQTORY Military Friendly School. To learn more about joining the Veterans Club or support through the Veteran Services, go to www.uwsp.edu/finaid/veteranservices/Pages/default.aspx or call Cychosz at 715-346-4771. This article was written for the Point of U, UW-Stevens Point’s signature eNewsletter, highlighting the top news, strategic initiatives and success stories from our university as a whole. Visit Point of U to read more.
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CNR NEWS In Memory Prior to coming to Stevens Point and the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point in 1965, Robert Engelhard was a professional forester. He worked for the U. S. Forest Service, southern region, from 1952-1956 and Trees for Tomorrow, Inc. from 1956 – 1965. He was a member of the forestry faculty in the UW-Stevens Point, College of Natural Resources from 1965 until retirement in 1991 after a 25 year teaching career during which he received the university-wide excellence in teaching award three times. The College of Natural Resources also recognized Engelhard’s skills in the classroom when he was named the CNR’s outstanding faculty member for 1972, 1975 and 1991. Following retirement, he served as Executive Director of the Wisconsin Woodland Owners Association for four years, working with the Wisconsin State Legislature and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources on private landowner issues.
Robert Engelhard
Bob was a key leader in developing the four-track forestry major at the CNR. He co-led the effort to take UWSP’s Conservation Department to a fully accredited forestry program that is part of the largest natural resources undergraduate program in the United States today. In that effort he was a leader in developing the UWSP six week summer camp program that gave students an opportunity to implement their classroom studies and gain valuable hands-on field experience. Bob was a member of the Governor’s Council on Forestry for six years testifying before the legislative committee on natural resources on legislation which eventually became Wisconsin’s Managed Forest Law (MFL); and served on the state Scientific Areas Preservation Council, advisory to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
Bob was chair of the Society of American Foresters (SAF) Central Wisconsin chapter and chaired the SAF Wisconsin Forestry Hall of Fame Committee. He was named a Fellow in the Society of American Foresters in 1985. In 2005 the German Forestry Association awarded Bob the Bernard Eduard Fernow Medal as a tribute for outstanding achievements and contributions to international forestry in recognition of the 1972 establishment of the CNR’s summer program in the Black Forest of Germany, together with friend and colleague, Dr. Anton Hammer, building a student exchange that continues today. He was awarded the 2005 John Macon Award by the Wisconsin Society of American Foresters in recognition of outstanding service to the profession of forestry in Wisconsin. In October 2009, Bob was inducted into the Wisconsin Forestry Hall of Fame.
Alumni Impact There are two significant ways you can help us continue to be one of the nation’s leading undergraduate natural resources programs. Make a gift. With decreasing levels of state support, your financial gift can provide the college with the support it needs to continue to produce the excellent graduates for which we are known. Give online at www.uwsp.edu/givenow or if you would like to mail in a donation, please make checks payable to the “UWSP Foundation - CNR” and send to UW-Stevens Point Foundation, 2100 Main Street, Stevens Point, WI 54481. Share your story. We love to hear from our alumni! Hearing what you have been up to since graduation builds pride among our faculty, staff, and students; helps us obtain grants and gifts from other sources; and makes a fun addition to our newsletter. Send your story to cnr@uwsp.edu.
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