The College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment (CFWE) hosted its annual Scholarship, Fellowship and Professorship Recognition Reception at the Auburn Alumni Center on September 21.
The annual event, attended by over 100 guests, provided an opportunity for the college to acknowledge the individuals and companies who have created a deanship and over 100 named scholarships, fellowships and professorships in the college.
Numerous undergraduate and graduate students were awarded scholarships for their academic accomplishments, leadership abilities and commitment to their studies.
Charles Milling, Alex Warr and Joseph Kitts stand with scholarship donor Diane Rooke. The three students are recipients of the Rooke Family Endowment for Scholarships in Forestry or Forest Engineering.This year, $270,000 in scholarships were granted to the 76 students who were present to express their gratitude to the donors who have supported their academic careers.
During the evening reception, Emmett F. Thompson Dean Janaki Alavalapati emphasized the positive influence of philanthropy on education.
“Contributions from donors have enabled the CFWE to double its scholarship and academic support for students, which is critical for the college’s capacity to produce forestry, wildlife and natural resources management graduates,” said Alavalapati.
Emmett F. Thompson Dean Janaki Alavalapati engaging with students following the reception.
Following his remarks, Development Director Heather Crozier recognized the donors and recipients, emphasizing the importance of the event in fostering meaningful connections among them.
“This evening provides an opportunity for our donors to witness first-hand the significant impact of their contributions,” said Crozier.
Undergraduate scholarship recipients include:
Alabama Ag Credit Annual Scholarship: Emily Legg
Alabama TREASURE Forest Association Annual Scholarship in Forestry: Chase Kitchens
Alabama TREASURE Forest Association Annual Scholarship in Wildlife Sciences: Lexi McGrew
Rose Eugene Atchison Endowed Scholarship in Forestry: Grayden Ketchum, Riley Ketchum
Billy C. Bond Endowed Scholarship: Riley Ketchum
Frank W. Boykin Endowed Scholarship: Mary Michelle Conway
Lynn Dent Boykin Youth Wildlife Scholarship: Sara Luna, Mack Sartino, Anna Tucker, Lillian Avis
Richard W. Brinker Endowed Scholarship: Cheyenne Dean
Norman Buce Bearden Memorial Scholarship: Bayleigh Lamberson
Burgin Timberland Endowed Scholarship in Forestry: Noah Coleman
Chuck and Deborah Hopkins Carter Endowed Scholarship: Kevin Henry
COL Charles D. Chitty, Jr. Endowed Scholarship: Kacie Middleton
Christen, DeBrunner, Posey, Raper Endowed Scholarship in Forestry: Logan Dillard
Bryan Wayne Cole / Beth Thorne Stukes Ever Auburn Endowed Scholarship: Ethan Beets
Mickie L. Cole / Beth Thorne Stukes Ever Auburn Endowed Scholarship: Ethan Beets
Compass Circle / Bashinsky Foundation Ever Auburn Endowed Scholarship: Lauren Stevens
John Dorrill, Jr. Memorial Endowed Scholarship: Jaquie Parker
Harry V. Dunn, Jr., and Erin S. Dunn Endowed Fund for Excellence: George Cochran, Molly Dillon, Nico Martinez, Emmie Mayson, Wyatt Murphy, Evie Pearson, Lauren Rizzo, Caleb Sauls, Rory Smith, Megan Starling, Avy Elmore
Pat Dye and Nancy McDonald Endowed Scholarship: Josie Wolan
Art and Ellen Dyas Endowed Scholarship: Benjamin Lawson
Lanier Edwards Family Endowed Scholarship: Justin Nonnenmacher
Five Star Preserve Annual Scholarship: James Berry
Garden Club of Alabama Forestry Conservation Endowed Scholarship: Mary Michelle Conway
George E. (Eddie) Gibson, Sr., Endowed Scholarship: Braxton Lashley
William L. Hamberlin II Annual Scholarship: Bayleigh Lamberson
Hancock Forest Management Annual Scholarship: Nicholas Burgess
Howard B. Harmon Endowed Scholarship: Noah Keller
Margaret Atchison Hathaway Endowed Scholarship in Non-Game Wildlife Management: Cheyenne Dean
Mamie Hardy Memorial Endowed Scholarship: Joseph Anglin
Edward A. Hauss Endowed Scholarship in Forestry: Brooks Milling
High Adventure Company / Swarovski Allie Saker Memorial Annual Scholarship: Briley Youngblood
International Paper Annual Scholarship: Kayelain Boucher
Steve Jackson Annual Memorial Scholarship: Walt Denney
“Choppy” Bruce Johnson Annual Scholarship: Jack Williams
Hugh Kaul Foundation Annual Scholarship: Colledge Elliott, Brewer Smith
Michael Kelly Ever Auburn Endowed Scholarship: Jeb Thomasson
Tom Kelly Endowed Scholarship: Marley Acosta-Lee, Holden Lee, Wyatt Murphy
Henson and Kirkland Foundation Endowed Scholarship: Morgan Dees
Barnett Lawley Annual Scholarship: Thomas Davis
Charles G. Lawson Memorial Endowed Scholarship: Harrison Ranier, Taylor Scott
Robert E. “Bob” Lee Annual Scholarship: MaKenzie Criswell
Avery Littrell II and Melba R. Littrell Endowment for Scholarships in Forestry: Thomas Davis
Lowery Pulpwood, Inc. / James R. Lowery Endowed Memorial Scholarship in Forestry: Clari Gregson
Dwain C. Luce Family Endowed Scholarship: Charles Milling, Trey Etheridge
Lane Messer Summer Practicum Endowed Scholarship: Thomas Davis
Pierce and Becky Miller Ever Auburn Endowed Scholarship: Tess Lindow
Dan Moultrie Wildlife Scholarship: Jessica Hazel, George Cochran, Emily Legg
Natural Resources Annual Scholarship: Sam Boyles
Nichols Family Endowed Scholarship in Forestry: Trey Etheridge
Henry and Elizabeth Posey Endowed Scholarship: Connor Cox
Elizabeth Powers and John Coleman Banks Endowed Scholarship: Brewer Smith
Resource Management Service Endowed Scholarship: Erin Colhoun, Clari Gregson
James W. Richardson Endowed Scholarship in Forestry: Lucas Jones
Rooke Family Endowment for Scholarships in Forestry or Forest Engineering: Joseph Kitts, Charles Milling, Alex Warr
Russell Lands Annual Scholarship in Forestry: George Cochran, Chase Kitchens
School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences Annual Scholarship: Gracey Goldsby, Camden Keeton, Bayleigh Lamberson, Cross Thomas
William F. Sahlie Endowed Memorial Scholarship: Chase Kitchens
Gaines Smith Endowed Scholarship: Samantha Huey
Peter J. Smith Endowed Scholarship: Nico Martinez
Christoph Stuhlinger Endowed Fund for Excellence: Braxton Lashley
Walker Herring Taylor Endowed Scholarship: Lauren Wright
Emmett F. Thompson Endowed Scholarship in Forestry: Erin Colhoun
Thompson Family Endowed Scholarship: Clari Gregson
Toomer’s Oak Leadership Award: Jaquie Parker, Alex Warr
Robert Tufts Endowed Scholarship: Reese Stogner
Doris Bass Tyler Endowed Scholarship: Caleb Smith
Noll A. Van Cleave Endowed Scholarship in Forestry: Alex Warr
James D. Wadsworth Endowed Scholarship: Maddox Golden
Watters Family Endowed Scholarship in Forestry: Brooks Milling
M. and Mary Hall Ware Endowed Scholarship: Chase Kitchens
James M. Wells, Sr., Endowed Memorial Scholarship in Forestry: Mays McMillan
The Westervelt Foundation / Beth Thorne Stukes Ever Auburn Endowed Scholarship: Kevin Stehman
Weyerhaeuser Giving Fund / Jim Leist Memorial Endowed Scholarship: Jacob Cobb, Rice Nichols
Graduate fellowship recipients include:
African Safari Club Fellowship: Catherine Cummings, Monet Gomes, Kevin Ostrander, Andrea Miranda Paez, Travis Stoakley, Tristan Swartout
Charles Barkley Graduate Research, Education, and Training (GREAT) Annual Fellowship: Kayla Alston, Thomas Kavoo, Favour Onyido
Walter Beshears, Jr., and Rebecca P. Beshears Endowed Graduate Award in Wildlife Sciences: Stephanie Braswell
Drummond Company Endowed Fellowship, Outstanding Masters Student: Jace McCauley, Daniel Morris
Drummond Company Endowed Fellowship, Outstanding PhD Student: Yufei Nan
James Floyd Goggans Endowed Fellowship in Forest Biology: Eric Brubaker
James Henderson Dukes Memorial Endowment for Fellowships in Forestry: Arthur Lamounier Moura
Charles D. McCrary Graduate Research, Education, and Training (GREAT) Annual Fellowship: Khanal Ghanashyam
George Crenshaw Moore Endowed Fund for Graduate Fellowships in Wildlife Game Management: Matthew Day, Kevin Ostrander
Bradley Murphy Fellowship: Kayla Alston
Harry Murphy Graduate Student Award: Gina Lamke, Yongfa You
George W. Peake Fellowship: Temitope Folorunso
Chuck Sharp / Ducks Unlimited, Inc. Annual Fund for Excellence: Kathryn Temple
Lyle C. Tom Endowed Graduate Award: Michael McIntosh
The Westervelt Company Endowed Fellowship: Tabeth Mwema
In addition to the undergraduate and graduate scholarships, numerous faculty members were honored with professorships.
Solon and Martha Dixon Endowed Professorship: Li An, Ph.D.
William R. and Fay Ireland Distinguished Professor in Wildlife Science: Stephen Ditchkoff, Ph.D.
Dwain G. Luce Endowed Professorship in Forestry: Heather D. Alexander, Ph.D.
Clinton McClure Professorship: Latif Kalin, Ph.D.
Kelly Mosley Environmental Professorship: Mark Smith, Ph.D.
Harry E. Murphy Professorship: Adam Maggard, Ph.D.
George Wallace Peake, Jr. Fund for Excellence in Forestry: Daowei Zhang, Ph.D.
Regions Bank Endowed Professorship in Forest Operations: Tom Gallagher, Ph.D.
Regions Bank Endowed Professorship in Forest Products: Brian Via, Ph.D.
(Written by Allison Killingsworth)
