Jim and Janice Kelly
A substantial contribution has been made to the Auburn University College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment (CFWE) to assist students with pursuing their academic futures. Inspired by their experiences with forestry and wildlife professionals, the Kelly family of Shelby County, Alabama, established the Kelly Family Endowed Scholarship in hopes of ensuring the future of quality natural resource professionals.
Jim and Janice Kelly have a vested interest in the natural world. Although they are both Auburn alumni, they did not attend The Plains to learn about forestry or wildlife. Jim is a graduate of the Harbert College of Business and Janice is an alumna of the College of Human Sciences. The Kellys, along with their daughters Elizabeth and Lindsey, enjoy recreational hunting on their property in Coosa County, Alabama—specifically quail hunting with their two dogs.
Managing this property includes annual forest and wildlife habitat management that requires the knowledge and expertise to achieve their desired property goals. Recent successes with agencies such as their local Alabama Forestry Commission office have transformed their property into an ideal habitat for quail and an understanding of why natural resource management is important. Soon thereafter, other species such as white-tailed deer, turkeys and rabbits made homes there as well.
Several of the natural resource professionals that work with the Kellys were not typical students. Many of these individuals were Auburn undergraduates obtaining their degrees later in life while simultaneously leading families and working full-time jobs. Feeling inspired by their educational journeys, Jim and Janice felt the passion to continue to create more opportunities for hard-working people like their acquaintances in Coosa County.
“Establishing sound practices to enhance forests and wildlife ecology is a long game, and it takes vision,” Jim said. “Our experience is that the Auburn CFWE prepares men and women to live and work in partnership with their neighbors in their community. They do what they do because they want to make a difference. As we’ve gotten to know recent CFWE graduates, we’ve continually been impressed with their knowledge, dedication and desire to not only help landowners meet their objectives but also make a difference for generations to come.”
Currently, the Kelly Family Endowed Scholarship awards $4,000 per year to an Auburn undergraduate majoring in Forestry or Wildlife Ecology and Management. To qualify for this scholarship, the chosen student must satisfy the following qualifications:
- Be enrolled in the College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment, with a declared major in Forestry or Wildlife Ecology and Management.
- Demonstrate good academic standing as determined by the Office of the Registrar.
- Demonstrate financial need as verified by the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships. If a student with financial need cannot be identified, this criterion may be waived.
- Be a resident of Coosa, Elmore or Tallapoosa counties in Alabama. However, if a student from these select counties cannot be identified, the scholarship will be awarded to another qualified student.
- Be entering Auburn University at least four years after completing high school. If a qualified student cannot be identified, the scholarship will be awarded to a student seeking a second undergraduate degree. If a student meeting either criterion cannot be identified, the scholarship will be awarded to another qualified student.
Janaki Alavalapati, the CFWE’s Emmett F. Thompson Dean, appreciates the generous supporters of the college such as the Kellys who believe in the premise of opportunity in higher education.
“The Kelly family embodies the Auburn spirit of stewardship, service and vision,” said Alavalapati. “Though their academic paths were outside of natural resources, their deep appreciation for Alabama’s forests, wildlife and the professionals who manage them has led to a truly meaningful investment in future generations. This endowment reflects their belief in creating opportunities for hardworking students who are committed to caring for our natural world. We are grateful for their leadership and generosity, which will strengthen the communities our graduates serve for decades to come.”
For the Kellys, their hope is that they can be a piece of future graduates’ career paths. Knowing that higher education is a large commitment and investment for a student, their family has chosen to invest in students themselves.
“Our hope is that the Kelly Family Scholarship will help ease the financial burden for those who may have taken a different path in their educational journey due to family responsibilities, military service or simply taking a little longer to find the career they want to pursue,” Jim said. “The Auburn experience prepares you for life. Janice and I were blessed to have that experience in the 1980s, and our daughters had that same opportunity thirty years later. We can’t begin to imagine what our life would have been like without it.”
