News:
Press Release
March 25, 2022
Wildlife for Everyone Foundation Announces Annual Scholarship Winners
Four Students Awarded for Exceptional Scholarship in Wildlife and Natural Resource-related Fields
State College – Four students recently received the annual scholarship awarded by Wildlife for Everyone Foundation to students demonstrating outstanding scholarship and commitment to the conservation of wildlife and natural resources. “This is an impressive group,” states Margaret Brittingham, Board member and professor emerita, Wildlife Resources, Penn State University. “It’s inspiring to see the diversity of projects that these students are engaged in,” she adds. “We hope Wildlife for Everyone’s projects can benefit from their expertise.”
| Rebecca Burlingame (Bloomsburg University of PA) is a junior majoring in Ecology and Conservation Field Biology with a spatial analysis and GIS minor. She worked as an intern at Pocono Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, Stroudsburg, where she cared for a variety of wildlife and avian species. The goal of her field research is to assess the habitat of tree swallows using their nest feathers. She collected over 200 nests for disassembly, sorted and photographed the feathers, and later measured them to ascertain the tree swallow’s response to artificial wetlands. Burlingame plans to use her scholarship money to ensure the tree swallow study continues by funding nesting box repair and other materials. Her future ambition is to work for a government agency such as the U.S. Geological Survey or PA Fish and Boat Commission on conservation and research efforts. |  |
| Cameala Freed (Millersville University of PA) is a senior majoring in Environmental Biology. Freed has researched the impacts of invasive species on threatened and endangered species in the United States and will present her findings at the Council of Undergraduate Research in April. She converted parking lot islands to native plants for Johnson & Johnson in Lancaster and installed bluebird boxes on the property. She monitors bats and small terrestrial mammals of conservation concern at Hawk Mountain, Pennsylvania. Freed intends to use her scholarship funds to support research costs and subsidize conference registration fees. Her career goal is to work in a conservation capacity for a non-profit organization such as Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay or Lancaster Conservancy. |  |
| Katie Gundermann (Penn State University – University Park) is pursuing a M.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries Science. She received a B.S. in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation from the University of Delaware. Gundermann has a variety of field experiences working under the auspices of universities and state and federal natural resource-related agencies to conduct research on hoofed mammals. Her thesis assesses the relationship of elk movement in response to changes in reproductive status, forest structure and hunting pressures in Pennsylvania. She is a Graduate Research Assistant in the Quantitative Wildlife Ecology Lab at PSU. Gundermann plans to use her scholarship money to help cover travel costs to the 2022 National Wildlife Society conference where she will present the results of her thesis. Upon completion of her education, Gundermann aspires to work as a quantitative ecologist for a federal agency such as the U.S. Forest Service or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. |  |
| Arun Regmi (Penn State University – University Park) is a 3 rd year Ph.D. student in Forest Resources in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management. He received a M.S. in Forestry from Mississippi State University and a B.S. in Natural Resources – Forestry from Tribhuvan University in Nepal. Regmi’s research is investigating hunters’ behavior and perception of deer population and management in Pennsylvania. He is collecting data by conducting hunter surveys in collaboration with the Pennsylvania Game Commission. As part of his research, Regmi had the opportunity to participate in the PA mentored hunting program offered by the PA Game Commission. He has published many papers and delivered presentations focused on prescribed fire and optimizing value of pine sawtimber. Regmi intends to use the scholarship money to support his travel to the Wildlife Society’s annual conference where he will present his research findings. His goal is to become a professor of forest management and economics. |  |
The Wildlife for Everyone Foundation was established in 2004 to provide all wildlife enthusiasts with a way to show their commitment through much-needed financial support for wildlife conservation efforts and education. Since its inception, the Foundation has supported projects including wildlife and wetland habitat improvements, creek and lake restorations, the Seedlings for Schools and Pollinator Garden programs and student educational opportunities. Two fully accessible, ADA-compliant wetlands areas are being developed in Centre County to provide all residents of Pennsylvania with outdoor recreational opportunities regardless of physical limitation. For more information, visit www.wildlifeforeveryone.org.
[ Return to News ]
