Scholarships

The Bolle Center is committed to supporting education and research that enhances the well being of people, forests and other natural resources. To this end, it is actively involved in developing and offering fellowship programs that support graduate education and research.

WYSS Scholars Program for Conservation of the American West

Applications for the WYSS scholars program will be available from Julie Tompkins (julie.tompkins@mso.umt.edu).

Hilary Eisen, CFC Wildlife Biology master's student is named as a 2012-2013 Wyss Scholar for Conservation in the American West. Hilary is pursuing an internship that will develop a policy proposal for Montana DNRC that will ensure that the state of Montana’s mineral leasing program protects coldwater fisheries by instituting effective lease stipulations within the range of native and wild trout.

Sonya Germann, graduate student in CFC's Resource Conservation Masters’ Degree Program, is one of two masters students selected as a 2011 Wyss Scholar. The other selected scholar is Katherine Nelson from Environmental Studies (EVST). Ms. Germann plans to conduct research on restoration projects on the Tongass National Forest in Alaska, including their impact on local communities and economies. She combines her graduate studies with employment with the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) as a Forest Management Planner where she oversees the Forest Management Program’s application of the Montana Environmental Policy Act and other applicable state and federal regulations. Her major advisor is Dr. Martin Nie.

The Wyss Scholars program has been offered at UM since 2005, administered through the EVST program and the Bolle Center for People and Forests in our college. 2012 marks the continuation of the grant for an additional 5 years. The program funds masters students in a variety of academic units at UMT seeking training and graduate degrees in conservation-related studies, and to support them further through funding internships and post-graduation employment with conservation organizations and agencies in the Rocky Mountain and Intermountain west. The program recently received funding for another 5 years. The program typically selects two scholars per year, though the new round of funding opens up the possibility for funding conservation-oriented graduate students in other programs at UM besides EVST and CFC. Applications are due in December and selection is made in early February. Interested applicants should check the Bolle Center web page for an application and specific dates in a given year.

Click here for more information about the program and an application for year 2011-2012