in the natural resources program at the University of Minnesota, Crookston. The specimens, donated by the University of Minnesota's Bell Museum of Natural History curated by Andrew Simons, cover 79 species of fish in Minnesota.  

Simons is an associate professor in the U of M's  Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology and Curator of Fishes, Amphibians, and Reptiles at the Bell Museum of Natural History. He is also a colleague of Associate Professor John Loegering who has a joint appointment with the Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology at the U of M and the Agriculture and Natural Resources Department at the U of M, Crookston. Loegering serves as curator and manager of the Wildlife Museum on the Crookston campus. 

"I have taught an introductory principles of fisheries management course for years, and we did not have a very good fish collection until now," says Loegering. "The staff at the Bell collected these as part of a larger project with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to assess the biological condition of Minnesota waterways and our campus is reaping the benefit."

This week Kristi Bernat, a junior natural resources major from Fisher, Minn.; Jenny DuBay, a senior natural resources major from Apple Valley, Minn.; and Jeremy Walker, a senior natural resources major from Villard, Minn.; processed the specimens and labeled them before placing them into the teaching collection for students to use for years to come.

The donation is also an example of inter-unit collaboration and the unique opportunities afforded the campus as part of the U of M system. To learn more about the Bell Museum, visit www.bellmuseum.umn.edu/index.htm. 

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers 27 bachelor's degree programs, 18 minors, and 39 concentrations on campus--as well as 10 degrees online--in the areas of agriculture and natural resources; business; liberal arts and education; and math, science and technology.  With an enrollment of 1,800 undergraduates from 25 countries and 40 states, the Crookston campus offers a supportive, close-knit atmosphere that leads to a prestigious University of Minnesota degree.  "Small Campus. Big Degree."  To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu.

Crookston attended the annual meeting of The Wildlife Society, held this October at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, Ore. Making the trip were Krista Kenyon and Austin Link. The annual meeting of wildlife managers, professors, students, and researchers is the premiere gathering of wildlife professionals in North America with several attendees from foreign countries as well. In addition to their own personal funds, students were aided with support from a special professional development fund established in 2011 by UMC benefactor, June Shaver. Shaver endowed the fund in honor of Dr. Dan Svedarsky, long-time wildlife professor at the University. 

Kenyon, a senior from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, notes, "I'm deeply grateful for the generosity of Ms. Shaver for without this support, this great trip would not have been possible. It was fascinating to attend the various presentations and meet wildlife researchers from the U.S. and Canada." Kenyon was also able to participate in a trapping techniques workshop which attracted several stares from passers-by as participants worked with traps on the Convention Center grounds. Austin Link, from Perham, Minn., was equally enthusiastic about the trip. "The opportunity was an invaluable part of my education and experience at the U of M, Crookston and is sure to benefit future students as well. These meetings expose students to a wealth of knowledge and the chance to meet future employers. I so appreciate the generosity and vision of those who make this opportunity possible." Link, a great-grandson of former North Dakota Governor, Art Link, graduated from the Crookston campus last spring and is attending graduate school at North Dakota State University where he is pursuing a master's degree in range management. 

To be considered for the professional travel stipend, students must be a junior or senior majoring in wildlife management and a member of both the U of M, Crookston student chapter of The Wildlife Society and at the national level. Link is the former president of the student chapter and Kenyon is the current president. Students must excel academically and display outstanding character and leadership. In addition, they must complete a 400-word essay on Aldo Leopold, the father of wildlife management and the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation. 

Svedarsky is a former national president of The Wildlife Society (TWS). Associate Professor John Loegering is advisor to the UMC Student Chapter of TWS, past president of the Minnesota State Chapter, and current president of the 8-state, North Central Section of TWS. "It is a real eye and ear-opening experience for students to listen to authors of their text-books give presentations and meet well-known wildlife professionals from other universities and agencies," according to Loegering. Several U of M, Crookston alumni, who are presently in graduate school or working for agencies, were also in attendance. 

"I can't thank June Shaver enough for setting up this wonderful professional development fund for wildlife students," Svedarsky says. "The impact of budding professionals attending a national meeting like this is hard to measure; but June's support goes much beyond that, she endowed the Shaver Butterfly Garden in the Nature Nook on campus and numerous scholarships in honor of faculty and staff."

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers 26 bachelor's degree programs, 18 minors, and 39 concentrations on campus--as well as 10 degrees online--in the areas of agriculture and natural resources; business; liberal arts and education; and math, science and technology.  With an enrollment of 1,800 undergraduates from 25 countries and 40 states, the Crookston campus offers a supportive, close-knit atmosphere that leads to a prestigious University of Minnesota degree.  "Small Campus. Big Degree."  To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu.