AWARDS

Call for Nominations
Awards Presented by Northeast Section, The Wildlife Society

The Northeast Section of The Wildlife Society is looking for nominations for the following five awards.  Please consider nominating a deserving member of the Society.


TWS Fellows Award – Due April 1 of each year

The Fellows Program recognizes members who have distinguished themselves through exceptional service to our profession. TWS Fellows serve as ambassadors for the Society and as such are encouraged to engage in outreach and other activities that will benefit and promote both TWS and the wildlife profession.

A maximum of two TWS Fellows per Section may be appointed annually, with an annual Society-wide total not to exceed 10, by vote of Council at the March meeting.  Sitting members of Council cannot be nominated.

Nomination details can be found at https://wildlife.org/get-involved/awards/tws-fellows-award-nominations/.  Please submit all materials to awards.twsnortheast@gmail.com or to the NE executive committee by 15 March of each year.


TWS Distinguished Service Award

The Distinguished Service Award is given by The Wildlife Society to a member of each Section for their long term dedication and service to the Society.  Nominees must have been members of the Society for more than 20 years.  Nominees should have also served the Society to help further in goals at the Chapter, Section, or international level.  More information can be found at:  https://wildlife.org/distinguished-service-award/.  A final nominee will be selected among the candidates by the Northeast Executive Committee and submitted to the Society.  The recipient will be provided an award lapel pin and certificate, to be given during the Awards Ceremony at the TWS Annual Conference.

Please submit all materials to awards.twsnortheast@gmail.com by 1 April each year.


The John Pearce Memorial Award

The John Pearce Memorial Award is awarded by the Northeast Section of The Wildlife Society to Society members in the Northeast for outstanding professional accomplishments in wildlife conservation in the Northeast.

Background

John Pearce was born in Manchester, England in 1908, and his family came to the United States in 1911. He was an avid outdoorsman and his first formal schooling was at the N.Y.S. Ranger School in Wanakena. After his graduation in 1927, John worked for timber companies in New Brunswick and Quebec and became deeply interested in forest-wildlife relations. He received an M.S. degree in silviculture from Syracuse University in 1935.

John’s first professional assignment was with the U.S. Forest Service as a junior biologist studying forest-game relationships, and in 1937 he transferred to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to lead similar studies. His outstanding interest and ability led to his selection as administrator of the Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit at Orono, Maine, where many individuals began to fully appreciate his capabilities.

By 1942 John moved to Boston to be a Federal Aid Inspector for the increasing number of projects under the Pittman-Robertson Program. His exceptional administrative ability led to a series of promotions culminating in Regional Director in 1946. John handled the expanding post and programs admirably and became widely known for his personable approach and ability to handle wildlife problems. He visited nearly every field installation and was so interested in helping others that his own writings and publications in the field were limited. As a charter member of The Wildlife Society, he spent much time in helping organize this budding professional organization.

At the age of 40 cancer struck John and he died April 8, 1949. Soon after, colleagues established the John Pearce Memorial Award, and it has grown in stature ever since.

Criteria

The John Pearce Memorial Award shall be made by the Northeast Section of The Wildlife Society to Society members in the Northeast for outstanding professional accomplishments in wildlife conservation in the Northeast.  The basic criteria for judging professional accomplishment of nominees shall be (1) contribution of knowledge and (2) leadership over a period of several years in any areas of wildlife work, including research, management, administration, or education – as evidence by publications, skillful development, and/or application of effective management or educational programs or methods.  Any member of The Northeast Section of The Wildlife Society may nominate persons to be considered by the Awards Committee.  The award may be made to an individual, or jointly to individuals who have worked together for several years.

Submit candidate’s names, justifications, resumes, and letters of support to the awards.twsnortheast@gmail.com by 15 February each year.

Recipients

Year    John Pearce Memorial Award Recipient

1951    C.W. Severinghaus (NY), E.L. Cheatum (NY), M. King (MD), and L. McNamara (NJ)
1955    C.B. Belt
1956    H. Uhlig (WV)
1957    H.C. Chapman
1958    H. Silver (NH)
1960    Several Forest Products Companies (ME, NH)
1962    J. Wilson (NY) and C. Banasiak (ME)
1964    D. Benson (NY) and D. Sapp (DE)
1965    J. Gottschalk (DC)
1966    H. Mendall (ME)
1967    L. Lemieux (PQ)
1968    W.G. Sheldon (MA)
1969    W.M. Sharp (NY)
1970    B.S. Wright (NB)
1971    L. McNamara (NJ)
1972    O.H. Hewitt (NY)
1974    G. Moisan (PQ)
1975    P. Barske (CT)
1976    R.E. Griffith (USFWS)
1977    S.A. Liscinsky (PA)
1978    M. Coulter (ME)
1979    A. Bubenik (ON)
1980    R.L. Smith (WV)
1981    G.L. Bowers (PA)
1982    R.D. McDowell (CT)
1983    A. Moen (NY)
1984    J.L. George (PA), J.S. Lindzey (PA), & R.G. Wingard (PA)
1985    J.J. McDonough (MA)
1986    R.W. Fuller (VT)
1987    S.P. Shaw (PA)
1988    R. Darrow (NY)
1989    W.E. Dodge (MA)
1991    D.G. Dodds (NS)
1992    D. Progulske (MA) and D. Decker (NY)
1993    J.W. Chadwick (RI)
1994    B.W. Day, Jr. (VT)
1995    W.M. Healy (MA)
1996    P.R. Sauer (NY)
1997    R.M. DeGraaf (MA)
1998    G.L. Storm (PA)
1999    J.F. Organ (MA)
2000    D. deCalesta (PA)
2001    R.P. Brooks (PA)
2002    R.B. Owen, Jr. (ME)
2003    L.E. Garland (VT)
2004    J.J. Scanlon (MA)
2005    W.F. MacCallum (MA)
2006    Mariko Yamasaki (NH)
2007    Judith Silverberg (NH)
2008    No award presented
2009    Howard Kilpatrick
2010    James E. Evans
2011    Dennis Slate
2012    No award presented
​2013    Scot Williamson (CT)
2014    John McDonald (MA)
2015    Gordon Batcheller (NY)
2016    No award presented
2017    Peter Pekins (NH)
2018    Scott C. Williams (CT)
2019    Roger J. Masse (NY)
2020    Thomas A. Decker (VT)
2021    Duane Diefenbach (PA)
2022    Calvin W. Dubrock (PA)
2023    Jenny Dickson (CT)
2024    Timothy Green (NY)


The P.F. English Memorial Award

The P.F. English Memorial Award is presented annually by the Northeast Section of The Wildlife Society to the outstanding undergraduate senior student of wildlife biology or wildlife management within the region. Its purpose is to acknowledge and to encourage students, and to perpetuate the name of the late P.F. English, an outstanding educator, sportsman, and inspiration to youth.

Background

Dr. P. F. English was an outstanding educator in the field of wildlife management. He published approximately 50 papers and directed the graduate program of over 60 students. In a classroom or on a field trip, his personal philosophy had an impact that carried far beyond the scope of his courses. He staked his professional reputation and ability as a teacher on the competence of his students. Over the years he stuck by the conviction that his students’ accomplishments had not betrayed his trust. He was a charter member of The Wildlife Society and was President from 1946 to 1947.

Criteria

Student must be a senior.

Student must be enrolled in a wildlife biology or wildlife management curriculum including forest science programs with a major in wildlife.

The student must show evidence of promise and/or achievement in scholarship, work experience and professional activities.

Scholarship (50 pts.)
Upper 5% = 50 pts.
Upper 10% = 45 pts.
Upper 15% = 40 pts.
Upper 20% = 35 pts.

Experience (20 pts.)
Work experience with excellent recommendation = 10 pts.
Work experience with good recommendation = 8 pts.
Work experience with satisfactory recommendation = 5 pts.

Activities (30 pts.)

Professional Societies 20 pts.
Member of The Wildlife Society = 10 pts.
Member of other professional society = 10 pts.

Recreational Interests 10 pts.

Member of sporting organization, participation in outdoor recreation, youth and educational interests (e.g., boy scouts, 4-H) and participation in local conservation organizations.

Nominating Procedures

Submit student’s name, transcripts, GRE scores if available, evidence of work experience, and a personal letter of recommendation to the awards.twsnortheast@gmail.com by 15 February each year.

Recipients

Year    P.F. English Memorial Award Recipient

1974    Malcolm L. Hunter, Jr.
1975    Kenneth Huntington (SUNY-Syracuse)
1976    Patricia Riexinger (Cornell Univ. NY)
1977    Thomas Smith (W. Va. Univ.)
1978    Michael W. Tome (Penn. State Univ.)
1980    Tamara E. Tiagwad (Univ. Mass. Amherst)
1981     James M. Wentworth (Univ. Mass. Amherst)
1982    Stephen K. Swallow (Cornell Univ. NY)
1984    Jennifer L. Quinn (Penn. State Univ.)
1985    Peter D’Anieri (Univ. Maine)
1986    Susan M. Fitzgerald (Univ. Mass. Amherst)
1987    David R. Shoemaker (Unity College, ME)
1988    Rip S. Shively (Penn. State Univ.)
1989    Jeffrey Barber (Univ. Mass. Amherst)
1990    Judith C. Loeven (Univ. N.H.)
1991     Shawn M. Crowley (Univ. Maine)
1992    Eric M. Schauber (Univ. Mass. Amherst)
1993    Gil A. Paquette (Univ. Maine)
1994    Jeanne M. Hickey (SUNY-Syracuse)
1995    Robert Raftovich (W. Va. Univ.)
1996    Regina R. Allen
1997    Bradley Compton (Univ. Mass. Amherst)
1998    Sarah Lupis (Univ. Mass. Amherst)
1999    Tansy Wagner (Univ. Maine)
2000   Jason Zimmer (Univ. N.H.)
2001    Tara Delderfield (Univ. R.I.)
2002    Stacey T. Coggins (Va. Tech.)
2003    Nathan Webb (University of Maine)
2004    Janice Huebner (University of New Hampshire)
2005    Christopher W. Habeck (University of New Hampshire)
2006    Sarah Spencer (University of Maine)
2007    Amy Wynia (University of Rhode Island)
2008    Emily E. Samargo (West Virgina University)
2009    Ben Wasserman (University of Maine)
2010    Jenny Murtaugh (State University of New York Cobleskill)
2011     Henry Jones (University of New Hampshire)
2012    Anna Kusler (Cornell University)
2013    David Keiter (SUNY-ESF)
2014    N.Scott Parkhill (University of Maine)
2015    Lucas Price (West Virginia University)
2016    Hannah Clipp (West Virginia University)
2017    Kyle Shute (University of Maine)
2021    Brittin Robinson (SUNY Cobleskill)
2022    Paige Mokychic (Keystone College)
2023    Benjamin C. Simmons (University of Vermont)
2024    Karter Witmer (Penn State – Dubois)


Certificates of Recognition

Description and Criteria

In contrast to the John Pearce Memorial Award, which is presented for outstanding professional accomplishment, Certificates of Recognition may be awarded to people in any area of work, professional or non-professional, who have made noteworthy contributions to knowledge about wildlife or wildlife management, furthered public understanding, or who have made available increased wildlife habitat through modification of land use practices (e.g., agriculture, highways, forestry).  Any member of the Northeast Section may recommend recipients of the Certificate of Recognition.

The Awards Committee will observe high standards in judging contributions. Therefore, a significant advance in techniques in wildlife conservation, in public acceptance, in areas of habitat for wildlife, or in some other facet within our field or interest should be demonstrated. The contribution need not have occurred in the year immediately preceding the recommendation. However, timely recognition is obviously desirable.

Nominating Procedures

Members of the Awards Committee may not know the nominee or may not know of all his/her/their contributions or accomplishments. Therefore, judgment of eligibility could be influenced largely or entirely by the information provided by the nominator.

The following suggestions and guidelines are provided:

If the nominee is an individual, give name, address, and title. Give pertinent biographical information as to personal history, education, employment, and on-the-job experience and training.

If the nominee is a group, give name, affiliation and function. Give name and address of person to be notified if certificate is awarded.

Give the principal interest or activity of the suggested recipient.

Give the nature and location, where applicable, of the contributions or accomplishments.

If an individual was involved in a joint or team project, indicate the nominee’s share of the total effort or contributions.

State the importance and implications of the contributions or accomplishments in sufficient detail.

Submit candidate’s names, justifications, resumes, and letters of support to the awards.twsnortheast@gmail.com by 15 February each year.