Longtime member honored with McDonough Award

Nominations for the 2016 Jim McDonough Award will be accepted through May 1. Click on the link above to visit the McDonough Award webpage, or visit wildlife.org/awards to learn more about all TWS awards.

John Loegering was humbled to be recognized by his professional peers when he received the 2015 Jim McDonough Award at TWS’ 22^nd Annual Conference in Winnipeg last fall.

“It’s nice to have all of the small contributions mount up to a contribution that’s valued by the organization,” said Loegering, who is an associate professor at the University of Minnesota and the University of Minnesota, Crookston.

Loegering holds the plaque that he won as part of the Jim McDonough award. ©Terry Tollefson, staff photographer, University of Minnesota

The Jim McDonough Award was established as a result of McDonough’s generosity and longtime support for professional excellence in wildlife management. The award is presented to a TWS member who is a Certified Wildlife Biologist®, a member of the section and chapter where the winner lives, and has made contributions that reflect well on professional wildlife biologists through program implementation and/or development of new techniques, procedures or applications. The recipient is recognized for making a significant contribution to the wildlife profession by being an active member and participant of The Wildlife Society, especially at local levels.

Loegering got started in wildlife biology his freshman year in college. After wavering between getting a degree in a medical field versus something related to the outdoors, Loegering began working with his undergraduate advisor and TWS fellow Mark Ryan. He helped conduct a population study on prairie falcons and golden eagles over the summer, and he was hooked.

In a seemingly endless list of accomplishments and volunteerism, Loegering’s influence on students is especially outstanding, having guided the formation of the University of Minnesota – Crookston Student Chapter and serving as the chapter’s advisor for the past 15 years. Students of his chapter are active in conclaves and won the Quiz Bowl competition at the 2013 TWS Annual Conference. Loegering’s passion for TWS’ mission is readily apparent. “It’s a fabulous organization,” he said. “I’ve been a member for 30 plus years since my sophomore year in college.”