The North Central Section recognizes the achievements and commitment of regional wildlife professionals and students through several annual awards.  Visit “Previous Award Winners” to view those individuals recognized in past years.

Professional Award of Merit

The Professional Award of Merit is bestowed by the North Central Section to Society members living in the North Central Section for outstanding professional accomplishments in wildlife conservation.  The award is restricted to living conservationists who are or have recently been active within the geographic boundaries of the Section.  The award is given only in those years in which a truly deserving candidate is available.  No more than one such award is made annually.
Criteria for judging the professional accomplishments of nominees include:
(1) contribution to knowledge
(2) single outstanding acts, and/or
(3) leadership over a period of several years in any area of wildlife work — for example, research, wildlife law enforcement, management, administration or education — as evidenced by publications, skillful development and/or application of effective management or educational programs or methods.

Nomination Forms are available in fillable .pdf formats.

Outstanding Wildlife Student Award

The North Central Section of the Wildlife Society has a long history of working on student activities and we have developed an award recognizing outstanding students and potential future wildlife professionals.

There are two awards to recognize one Graduate (.pdf), and one Undergraduate (.pdf) students.  Nomination forms are due by 30 November each year.

Student Chapter of the Year Report and Award

The NCS presents the Student Chapter of the Year award to an outstanding student chapter each year for its exemplary contributions to the Society’s mission and goals.  The goal of the award is to encourage and recognize exceptional achievements by Section student chapters.  Active and effective student chapters are needed to achieve The Wildlife Society’s goals, many of which are best addressed at the state/provincial or local level.  Student chapters also strengthen the Society’s membership recruitment and retention efforts by providing opportunities for member involvement in Society activities.  The Student Chapter of the Year award pays tribute to this important unit of The Wildlife Society.

A travel grant of up to $1,000 will be awarded to the student chapter that is named the Section’s Student Chapter of the Year.  Nomination forms are due by 30 April each year.

Nomination Forms are available in .docx format.