ASU - Jonesboro:  Wildlife students
win third in Southeastern competition

March 31, 2005 -- The Arkansas State University Student Chapter of the Wildlife Society recently competed in the Southeastern Student Wildlife Conclave held at the University of Florida in Gainesville. 

The Wildlife Conclave is a gathering of students and faculty of university programs featuring the study of wildlife biology and conservation.  Institutions and students from throughout the Southeast, from Maryland to Oklahoma, participated. 

"During the event, students compete in a variety of academic and other competitions, as well as attend social events and participate in field trips and workshops," explained Dr. Jim Bednarz, faculty advisor.  "It is a great opportunity for students to learn and to network with other future wildlife professionals."

In the featured event of the Conclave, the Wildlife Quiz Bowl, the ASU student team earned third place in a field of 17 universities. The ASU team consisted of Elizabeth Compton of  Jonesboro, Blake Grisham of Black Oak, Nick Anich of Ashland, Wis., and Jeremy Brown of Caraway.

During the quiz bowl competition, ASU beat Louisiana Tech University (125-0), Frostburg State University (80-65), Auburn (65-26), Murray State University (85-65), and Tennessee Tech University (70-47).  In the semi-final match, ASU was defeated by North Carolina State University, which ended in second place after losing to the University of Georgia in the finals.

Several ASU students won individual honors as well.  Wyatt Smith of Salem was second in archery, Nick Anich was second in wildlife photography, and Elizabeth Compton was third in wildlife art.  A total of 15 ASU students, mostly majoring in wildlife ecology and management, participated in the Wildlife Conclave.

ASU participates annually in the Wildlife Conclave competition and has ranked in the top four university teams in each of the last eight years.  ASU wildlife students won the Southeastern Wildlife Conclave competition in 1999 and 2000.

For more information about Wildlife ecology and management at ASU, contact Dr. Jim Bednarz (870-972-3320 jbednarz@astate.edu

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