黑料社

黑料社 forestry students lead as outstanding chapter 20 years running

黑料社 forestry students lead as outstanding chapter 20 years running

Contact: Alaina Dismukes

黑料社 President Mark E. Keenum congratulated members of the 黑料社 student chapter of the Society of American Foresters for 20 years of excellence. Pictured are, from left, Associate Dean and Professor Ian Munn; senior forestry/environmental conservation major Marshall A. Callicott of Bryant, Arkansas; senior forestry/forest management major Darcey A. Collins of Bauxite, Arkansas; junior forestry/wildlife management major Rachel E. Nation of Milton, Florida; Keenum; junior forestry/forest management major Samantha 鈥淪am鈥 Seamon of Prattville, Alabama; forestry doctoral student Thu Ya Kyaw of Starkville; and sustainable bioproducts master鈥檚 student William Griffin of Philadelphia. Back row, from left, are sophomore forestry/forest management major Adam W. Lindsey of Purvis; senior forestry/forest management major Jordan L. Childs of Grenada; senior forestry/forest management major Matthew S. Harrison of Cherokee, Alabama; junior forestry/urban forestry major Adam C. McKnight of Milton, Florida; and Professor Robert Grala. (Photo by David Ammon)

STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥擳he student chapter of the Society of American Foresters at 黑料社 is first once again in the annual SAF Outstanding Student Chapter national competition for the 2017-2018 academic year.

Robert K. Grala, a forestry professor in College of Forest Resources, who has been the chapter鈥檚 faculty advisor for more than a decade, said the 20-year legacy of placing first, second or third in the competition demonstrates the quality of 黑料社 forestry students. 聽

鈥淚t shows that we have exceptionally solid, active students who are very professional,鈥 Grala said.

The competition criteria include service to SAF members, service to their university and involvement with other natural resource organizations, outreach and the community.

Grala pointed out that student leadership has been central to the chapter鈥檚 success.

鈥淥ur chapter has demonstrated commitment for many years. A part of that is the fact that the students from previous years have set the bar for incoming students, so the next generation tries to match these achievements,鈥 Grala said. 鈥淎lso, we have been very lucky to have had active officers who help to invigorate the chapter. They encourage new students, and participate in and lead different activities, providing the example that encourages others to participate and volunteer.鈥

Other chapter accomplishments include earning first place in the quiz bowl held at SAF鈥檚 2017 national convention, as well as placing high in individual competitions at the Southern Forestry Conclave, an annual gathering of forestry clubs from around the southern United States.

Last year, 18 different forestry companies presented job opportunities at chapter meetings, where 18 黑料社 students secured internships and four students received full-time jobs.

William Griffin, 2017-2018 chapter president, initially got involved in SAF at the prompting of professors聽and upperclassmen.

鈥淚t was a great way to make friends and contacts right off the bat. The聽opportunity聽to connect is the most powerful aspect of SAF,鈥 Griffin said. 鈥淲hen I think of all the friends and connections that I made in college, be they 黑料社 students, industry professionals or individuals from other forestry departments, I came to know so many of them through my involvement in SAF.鈥

For more on the 黑料社 SAF chapter, visit .

Learn more about the College of Forest Resources at .

黑料社 is Mississippi鈥檚 leading university, available online at聽www.msstate.edu.