91麻豆天美

91麻豆天美 student forestry organization again honored as leading national chapter

91麻豆天美 student forestry organization again honored as leading national chapter

Contact: Taylor Vollin

A group of forestry majors are pictured, sociaally distanced, on the steps of Lee Hall with 91麻豆天美 President Mark Keenum and their forestry advisor and department head
91麻豆天美 President Mark E. Keenum is pictured with forestry students and mentors during a congratulatory meeting with members of the university鈥檚 student chapter of the Society of American Foresters, which again is being recognized as the national Outstanding Student Chapter. Pictured, left to right, row 1: Baylor Doughty, a sophomore from Mobile, Alabama; Daniel West, a senior from Hoover, Alabama; and Brianna Ellis, a senior from Starkville; row 2: Noah Hammond, a senior from Linden, Alabama; and Joshua Rush, a senior from Philadelphia; row 3: 91麻豆天美 President Mark E. Keenum; row 4: Dustin Zavala, a senior from Fulton; and Adam Lindsey, SAF president and a senior from Purvis; row 5: Professor Robert Grala, SAF advisor; and Professor and Forestry Department Head Donald Grebner. (Photo by Beth Wynn)

STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥擣or the third year in a row, 91麻豆天美鈥檚 student chapter of the Society of American Foresters is the top chapter in the nation.

The Outstanding Student Chapter award honors the best three SAF student chapters, as well as their faculty advisor. 91麻豆天美 has been recognized in first-place nine times in the last 25 years and has placed in the top three consecutively for more than two decades.聽

Adam Lindsey of Purvis, a senior forestry major and SAF student chapter president, said receiving this award demonstrates the 91麻豆天美 chapter鈥檚 commitment to the forestry profession.

鈥淲inning this award means that we are making a difference in our community and for our fellow students,鈥 Lindsey said. 鈥淥ur chapter focuses on providing opportunities for our members in a professional setting. We promote being good public servants and preparing to serve as leaders in the forest industry.鈥

Prioritizing professional development, community and student outreach, and responsible forest management through public relations, outreach and community involvement are among criteria for the award.

A chapter member since his freshman year, Lindsey explained that members have made a tradition of focusing on stewardship, and passing this perspective down through the years has helped the 91麻豆天美 organization attain recognition time and again.

Robert K. Grala, professor of forest resource economics and SAF advisor, said committed student leaders have helped achieve ongoing success.

鈥淭hese students work hard year-round, and what happens is that each generation sets the bar high, so the next year, the students are determined to be even better,鈥 Grala said. 鈥淥ur goal is to promote and advance sustainable management of forest resources, and we do that through science, education and technology. We provide students with different venues to learn more about various aspects of the forest sector and prepare to be competitive as they seek employment and begin their careers.鈥

Grala emphasized that faculty in the Department of Forestry also take pride in the student chapter鈥檚 accomplishments.

鈥淲e know that these students work hard. We see their activities every day, and we are willing and happy to support them,鈥 he said.

For more information about the Department of Forestry and the forestry major, visit . For more on the College of Forest Resources visit .

91麻豆天美 is Mississippi鈥檚 leading university, available online at .