The Wildlife Society participates in many events, including broomball.
The Wildlife Society: Best student organization
The Pointer
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From trapping deer in Schmeeckle Reserve to ear-tagging gray squirrels, The Wildlife Society is not your typical student organization. With over 17 on-going research projects that TWS paticipates in, it’s not surprising that it was voted the best student organization.
The student chapter of TWS was established at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point in 1971 and has grown to become the largest and most active student organization in the College of Natural Resources. TWS’s goals include developing and promoting sound stewardship of wildlife resources and the environment. Members take an active role in preventing human-induced environmental degradation, as well as increasing awareness of wildlife issues at UW-SP and throughout the community. Though a majority of the student members consist of natural resource majors, TWS welcomes all majors to participate.
“I think one of the things that makes TWS so rewarding, for so many students is that we allow them to explore areas of interest to them.” said Adam Murkowski, vice president of TWS.
Even if owl banding doesn’t suit your taste, TWS offers many other activities including two nature art contests, an annual broomball game against the Society of American Foresters and field trips to conferences and conventions. The weekly meetings often include professional speakers, which gives members a chance to network with natural resource professionals.
“Because of all the projects and people we have come in contact with during our activities,”Murkowski said, “we get a lot of job postings we can distribute and because of the reputation UW-SP has, and especially TWS, we routinely get our members jobs they otherwise wouldn’t have had the opportunity to get.”
Even though TWS was honored to be voted best student organization at UW-SP, they aren’t strangers to winning awards. They just won the National Student Chapter of The Wildlife Society this year, a tribute they’ve had previously.
“This wasn’t our first year wining this award. In fact, since the national TWS began giving out the award they have re-written the rules so you can only win it once every three years because UW-SP has won it so often,” said Murkowski. “I think that alone says something about the caliber of our organization.”
The organization’s Web Site, www.uwsp.edu/stuorg/wild.life/TWS/index.html, offers students information on projects, the annual TWS conclave, and various links such as wildlife issues and national or state projects. For students interested in joining TWS, stop by TNR 170 Tuesday evenings at 5 p.m. to sit in on a meeting.
