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Alexa Savage, Outstanding Senior, Environmental Science

Alexa is an environmental science major in the natural resource planning & management specialization with a dual degree in Spanish. Alexa is a presidential scholar and completed a STEM-educator internship through the Desert Research Institute. While at the University, Alexa was president of the Spanish Club and a student intern at the Latino Research Center. She plans to earn her Spanish/English Interpretation Certificate after graduation and pursue work in environmental consulting.

Owen Watson, Outstanding Senior, Environmental Science

Owen is an environmental science major in the natural resource planning & management specialization with a dual degree in political science. Owen is a presidential scholar. He served on the Snow Hydrology Field Crew, and he worked as a rare plant monitor for the Nevada Division of Natural Heritage and as a bioassessment technician for Nevada Division of Environmental Protection. While at at the University, Owen served as assistant director of sustainability for ASUN and outdoor coordinator of the Nevada Climbing Club. He plans to take a gap year and then apply to graduate school. 

Rebecca Wahlstrom, Outstanding Senior, Forest Ecology & Management

Rebecca is completing a degree in forest ecology & management, as well as a Geographic Information Systems and Sciences Certificate. She worked in a plant ecology lab on whitebark pine research and as a summer forest technician at Whittell Forest & Wildlife Area. In addition to classwork, Rebecca worked as a STEM and writing tutor at TMCC. After graduation, Rebecca seeks a career where she can apply her education to positively impact and care for our community and environment. 

Matthew Haar, Outstanding Senior, Wildlife Ecology & Conservation

Matthew is completing a degree in wildlife ecology & conservation and a minor in business administration. He completed a STEM-education internship with the Desert Research Institute and volunteered with the Nevada Department of Wildlife. He spent summers as a youth instructor of boating, windsurfing and paddleboarding at the Sacramento State Aquatic Center. After graduation, Matthew is considering various options, including at the California Waterfowl Association, Aquatic Center, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, or seminary. 

Heather Reich, Outstanding Master's Student, Natural Resources & Environmental Science

Heather is an outstanding Natural Resources & Environmental Science Graduate Program student who now runs her own business related to bear management. She previously worked for eight years with the Nevada Department of Wildlife and brought that expertise to her master's degree work at the University. She regularly engages with the public by giving interviews on bear behavior, was invited to give a keynote talk at a wildlife conference, and has multiple manuscripts that are published or in review. 

Alexandra Coconis, Outstanding Ph.D. Student, Ecology, Evolution & Conservation Biology

Ally is a talented Ph.D. student in the Ecology, Evolution & Conservation Biology Program, investigating the distribution of small mammals in the Great Basin. Ally has a first-author publication from her dissertation, as well as several other first-author or co-authored manuscripts in review. Ally has contributed greatly to outreach education and museum science through the University's Museum of Natural History, where she served several semesters as a curatorial assistant.

Elijah Boardman, Outstanding Ph.D. Student, Hydrologic Sciences

Elijah is an exceptionally talented Ph.D. student who spent his time at the University working on impactful projects related to forest restoration and post-fire hydrology in the Sierra Nevada. He was awarded the prestigious National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship and started Mountain Hydrology LLC. Elijah will defend a six-chapter thesis this spring; some chapters are already published or in review.