UNL Wildlife Club wins CASNR Outstanding Student Organization award

From left: Courtney Anderson, Wildlife Club public relations officer; Larkin Powell, professor; Sara Christianson, Wildlife Club president; and Steven Waller, CASNR dean at the 2015 CASNR Week Banquet. (Courtesy photo)
From left: Courtney Anderson, Wildlife Club public relations officer; Larkin Powell, professor; Sara Christianson, Wildlife Club president; and Steven Waller, CASNR dean at the 2015 CASNR Week Banquet. (Courtesy photo)

UNL Wildlife Club received the CASNR Outstanding Student Organization award at the annual CASNR Week Banquet on April 12 in the Nebraska East Union.

"Winning this award means everything to me," said Sara Christianson, club president. "It is great to see Wildlife Club recognized by our CASNR peers and faculty. We have worked extremely hard to gain and retain many members."

The 2014-2015 academic year was filled with an array of activities for the club.

"This year we had many guest speakers from various organizations and did quite a few hands-on activities to help our members learn techniques used in the field," Christianson said. "Wildlife Club has been approached by several organizations to help with prescribed burns, seed collection, deer check stations and outreach events."

The group also recently held its own annual awards banquet with guest speaker John Chapo, president and CEO of the Lincoln Children's Zoo, who spoke about conservation within a small zoo.

"We are hoping to continue this relationship with him and the zoo, and eventually have members volunteer and work there," Christianson said.

As a graduating senior, Christianson said she's excited to leave Wildlife Club with such an amazing award under its belt.

"I look forward to seeing the club's great potential continue in the coming years," she said. "Wildlife Club has made me into a better leader, a better student and a better steward of the earth."

— Mekita Rivas, Natural Resources