College of Natural Resources announces Outstanding Graduating Senior award recipient
Virginia Tech has named Shannon Fowler, of Linthicum, Md., as the Outstanding Graduating Senior in the College of Natural Resources for the 2009-10 academic year.
Fowler, is expected to receive a bachelor’s degree in forestry in the College of Natural Resources in May 2010. During her time at Virginia Tech, Fowler has excelled academically while participating in a variety of extracurricular activities.
While at Virginia Tech, Fowler volunteered as an ambassador for the College of Natural Resources, representing the college to prospective students at university events. She is also a member of Xi Sigma Pi national forestry honors society.
The awards and honors Fowler has received during her time at Virginia Tech are numerous. Her scholarships include the William August Stuermann and Mable Beard Stuermann Scholarship, College of Natural Resources Alumni Board Ambassador Scholarship, and the National Wild Turkey Federation Conservation Scholarship. Fowler has also been named to the dean’s list every semester for the last three years.
In addition to her academic achievements and honors, Fowler has also helped the Virginia Tech Department of Biological Systems Engineering with the Stroubles Creek Stream Restoration project. She assisted the department in their work to prevent stream bank erosion.
Outside of the university, Fowler led environmental discussions and education activities with children as a camp counselor and environmental educator for the Howard County Conservancy. Her work with children also includes being a camp counselor for Outdoor Discovery with the Maryland Park Service.
Fowler is the daughter of Donald and Jane Fowler of Linthicum, Md.
The Outstanding Senior Awards are presented at the Student Honors Day Banquet each spring. These awards are co-sponsored by the Virginia Tech Alumni Association and the senior class.
The purpose of the award is to recognize outstanding student performance in each college of the university. Students are selected on the basis of their grade point average (3.4 or higher on a 4.0 scale) and outstanding performance in several or all of the following areas: academic achievement, extracurricular activities, leadership positions, and contributions of service to the university and/or community.
The College of Natural Resources at Virginia Tech consistently ranks among the top three programs of its kind in the nation. Faculty members stress both the technical and human elements of natural resources and instill in students a sense of stewardship and land-use ethics. Areas of studies include environmental resource management, fisheries and wildlife sciences, forestry, geospatial and environmental analysis, natural resource recreation, urban forestry, wood science and forest products, geography, and international development. Virginia Tech, the most comprehensive university in Virginia, is dedicated to quality, innovation, and results to the commonwealth, the nation, and the world.
Written by Krystyne Hayes. Hayes, of Front Royal, Va., is a senior majoring in communication in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences.
