Scholarships

washington brant foundation

Scholarship Program

 In 2020 WBF is proud to continue our Scholarship Program in honoring some of the people that have shown special support to our organization. We have made awards in memory of David Hagerbaumer, Gary Fisher, and Ben Welton. All were distinguished veterans known for selfless mentoring and tireless promotion of waterfowl conservation. This year we add Bud Kannenberg to that elite group. After a career with the Forest Service, Bud ran a antique shop in Port Townsend, WA, catering to waterfowlers and fishermen. He authored many articles in Hunting & Fishing Collectables Magazine and was also know for keeping tabs of Brant numbers at Pt Hudson near his home.

About The Washington Brant Foundation Scholarship

The Washington Brant Foundation is an all volunteer, 501 (c) (3), non-profit organization founded in 2001 to raise awareness of the unique Brant goose and its habitat. The mission is to promote the conservation and responsible management of Brant and other marine species in the Pacific Flyway through sponsorship of scientific research, education, and habitat enhancement programs. Through the mission objective of Education, the Washington Brant Foundation is pleased and excited to announce the offering of the David Hagerbaumer, Gary Fisher, and Bud Kannenberg scholarships to students pursuing careers in wildlife management and conservation focused on Waterfowl.

Scholarships Offered

Multiple scholarships of up to $1000 may be awarded to qualified applicants, paid directly to the student to be used for tuition, books, or fees for the college of their choice.

Who is Eligible?

Scholarships are available to any U.S. high school senior or current college student who is demonstrating a minimum 3.0 grade point average and completes the required application of essay. Scholarships will not be awarded to a student receiving a full scholarship from another source.

What is Needed?

The following must be received before May 1, 2020. Essays not meeting requirements or received late may not be considered. Winners will be notified by May 31, 2020.

Completed Essay

Copy of letter of acceptance or transcript of proof of current school

Copy of grade transcripts

Two letters of recommendation

Essay

Completed essay must be at least 200 words and must incorporate the following:
Goal of future role in waterfowl management or conservation
Inspiration for chosen field
How you feel you can positively effect waterfowl management or conservation
Why you want this scholarship

When and Where?

Only recipients of scholarships will be communicated to. Selection will be based upon merit of the application, without regard to race, gender, color, or religion.

Decisions will be final and made by the Washington Brant Foundation Board of Directors.

Submit essays to:

Maynard Axelson

WBF President

15929 Fir Island Road

Mount Vernon, WA 98273

washington brant foundation

Previous Scholarship Winners

Michael Nannini

2022 Recipient

Michael grew up on a ranch near Woodland, WA, developing a love of the outdoors, wildlife and agriculture. He excelled at Woodland Christian High School as a multi-sport athlete and outstanding student. Several employees have praised his well rounded, confident and dedicated work ethic. One of his projects was to establish a Wood Duck nest box and banding program in cooperation with California Waterfowl Association. High School awards include Scholar Honor Roll, National Honor Society and Woodland Christian Exceptional Effort Award. Michael is now enrolled at University of Nevada, Reno to study Agriculture Science, hoping for a career in wildlife management and conservation.

Benjamin Luukkonen

2019 Recipient

Ben grew up hunting, fishing, and loving the outdoors of Michigan. He recently graduated with a B.S. from Michigan St. University with nearly a 4.0 GPA. New short term goals include Master of Science and Ph.D. degrees. Currently he is part of a USGS and Iowa Dept of Natural resources research project at Iowa St. Univ. studying movement of Canada Geese. Ben has a strong desire to devote his career to waterfowl biology and management, to give back to the resource he loves.

Cynthia Anchor

2019 Recipient

Hunting at a young age on Chesapeake Bay convinced Cynthia to be a champion of waterfowl and wetland conservation.  After graduating with a B.S. in Wildlife Biology she joined the first of many field research crews by conducting breeding surveys in Virginia. She has also been involved in projects at USGS Northern Prairie Research Center in N.D. and Iowa State Univ. dept of Science and Technology.  Currently Cynthia is working toward a M.S. in Wildlife Science at S. Dakota St. Univ. focusing on ecology and movements of Mallards hatched in the Dakotas.

Cole Tiemann

2019 Recipient

Very self motivated, Cole developed his own waterfowl banding project on Canada Geese near Unity, Maine, examining harvest and molt migration. He has also worked on Black Ducks, Turkeys, Woodcock, and Common Eiders. This summer he will be involved in two USF&W projects in Alaska which includes nest monitoring of Threatened Steller’s and Spectacled Eiders. Fall semester will be spent completing his undergraduate thesis and then graduating from Unity College in December.

Madeleine Lohman

2019 Recipient

This exceptionally bright and motivated student will graduate U of Nevada 2019 with a B.S. in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, and continue on for a Masters Degree. She has already done extensive writing, (some published), lab work, and field work. A very selfless person, Madeleine has donated hundreds of hours as a college mentor in the Honors Program, as a Science Education Intern, volunteering at a Homeless Shelter, and doing public outreach. She has maintained an exceptional GPA and also speaks Japanese and Spanish.

Robert Blenk

2018 Recipient

Robert grew up on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula observing and hunting waterfowl on their yearly migrations. He developed a deep interest in wetland ecosystems and how this related to mainting waterfowl populations. After volunteer work for Audubon and Nature Conservancy he went on to undergraduate work at Oregon State University studying the endangered Hawaiian Duck. Robert is now doing PhD study at University of California Davis under Dr. John Eadie. He hopes to develop software for evaluating waterfowl habitat, which will assist managers with informed conservation goals for west coast waterfowl. He also shares his enthusiasm with conservation groups and local hunters to help raise awareness and support for waterfowl.

Elyssa Watford

2018 Recipient

Elyssa was born and raised in West Seattle and developed an early interest in the outdoors through activities with her parents. These included climbing several of the highest NW mountains with her father. Her passion for wildlife lead her to Humbolt State University, eventually graduating with a B.S. in Environmental Biology, and Minors in Wildlife and Geography. After a summer of field research in Alaska she was hooked on the Arctic. Elyssa is now living her dream of becoming a successful field biologist while pursuing a Masters Degree at University of Alaska Fairbanks.

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