Courtney A. Tye Memorial Graduate Student Scholarship

We are pleased to announce that Daniel Greene is the recipient of the 1st annual scholarship for graduate studies, administered by the Florida Chapter of The Wildlife Society.  Dan is a second year PhD student at the University of Florida, studying the ecology of fox squirrels.  He previously earned an MS degree from the University of Georgia where he developed a long-term monitoring strategy for the endangered Key Largo cotton mouse, and also a B.A. in biology from Earlham College in Indiana.  Dan’s aptitude for leadership is evidenced by the fact that he has served several times as a field crew leader where he trained and supervised technicians, he has managed entire volunteer programs, and he has already mentored over 50 undergraduate and graduate students.  Dan has convincingly demonstrated strong potential to become a productive research biologist: he already has five first-authored papers at this early stage in his career.  He has also unequivocally shown his commitment to applied wildlife conservation, as he is currently working with FWC to develop management plans for fox squirrels, beach mice, and chipmunks.  Dan has previously held full time positions with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Florida Park Service, where he was responsible for research associated with beach mice and exotic plant eradication.  Dan’s aspirations after graduation include a post-doc, followed by a career in research on threatened and endangered species, with a special interest in how species respond to changes in habitat conditions and management practices. 

The FLTWS graduate student scholarship was established in 2013 to recognize and financially assist one outstanding graduate student pursuing a career in wildlife biology or management at a university in Florida.  The scholarship is named in honor of Courtney A. Tye, an outstanding wildlife biologist, graduate student, and cherished friend to many, who tragically passed away in 2014 due to complications during childbirth.  Courtney, who was working full time for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission while completing her graduate degree in the department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation at the University of Florida, was an inspiration to all who knew her. 

Applicants for this scholarship are judged on the basis of the contribution of their graduate research to wildlife in Florida, their demonstrated leadership, the quality of their professional preparations, need for the funding, involvement in TWS, and strength of a recommendation from their mentor.  The National Wild Turkey Federation co-sponsors the scholarship.  As this year’s scholarship recipient, Dan received a check for $2,000 at the FLTWS Spring Conference held in April 2014 in Safety Harbor.  Dan epitomizes all the qualities the FLTWS values in young wildlife biologists, and we congratulate him on his achievements.

Holly Ober

Chair, Student Scholarship Committee