RNR Graduate Scholarships

Ducks Unlimited, Inc. has received a gift from Diane Sustendal Labouisse to for the purpose of endowing an annual graduate-level scholarship at the LSU School of Renewable Natural Resources, to be known as the John Peter Labouisse, III/Ducks Unlimited, Inc. Scholarship.

John Peter Labouisse, III was the longest serving volunteer of the New Orleans Ducks Unlimited Committee. Mr. Labouisse served as a valued member of the DU General Membership, Sponsor and Major Donor committees, and at the time of his death, was recognized as a Life Sponsor of DU with over 40 years of service and contributions to wetlands and waterfowl conservation efforts.

The amount of the scholarship shall be a minimum of $2,000 per semester, or $4,000 per year. The recipient(s) of this award shall be at least one full-time graduate student in good standing in the LSU School of Renewable Natural Resources. Preference shall be given to students who have volunteered for DU through a collegiate, general membership, or sponsor chapter, and who are pursuing a course of study focused on waterfowl, wetland management, or wetland ecology. Recipients of the scholarship shall be selected by the School of Renewable Natural Resources Scholarship Committee, with approval of the VP of Agriculture. 

Recipients of the graduate scholarship must be full-time graduate students studying fisheries and aquaculture in the School and have a minimum grade point average of 3.0. Consideration will be given to students pursuing a master’s degree, with financial need as a consideration for selection.

The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Foundation established the John Barton Sr. College of Agriculture Wildlife Scholarship in honor of Mr. John W. Barton Sr., who was a 1939 graduate of LSU and a founding member of the National Wild Turkey Federation and very active in the Quality Deer Management Association.

Eligibility – The recipient of this award shall be a full time graduate student at Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College enrolled in the School of Renewable Natural Resources studying in the fields of wildlife management or wildlife ecology. Preference shall be given to students who have demonstrated active participation or are actively participating in Ducks Unlimited, National Wild Turkey Federation, or the Quality Deer Management Association.

The award shall be $2500. The committee reserves the right to not award, if no qualified students apply. The application deadline is 30 September of each year. Application packet shall be a letter of interest outlining qualifications and career from the applicant, a CV emphasizing academic, scholarly, research, and service achievements*, and a single page letter of recommendation from a faculty member in the School. All materials should be sent to Dr. Mike Kaller (mkalle1@lsu.edu).

* CV shall contain name, contact information, date of enrollment in current degree program, degree program, major professor, current LSU GPA, professional experience, professional meetings and conferences attended, publications in peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings, service activities to the School, LSU, and community, and leadership and participation in student clubs, professional organizations, or other relevant organizations.

Eligibility – The recipient of this award shall be a full time graduate student at Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College enrolled in the School of Renewable Natural Resources studying migratory, hunted waterfowl. A minimum GPA of 3.25 in all college coursework at time of application is required. The scholarship will recognize demonstrated leadership in student organizations and activities associated or affiliated with the LSU School of Renewable Natural Resources, as well as academic achievement as a RNR undergraduate. Additional consideration may be given for leadership in other student organizations recognized by the LSU College of Agriculture, as well as service to the broader campus or general community.

The award shall be $1000. The committee reserves the right to not award, if no qualified students apply. The application deadline is 30 September of each year. Application packet shall be a letter of interest outlining qualifications and career from the applicant, a CV emphasizing academic, scholarly, research, and service achievements*, and a single page letter of recommendation from a faculty member in the School. All materials should be sent to Dr. Mike Kaller (mkalle1@lsu.edu).

* CV shall contain name, contact information, date of enrollment in current degree program, degree program, major professor, current LSU GPA, professional experience, professional meetings and conferences attended, publications in peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings, service activities to the School, LSU, and community, and leadership and participation in student clubs, professional organizations, or other relevant organizations.

This is a half-time assistantship and is awarded by a faculty member who is selected by the Louisiana Wildlife Biologists Association (LWBA) based on competitive proposals. The recipient must be a full-time student working toward a graduate degree in either wildlife or fisheries, or both, and must maintain a 3.0 GPA. Any publications by the recipient will acknowledge that the work was supported by this scholarship. The LWBA sends a request for proposals to the School when funds are available, selects the proposal for funding, and the successful faculty member selects the scholarship recipient.

The Rockefeller State Wildlife Scholarship is a competitive scholarship that awards $2000 annually for an undergraduate student and $3,000 annually to a graduate student pursuing a degree in forestry, wildlife or marine science at a Louisiana Public College or University. The cumulative maximum award is $12,000 for up to three years of undergraduate study and two years of graduate study.

Information on eligibility, scholarship requirements, deadlines, and how to apply, are available from the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOFSA). Application deadline is 1 July. A FAFSA is also required.

The Ben and Pauline Stanley Graduate Student Excellence Award recognizes doctoral and master’s students who have made outstanding contributions to research, service or teaching in the School of Renewable Natural Resources (SRNR). This award symbolizes the School’s commitment to excellence in graduate education. If deserving candidates are identified, these annual awards will be presented to a doctoral student and a master’s student from the SRNR who will use this award to advance his/her graduate education. A student may only receive this award once during his/her academic career in the School of Renewable Natural Resources.

Eligibility – To be eligible, applicants must be currently enrolled in a graduate degree program in the SRNR. Ph.D. students are eligible to apply after successful completion of their general examinations. Master’s students are eligible for the award after the completion of 75% (18 hours) of their coursework. Only currently enrolled students are eligible. Students may not receive the Ben and Pauline Stanley Graduate Student Excellence Award and the Clark M. Hoffpauer Memorial Fund simultaneously in an academic year

The award shall be $500 to one MS and $500 one PhD student, if qualified students apply and are selected. The committee reserves the right to not award, if no qualified students apply. The application deadline is 30 September of each year. Application packet shall be a letter of interest outlining qualifications and career from the applicant, a CV emphasizing academic, scholarly, research, and service achievements*, and a single page letter of recommendation from a faculty member in the School. All materials should be sent to Dr. Mike Kaller (mkalle1@lsu.edu).

* CV shall contain name, contact information, date of enrollment in current degree program, degree program, major professor, current LSU GPA, professional experience, professional meetings and conferences attended, publications in peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings, service activities to the School, LSU, and community, and leadership and participation in student clubs, professional organizations, or other relevant organizations.

The Clark M. Hoffpauer Memorial Fund has been established to benefit students enrolled in the graduate program in the School of Renewable Natural Resources. The gift honors the memory of Clark M. Hoffpauer who received his Masters of Science in Wildlife Management from Louisiana State University in the 1960's. He was a lifelong pilot, adventurer and avid sportsman. During his distinguished career he served as director of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, where he began his career as a biologist in 1950. During his tenure as LDWF director he was responsible for the acquisition of five game management areas in Louisiana. He served as president for the Southeastern Game and Fish Commissioners Association and was instrumental in the return of the endangered brown pelican, changing legislation for alligator management and many other innovative studies and practices that are in place today. After he left public service he started an environmental consulting firm that help develop spill emergency plans for many Louisiana refineries. In 1972 he received the Louisiana Conservation of the Year Award.

Eligibility - The recipient of this award must be a full time graduate student at Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College enrolled in the School of Renewable Natural Resources. The recipient must have an overall grade point average of at least 3.0. Financial need may be a consideration. Only currently enrolled students are eligible. Students may not receive the Ben and Pauline Stanley Graduate Student Excellence Award and the Clark M. Hoffpauer Memorial Fund simultaneously in an academic year.

The award shall be $1000. The committee reserves the right to not award, if no qualified students apply. The application deadline is 30 September of each year. Application packet shall be a letter of interest outlining qualifications and career from the applicant, a CV emphasizing academic, scholarly, research, and service achievements*, and a single page letter of recommendation from a faculty member in the School. All materials should be sent to Dr. Mike Kaller (mkalle1@lsu.edu)

* CV shall contain name, contact information, date of enrollment in current degree program, degree program, major professor, current LSU GPA, professional experience, professional meetings and conferences attended, publications in peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings, service activities to the School, LSU, and community, and leadership and participation in student clubs, professional organizations, or other relevant organizations.

Eligibility – The recipient of this award must be a full time graduate student at Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College enrolled in the School of Renewable Natural Resources. The student must be conducting silvicultural or other research on bottomland hardwood and/or cypress-tupelo forests in Louisiana with a preference to coastal forests of Louisiana. The recipient must have an overall grade point average of at least 3.0. Only currently enrolled students are eligible. A student may only receive this award once during his/her academic career in the School of Renewable Natural Resources. Students may not receive the Ben and Pauline Stanley Graduate Student Excellence Award and the Barbara S. Edisen Memorial Scholarship simultaneously in an academic year.

The award shall be $1000. The committee reserves the right to not award, if no qualified students apply. The application deadline is 30 September of each year. Application packet shall be a letter of interest outlining qualifications and career from the applicant, a CV emphasizing academic, scholarly, research, and service achievements*, and a single page letter of recommendation from a faculty member in the School. All materials should be sent to Dr. Mike Kaller (mkalle1@lsu.edu).

* CV shall contain name, contact information, date of enrollment in current degree program, degree program, major professor, current LSU GPA, professional experience, professional meetings and conferences attended, publications in peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings, service activities to the School, LSU, and community, and leadership and participation in student clubs, professional organizations, or other relevant organizations.

Graduate students in forestry who are scheduled to present a paper or poster at a professional meeting may apply for reimbursement from the Gilbert Foundation Travel Fund. Application is made to the Gilbert Foundation Oversight Committee. Contact your major professor for more information

Graduate students in Wildlife and/or Fisheries may apply for Glasgow travel grants to attend a professional conference during the academic year. Grants will vary from $150-$250, depending on the number that apply, and may be used to pay for travel, lodging, meals, and registration fees. Students previously awarded a Glasgow Travel Grant or students with less than 2 semesters of graduate study (including summer) are not eligible. Application forms [PDF] may be obtained and submitted to Dr. William Kelso in Room 118, School of Renewable Natural Resource Building.