School News
Wildlife management freshman receives hefty scholarship
By Felicia Austin, Tarleton State University
Nov 25, 2009

STEPHENVILLE, TEXAS—Tarleton State University’s Ben Schmidtke was awarded the Natural Resource-Excellence in Education Scholarship. The $10,000 scholarship will be used for Schmidtke’s college expenses.

“It gives me a great sense of accomplishment to know that I was honored to be one of the four scholarship recipients,” said Schmidtke. “I just feel blessed and very pleased with myself.”

The Texas Wildlife Association Foundation and the San Antonio Livestock Exposition offer only four scholarships to freshmen at Texas universities who are majoring in a natural resource-related field. Selected students are identified as future leaders in this field. The scholarship is designed to reward and support recipients while getting their education.

Schmidtke is a freshman wildlife management student from Pearsall, Texas, and is a member of the Tarleton Wildlife Society. He grew up on ranches his father managed and has been involved with wildlife since he was born.

“Wildlife management is what I grew up doing and is something I love to do,” Schmidtke said. “I cannot see myself in any other field of study. Wildlife and the outdoors is what I’m all about—it defines me.”

Tarleton’s Student Wildlife Society is a chapter of The Wildlife Society, an international, nonprofit, scientific and educational organization. The society brings awareness of wildlife issues, prepares students in natural resource fields, wildlife biology, conservation and management and provides opportunities for members.