2007 COLD WATER FISHERIES SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS AT THE WARNELL SCHOOL OF FORESTRY, UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA:

UNDERGRADUATE-ABBY FARAKESH                        GRADUATE STUDENT-DUNCAN ELKINS

COOSA VALLEY CHAPTER OF TROUT UNLIMITED SCHOLARSHIPS, ENDOWMENT HISTORY AND PROGRESS

In 2002, our Chapter’s finances had progressed to the point whereby the members authorized the funding of a college scholarship toward studies of cold water fisheries.

A scholarship committee composed of four members selected two recipients for our first scholarships in 2002, Jo Anna Lesard of Michigan State University and Marci Anderson of Virginia Tech. Both were Graduate Students, and each received $2000.00. In 2003 we again awarded two scholarships, to two other Graduate Students, one at the University of Georgia and the other to a student at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Both requested and received $1660.00.

The next year (2004) two more were awarded to two other Graduate Students, one at the University of Georgia and the other at the University of Arkansas, each receiving $2000.00

Just prior to 2005, we were approached by Dr. Jay Shelton at the University of Georgia (UGA) about establishing an endowment for perpetual funding for cold water fisheries research. As UGA has the only fisheries school in the State of Georgia, our membership agreed to study this proposal. As our finances had improved due to our success with the Chili Cookoff, it was determined that not only would we fund the Endowment, we would also add additional funds to insure at least one scholarship was available before the Endowment was fully funded.

We partnered with the Occonee Chapter to more rapidly fund the endowment beyond the minimum.

These additional funds provided by our Chapter allowed Austin Meadows, another Graduate Student, to complete a Brook Trout Study in the State of Georgia. Mr. Meadows gave a presentation to the Chapter, a very visible result of our education efforts.

In 2006, our Chapter accelerated our funding- adding additional funds to quickly bring the endowment to the minimum per our endowment contract. We again placed extra funds for another scholarship, allowing our first Undergraduate Student, Allan Pattillo, to receive needed monies to complete his studies.

As of June 1 of 2006, the Endowment has $32,000, and has additionally received funds from private individuals and organizations. This was not anticipated, but is obviously welcome.

In 2007, one Graduate Student, Duncan Elkins, and one Undergraduate Student, Abby Farakesh, were awarded scholarships.

Going forward, the Endowment is fully funded, and the scholarships will now be awarded in perpetuity. As the Occonee Chapter continues to bring their funds to their agreed minimum, the monetary and educational value of our efforts will only increase. The Chapter is to be commended for their foresight and efforts in helping to insure that our cold water fisheries in our State will not be neglected.