Forestry students travel to SAF National Convention

From left: Andrew Burke, Alex Stone, Annie Hankamer, Nica Ables, Matthew Barnicki, and Kayla Stuart visited Yosemite National Park while attending the Society of American Foresters National Convention. Photo courtesy: Kayla Stuart

The School of Natural Resources sent six undergraduates and five graduate students to the Society of American Foresters National Convention in Sacramento, Calif., from Oct. 25-28. The group included members of the UT student chapter of SAF along with adviser and Forestry Professor David Buckley.

Graduate student Mel Mount and undergraduates Andrew Burke, Nica Ables and Matthew Barnicki competed in the national quiz bowl. Mount along with graduate students Kayla Stuart, Jareth Beeler, Alex Bremner and Ian Kennedy presented talks and posters at the convention.

“We were well-represented across several concurrent technical sessions at the convention,” Buckley said about the student presentations.

From left: Annie Hankamer, Nica Ables, and Haley Snyder listen during a session at the Society of American Foresters National Convention in Sacramento, Calif. Photo courtesy: Annie Hankamer

Annie Hankamer, Haley Snyder and Alex Stone joined the other undergraduate students on the trip.

They had the opportunity to network with forestry professionals from the private and public sector. They also attended a wide array of technical presentations, experienced the city of Sacramento and visited Yosemite National Park.

Stuart was named an SAF Diversity Scholar, which covered her travel to the convention. This is the second time she’s been named a Diversity Scholar. Hankamer, Snyder and additional UT SAF chapter member Madeline Hall teamed up to secure funding from the student organization travel fund to help cover costs of the convention.