Michael Barnes (mike.barnes@state.sd.us) April 11, 2006

McNenny State Fish Hatchery, 19169 Trout Loop, Spearfish 605-642-6920

SDSU Students Reel in Awards at Dakota Chapter Annual Meeting

Fisheries students from South Dakota State University swept all of the student presentation and financial awards at the Dakota Chapter of the American Fisheries Society annual meeting in early March, 2006.

Casey Schoenebeck, a student in the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, won the Best Student Paper award. His award-winning presentation was titled the "Nutrient Limitation and Phytoplankton Abundance as Influenced by Winterkill Conditions in Glacial Lakes." Fisheries Professors Michael Brown and Steven Chipps guided Casey on his research project.

Kris Edwards, another South Dakota State student, won the Best Student Poster award. He was helped with his poster, “Bluegill Recruitment Related to Temperature, Precipitation, and Winter Severity in Four South Dakota Impoundments,” by Professor David Willis and graduate student Quinton Phelps.

South Dakota State University undergraduate fisheries students caught all the monetary awards given at the meeting. Kristen Berg and Elizabeth Wright received Kriel awards. Named after long-time Dakota Chapter member Al Kriel, and funded by his family, the award pays for full membership in the American Fisheries Society. Melissa Wuellner, Wesley Bouska, Scott Sindelar, and Kris Edwards won Sauger scholarships, which are financial awards given annually to offset travel expenses for two students attending the Chapter meeting.

Brian Blackwell won the Best Professional Paper award at the annual meeting of the Dakota Chapter of the American Fisheries Society for his presentation, "Timing of Otolith Annulus Formation in Yellow Perch."

Cliff Stone received the Distinguished Professional Service award for his numerous and outstanding contributions in fisheries management, service to the chapter and Society, and cooperation with other resource partners. Connie Vicuna of the Natural Resource Conservation Service also received the Distinguished Professional Service Award.

The Chapter recognized Jim Phoenix for his efforts educating children on fly fishing and aquatic resource issues. Jim received the Chapter’s Aquatic Resource Conservation Award.

New chapter officers were elected at the meeting. Todd St. Sauver (President-Elect), Jerry Wiegel (Vice-President), and Paul Bailey (Secretary/Treasurer), join incoming President Jason Lee. Newly-elected officers of the South Dakota State University subunit were also recognized.