Amanda Boisvert Part of Award-Winning Team at Southeastern Wildlife Conclave

2015 May 15

Amanda Boisvert was part of the third-place team representing the Frostburg State University Student Chapter of the Wildlife Society in the Southeastern Wildlife Conclave this spring at Virginia Tech. Boisvert, of Elkridge, MD, won third-place in the photography category.

FSU placed third among 20 regional colleges and universities and 400 students who competed. The Southeastern Wildlife Conclave is an intense competition of mental and physical feats showing mastery and knowledge of wildlife skills. University of Tennessee Knoxville placed first and University of Georgia placed second.

In addition to receiving a plaque to commemorate FSU's accomplishment, it is customary at the event for the top three winning teams to receive framed wildlife paintings. FSU received a painting featuring a deer passing through autumn foliage lining a gravel road leading to a barn.

FSU's top-three finish demonstrates both the commitment of the students to excelling at the competition as well as showing off the quality of FSU's Department of Biology and Natural Resources, said Dr. Frank Ammer, associate professor and faculty adviser for the student chapter.

"It makes our University look outstanding and our biology students strong," Ammer said.

Students had to identify plant and animal specimens, navigate an obstacle course and an orienteering course, demonstrate sharp-shooting skills with rifle and bow, display precision of fly casting, show off artistic skills with field photography, free-form art, drawing, game calling and then square off in a Quiz Bowl - a "Wildlife Jeopardy" of sorts.

The event, hosted by the Virginia Tech Student Chapter of The Wildlife Society, also featured workshops and field trips, including a visit to the Virginia Tech Black Bear Research Center and a tour of the Roanoke Wildlife Rescue Center.

FSU students spend countless hours preparing for the competition.

"These students have been working for months dedicating themselves to this," Ammer said. "The Quiz Bowl team has been preparing for a year."

For more information, contact the FSU Department of Biology at 301-687-4116 or visit www.frostburg.edu/dept/biol.