Past Recipients of TWS Montana Chapter Awards 

Distinguished Service Award Recipients:

2024 Mike Mitchell

2023 Ken McDonald
2022 Montana Bear Specialists: Dan Carney, Shannon Clairmont, Stacy Courville, Kevin Frey, Jamie Jonkel, Mike Madel, Tim Manley
2021 Bob Garrott
2020 Alan Wood
2019 Randy Matchett
2018 Kristi Dubois
2017 Sam Milodragovich
2016 Rick Mace
2015 Gary Matson
2014 Michael Thompson
2013 Dan Pletscher
2012 Gary Olson
2011 Kurt Alt
2010 Gael Bissell
2009 Kenneth Hamlin
2008 B. Riley & Pat McClelland
2007 Heidi Youmans
2006 Terry Lonner
2005 Gary Dusek
2004 Les Marcum
2003 Lynn Irby
2002 Dennis Flath
2001 Joe Ball
2000 Neil Martin
1999 John Wiegand
1998 Charles Jonkel
1997 Harold Knapp & Harold Picton
1996 Ed Bangs
1995 Bart O’Gara
1994 P. L. Wright & Jim Cross
1993 L. Jack Lyon
1992 Jack Jones
1991 Jerry Gallegher
1990 Jim Phelps & Joe Egan
1989 ——-
1988 Jim Mitchell & Larry Thompson
1987 Dick Mackie
1986 ——-
1985 ——-
1984 Ken Walcheck
1983 Jim Posewitz
1982 Bob Eng
1981 Faye Couey
1980 Merle Rognrud
1979 Reuel Janson
1978 Bob Greene
1976-1977 Wynn Freeman (This was the First Chapter Award. This award for professional excellence was made prior to establishment of current Chapter Awards)

Biologist of the Year Award Recipients:

2024 Brandi Skone

2023 Brent Lonner
2022 Kris Tempel
2021 Kate Stone
2020 Jay Kolbe
2019 Kelly Proffitt
2018 Wayne Kasworm
2017 no nominations
2016 Scott Tomson
2015 no nominations
2014 Pat Basting
2013 Bryce Maxell
2012 Tim Griffiths
2011 Carolyn Sime
2010 ——-
2009 Daniel B. Tyers
2008 David E. Naugle
2007 ——
2006 Art Soukkala
2005 Rich DeSimone
2004 Dale Becker
2003 Keith Aune
2002 Randy Matchett
2001 Gael Bissell & Alan Wood
2000 Denver Holt
1999 Lynn Kelly
1998 Rick Mace
1997 Dick Buscis
1996 Tom Carlsen
1995 Mike Fox
1994 Alan Wood
1993 ——
1992 Mike Thompson
1991 Scott Denson
1990 Gary Hammond & Neil Martin
1989 ——
1988 Duane Pyrah
1987 ——
1986 ——
1985 Dale Harmes
1984 ——
1983 Mike Rath
1982 Tom Mussehl
1981 ——
1980 ——
1979 ——
1978 ——
1976-1977 Established

Bob Watts Communication Award Recipients:

2024 Torrey Ritter “Tuesdays with Torrey”

2023 Tom Dickson
2022 No nominations
2021 Montana Natural Heritage Program
2020 Wesley Sarmento, outstanding communication about bears
2019 Winston Greely, weekly Outdoor Report videos for MFWP
2018 Kate Davis, tons of outreach for raptor conservation
2017 John Ashley
2016 Mike Gurnett, 38 years of award-winning wildlife video production
2015 Dr. Mike Mitchell, for significant communication in media that has a relatively wide audience
2014 Christine Paige & Joe Weigand, Wildlife Friendly Fences 2013 Thomas Baumeister Montana Wild
2012 ——-
2011 Doug Chadwick “The Wolverine Way”
2010 Robert Garrott “The ecology of large mammals in central Yellowstone: sixteen years of integrated field studies.”
2009 L. Scott Mills “Conservation of Wildlife Populations: Demography, Genetics, and Management”
2008 Kerry R. Foresman The Wild Mammals of Montana and bringing scientific knowledge to the public through different media formats including newspaper and television
2007 ——
2006 Terry Lonner, Harold Picton, Jim Williams Back from the Brink-Montana’s Wildlife Legacy
2005 J. Kirwin Werner, Bryce A. Maxell, Paul Hendricks, Dennis L. Flath “Herpetology in Montana” and “Amphibians and Reptiles of Montana”
2004 ——
2003 Ryan Rauscher series of non-game articles for all major newspapers in Montana
2002 ——
2001 ——
2000 Gayle Joslin & Heidi Youmans “Effects of Recreation on Rocky Mountain Wildlife: A Review for Montana”
1999 Richard Mackie, Dave Pac, Ken Hamlin, Gary Dusek
1998 Mike Frisina Communications to TWS, Montana Academy of Sciences, popular outlets (Montana Outdoors, Montana Stockgrowers), symposia, and 5 different professional Journals
1997 Martha Lonner Media Works materials including: poster sessions, educational/informational brochures, videos, symposia, agency reports, bulletin, Intermountain Journal of Sciences
1996 Craig Jourdonnais FWP’s “video magazine” and “Outdoors Report”
1995 ——
1994 Vince Yannon
1993 Craig & Pam Knowles
1992 ——
1991 ——
1990 ——
1989 Gary Dusek
1988

New in 2020: Rising Professional Award Recipients:

Wildlife Conservation Award Recipients:

2024 Mike McTee

2023 Rick Northrup
2022 No nominations
2021 Jim and Fran Buell
2020 Matt Bell
2019 Northern Rocky Mountain Grotto and the Bigfork High School Cave Club
2018 Stella Capoccia and Gary Swant
2017 Michael Schwitters
2016 Marina Smith
2015 Conrad Veterinary Clinic, Dr. Dick Kenyon and Dr. Wade Spears
2014——
2013 Flathead Land Trust
2012 ——
2011 Wind River Bear Institute
2010 Ron Gipe
2009 Jamie Williams
2008 Dr. Jon Graham
2007 Leonard Howke
2006 Roger Stradley
2005 Dave Hoerner
2004 Northwest Connections
2003 Crow Creek Falls Citizens Group
2002 American Public Land Exchange Company (APLE)
2001 Chris Marchion
2000 The Cinnabar Foundation
1999 Montana Land Reliance
1998 Five Valleys Land Trust

Wynn Freeman Scholarship Recipients: Montana State University, University of Montana

2024 Carly Segal (MSU) and Mattie Budine (UM)

2023 Morgan Monroe (MSU) and Deirdre Replinger (UM)
2022 Elise Loggers (MSU) and Amelia Evavold (UM)
2021 Sarah Deaton (MSU) and Wyatt Nielsen (UM)
2020 Shannon Hilty (MSU) and Jonathan Karlen (UM)
2019 Jacob Melhuish (MSU) and Megan Robbins (UM)
2018 Ethan Lula (MSU) and Carly Muench (UM)
2017 Thomas Sutton (MSU) and Jeremy Brooks (UM)
2016 Ben Turnock (MSU) and Jeremy McMurrin (UM)
2015 Cody Deane (MSU) and Jenah Mead (UM)
2014 Erin Kenison (MSU) and Jason Hanlon (UM)
2013 Brandi Skone (MSU) and Kelsey Hay (UM)
2012 Elizabeth Flesch (MSU) and Kristina Gunderson (UM)
2011 Brittany Mosher (MSU) and David T. Nikonow (UM)
2010 Shana Dunkley (MSU) and Parker Bradley (UM)
2009 Jesse DeVoe and Janelle Quezada
2008 David Christiansen and Darin Newton
2007 Megan O’Reilly and Scott Eggemann
2006 Justin Paugh and Kyle Miller
2005 Jenny Sika and Paul (Ben) Chappelow
2004 Julie Fuller and Jason Tack
2003 John Winnie and Nathan Stone
2002 Jeremy Paul Zimmer and Carl Saunders
2001 Jeffrey Warren and Melissa Robinson
2000 William (BJ) Lukins and Julie Fuller
1999 David Koons and Susanna Sowry
1998
1997 Jacek (Tom) Giermakowski
1996 Andrew C. Pils and Dana Sanchez
1995 Shannon Podruzny and Michelle Wilbur
1994 William J. Semmons and Paul Sweet
1993 Ryan Rauscher and Jill Minor
1992 Kevin Podruzny and Denali Henderson
1991 Jim Williams and John Hughs
1990 Thomas R. Baumeister and Mike Gibeau
1989 Shawn R. Bayless and Nathan Hall
1988 Chris Loggers
1987 Timothy Ferguson
1986 Katharine Albrecht and Mark Hurley
1985 Scott Jackson and Susan Reel
1984 John Vore and Sandra Noble
1983 Scott Greer and Rob Bennets
1982 Jody Canfield and Robin Rae Bown
1981 Tim Andryk
1980 Karl Grover

New in 2022: Western Meadowlark Award Recipients (for other Montana colleges with wildlife programs)

2024 Joe Lamb (UM Western)

2023 Hunter Bugni (UM Western)
2022 Larissa Saarel (Rocky Mountain College)

Student Paper Award Recipients:

2024 Emily Pizzini (undergrad) and Anna Kurtin (grad)

2023 Nicole Bealer (undergrad) and Erik Peterson (grad)
2022 Larissa Saarel (undergrad) and Jenny Helm (grad)
2021 Will Rogers (undergrad) and Simon Buzzard (grad)
2020 Elizabeth Flesch
2019 Ethan Lula
2018
2017
2016
2015 Charles Henderson, Jr. and Erin Whittle
2014
2013 Angela Brennan and Brandi Skone
2012 Nick DeCesare and Megan O’Reilly
2011 Jody M. Tucker and Brittany Mosher
2010 Jeff Stetz and Jerod Merkle
2009 Jennifer Woolf and Victoria Patrek
2008 Ellen Cheng and Chris Hammond
2007 Brett Walker and Chris Forristal
2006 Joseph Fontaine and Nathan Schwab
2005 John Winnie and Karen McCoy
2004
2003 Jennifer Woolf
2002 Brett Walker and Nick DeCesare
2001 Scott Stephens and Jo Ann Dullum
2000 Michael Schwartz and Jacob Ivan

Student Poster Award Recipients:

2024 Mathew Gomez (undergrad) and Eli Estey (grad)

2023 Deirdre Replinger (undergrad) and Madeline Jackson (grad)
2022 Olivia Jakabosky (undergrad) and Amber Swicegood (grad)
2021 Olivia Jakabosky (undergrad) and Savannah Grace (grad)
2020 Chris Hansen
2019 Jen Feltner
2018
2017
2016
2015 Ellen Whittle “Bat Use of Bridges in Missoula, Ravalli, and Mineral Counties in Western Montana”
2014 Adam Kehoe “Landscape Heterogeneity at White-Headed Woodpecker Nest Sites in West-Central Idaho
2013 Sarah Sells “Proactive Management of Pneumonia Epizootics in Bighorn Sheep in Montana-Project Update”
2012 Dan Bachen “Mechanisms Driving Non-native Plant-mediated Changes in Small Mammal Populations and Communities”
2011 Jennifer M. Mannas “Variation in Weddell Seal Pup Mass: Maternal Investment in Offspring”
2010 Brittany Mosher. “Implications of a Recent Mountain Pine Beetle Outbreak on Site Occupancy and Detection of the Avian Community”
2009 ——–
2008 ——–
2007 Megan O’Reilly. Montana State University. Relationships among moose abundance, willow community structure, and migratory landbirds at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge.
2007 Kyle Cutting. Montana State University. Contaminants in eggs of Lesser Scaup nesting on Lower Red Rock Lake, Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge.

Counter Assault Grant Recipients:

2013 Erin Kenison (MSU)
2012 Andrew Jakes
2011 Tucker Seitz

TWS Grant Recipients:

2024 Leah Rensel (UM)

2023 Jacob Melhuish (MSU) and Colleen Piper (UM)
2022 Carlisle Segal (MSU) and Bridger Creel (UM)
2021 Vanna Boccadori & Dan Heffington, Tim Hiller et al.
2020 Brian Tornabene (UM), Amy Seaman
2019 Chris Hammond (FWP) and Laura Katzman (Flathead Land Trust); Brian Tornabene (UM)
2018 Andreas Eleftheriou (UM)
2017 Shannon Hilty (MSU) and Torrey Ritter (MSU)
2016 Jake Ritzdorf (Kalispell Middle School) and Chris Hammond (FWP)
2015 Jenah Mead (UM Wildlife Extravaganza)
2014 Lewis Young (Flathead Audubon Society)
2013 Lynn Kelly (Mission Valley Christian Academy)
2012 Dan Bachen (MSU)