2007 Women's Wildlife Management / Conservation Scholarship

Montana Student Wins NRA Women's Scholarship Award

The National Rifle Association has announced the selection of Jessica Shotzberger of Bozeman, Montana, as the winner of the second annual Women's Wildlife Management / Conservation Scholarship.The scholarship, established by the Women's Policies Committee of NRA, is administered by The NRA Foundation.

It is a one-year renewable $1,000 award that is available to women who are full-time college juniors or seniors majoring in wildlife management and conservation, and who have a minimum 3.0 grade point average.

Asked about her future plans, Jessica said, "I either want to be a game warden for the state of Montana or get my master's degree in Mammal Biology, I haven't decided which. I was very excited when I found out I was selected for the scholarship."

Commenting on the award, Sue King, NRA Board Member and Chairperson of the Women's Policies Committee, said, "Jessica was one of the most impressive candidates for this award I've seen, both in terms of her academic achievements and her focus on field activities, which will serve her, and wildlife conservation, well in the future."

Shotzberger is currently a junior at Montana State University (Bozeman), and is working toward a degree in Fish and Wildlife Management and Range Science. She has an intensive background of practical field experience with the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), including working on a wilderness resource crew in the Bob Marshall Wilderness area and on the White River Construction Project. She also worked for the USFS in the Rocky Mountain Ranger District on a trail construction crew where she helped to reroute trails to reduce disturbances on fish populations.

Shotzberger also worked for the USFS on a project to survey goshawks in the Kootenai National Forest, and did a stint as a crew member to obtain a population estimate of grizzly bears living on the eight million acres of land in the Northern Continental Divide ecosystem.

Some of Shotzberger's other accomplishments include: being named to the President's List and the Dean's List at Montana State University, receiving awards from the Business Professionals of America, receiving four letters and setting records in varsity track and field competitions, winning the Montana State 4-H Community Service Award, being listed in Who's Who Among American High School Students, serving as an officer and member of the National Honor Society, and receiving 4-H Project Awards in shooting sports, Montana big game, hunting, snowboarding, public speaking, veterinary medicine, and citizenship. She has also won numerous scholarships from a wide variety of organizations.