Land, Forest, Wildlife Management Scholarship Awarded to SRTC Student

Leah Thrailkill has been named the recipient of the Southwest Georgia Farm Credit scholarship at Southern Regional Technical College. This $1,000 scholarship, specifically for the Land, Forest, Wildlife Management Technology Program, is designed to help students cover the cost of tuition and fees. Thrailkill, originally from the metro Atlanta area, has always had a passion for the outdoors and is thrilled to continue advancing her education within the program.

Thrailkill says, “This program has been the most enjoyable thing I’ve done—from learning how to operate a tractor, to cutting down a tree, to discussing policies dealing with wildlife, to learning how to balance a fishpond so it has a thriving community. There’s so much more that I’ve learned, and there is still more to come.” Leah is excited to accomplish her dream of becoming a first-generation graduate and making her family proud.

Leah’s instructors praise her determination and adeptness. “Leah started our program last year as a new student to the field of conservation, having no established prior training or education in natural resource management. She has excelled in her first 2 semesters, demonstrating herself a dependable worker who embraces new challenges and skills. She learns quickly through trial and error, not willing to let a skill or concept elude her more than once,” says Dr. Jeremy Green, Program Chair. 

He continues, “In the classroom itself, Leah is quiet and leads by example among her peers; she is held in very high regard as someone who will get the job done correctly and with integrity. Already in her time with us, she has found GIS mapping as a major interest and is pursuing this opportunity as she approaches her internship and graduation in the coming year. We could not be more excited to honor her hard work and sacrifice as a young person who is new to the field but determined to be successful and create a niche for herself in the workforce.”

SRTC Land, Forest, Wildlife Management Faculty, Elizabeth Harrell, gives more background on the program. “When beginning the Land, Forest, Wildlife Management program, students embark on a journey to gain new knowledge and skills, form industry-specific connections and relationships, and embrace the opportunity to grow as a student and an entry-level professional in the conservation field. Graduates are trained in prescribed fire, silviculture, GPS/GIS, wildlife management, and many more skills applicable to the conservation field. Our graduates have recently become employed by local hunting plantations, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the Georgia Forestry Commission, non-profit organizations, and research facilities such as Tall Timbers Research Stations and The Jones Center.”

For more information about this scholarship, contact Christina Reneau at CReneau@southernregional.edu.