In the latest 17-team national competition, Humboldt State blanked Michigan Tech 135-0, beat Texas A&M 120-55, trounced the University of Wyoming 110-15 and downed Penn State 95-20.
The tournament was part of the National Wildlife Conference in Snowbird, and the HSU team comprised five undergraduates: Sam Aguilar (Wildlife major), Phil Chaon (double major, Wildlife and Zoology), Brian Fagundes (double major, Wildlife and Geography), Dave Spangenburg (Geography major, Wildlife minor) and Amy Leigh Trost (Wildlife major).
A total of 22 Humboldt State undergraduates and six graduate students participated in the conference, presenting photographs and posters in other competitions. All of the undergrads helped to prepare the five team members for the quiz bowl, said Professor Matthew Johnson, Wildlife Department chair. The team was coached by Johnson and Professor Jeff Black, who was inducted last fall into the California Academy of Sciences.
The number of HSU wildlife majors has soared more than 20 percent in five years, posting record enrollments. California’s Department of Economic Development projects wildlife careers to be among the fastest growing employment sectors in the next decade.
HSU’s Wildlife Department has gained more than $1 million in grant awards so far this year and it picked up over $600,000 in grants and contracts for faculty-led research projects in academic year 2008-2009. The funds provide undergraduate and graduate students with first-hand wildlife field work experience and analysis.