Three types of scholarships are provided at emc.

Andrew MacKenzie is a West Virginia University graduate student pursuing an M.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries Resources and a Certificate in University Teaching. Before seeking his M.S., Andrew received his B.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries Resources at West Virginia University with minors in Agriculture and Natural Resources Law and Conservation Ecology. As an undergraduate, he interned at Gator Country in Beaumont, Texas, focusing on community outreach and education of southeastern amphibians and reptiles. He assisted in data collection of Wood Turtle abundance and movement within the Allegheny National Forest of Pennsylvania. Additionally, he was a student aid for Dr. Jim Anderson’s lab. As a student aid, Andrew had the opportunity to assist several graduate students in data collection and processing samples for their projects. These opportunities as a student aid led Andrew to pursue his passions of teaching higher education and conducting wetland research. Andrew’s graduate research aims to assess the ecological impacts of wetland restoration techniques used in West Virginia riparian wetlands. Andrew has quantified the changes in community composition of anurans, birds, fish, macroinvertebrates, turtles, small mammals, and vegetation by collecting abundance and diversity data during and after wetland restoration and comparing his data to previously collected pre-restoration data. He has assessed the impacts of a soil amendment, 10% biochar:90% compost, on the growth rates and survival of woody vegetation planted during the wetland restoration. Additionally, he quantified macroinvertebrate community composition between three commonly used sampling methods, quantified the macroinvertebrate’s response to increased sedimentation from the bank grading during restoration, and assessed the effectiveness of installed stream structures as macroinvertebrate habitat. Andrew’s research will provide insight into biological and ecological responses from riparian wetland restoration for several taxonomic groups and evaluate the effectiveness of several wetland restoration practices. In addition to Andrew’s graduate research, he has pursued other research opportunities to enhance his professional development. Andrew has previously: 1) Led wood turtle aquatic surveys in the Allegheny National Forest, 2) Coordinated a wetland restoration project with Marion County, West Virginia student volunteers, 3) Worked on the Mountain Valley Pipeline as a Lead Avian Field Biologist, and 4) Assisted in wetland delineation surveys at Tomlinson Run State Park in Hancock County, West Virginia. Andrew has also taken several leadership roles within student organizations. Andrew is the Educational Committee Chair of the Society of Wetland Scientists Student Section and served as the Abstract Review Chair for the Society of Wetland Scientists Student Virtual Conference. At West Virginia University, he assisted in advising the Ducks Unlimited Mountaineer Chapter and was the previous secretary of the Division of Forestry and Natural Resources Graduate Student Association. Andrew’s commitment to research and development has been well-received and led to several accolades. He was inducted into the Clemson University Kennedy Waterfowl and Wetlands Conservation Center Graduate Student Partners Program in 2021. He won the Society of Wetland Scientists’ Best Student Poster Presentation at the 2022 Joint Aquatic Scientists Meeting in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Andrew finished second in the Student Poster Competition at the 2022 North American Biochar & Bioenergy Conference. Andrew has also received two scholarships. First, the Jon A. Kusler Scholarship to attend the National Association of Wetland Managers Annual Tribal/State/Federal Cooperation Annual Meeting in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. Second, a scholarship to attend the Winous Point Marsh Conservancy Graduate Student Symposium in Port Clinton, Ohio. Andrew enjoys playing his guitar and being in nature, whether birding, hiking, hunting, or fishing. You can often find Andrew around various hiking trails with his fiancé, Tara, and two dogs, Scout and Smokey.