Georgia Forestry Association (GFA) President Steve McWilliams recently presented University of Georgia (UGA) student Blake Sherry the 2015 GFA Scholarship for his outstanding academic performance and professionalism.
Each year, GFA donates scholarship funds to Warnell in order to recognize a student who consistently performs at a high-level of academic rigor and professionalism. In order to be considered for the scholarship, students must be enrolled as a professional student at Warnell and maintain a minimum 3.0 grade point average. GFA presented the scholarship at the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources’ 84th Annual Spring Awards Banquet on April 9.
“From the first moment Blake introduced himself, I was impressed with his confidence, his willingness to take on new challenges, and his dedication to Warnell,” Nicki Pinnell, Warnell undergraduate student relations and outreach coordinator, said. “Blake continually looks for ways to improve our school by dedicating his time to serving on campus and promoting the forestry field. I couldn’t be more proud of this young man.”
Blake, a Marietta native who entered UGA as a finance major, ultimately chose Warnell’s forestry degree because it would allow him work outdoors and blend the elements of the natural resource field and the business sector.
“As a student, I like the diverse opportunities the forestry industry provides,” said Blake. “Knowing that I have the opportunity to move almost anywhere in the country, working for either private industry or the public sector, is exciting to me. I have friends who are worrying about how they are going to make their psychology degree relevant in their next job interview. It is comforting to know that I have a lot of options after graduating.”
This summer, Blake will be enrolled in Chemistry II while also working part-time with Michael Ransom of Southern Timber Solutions in Monroe. He will also continue his efforts with Warnell, assisting the college with freshman orientation.
After completing his undergraduate degree, Blake would like to pursue a position as a procurement forester. Eventually, he would like to pursue a Masters Degree in Forest Resources (MFR) at UGA to position himself well to enter a career with a TIMO or REIT.
“Our Association proudly supports students at the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources,” McWilliams said. “We understand the critical importance of well-educated forestry professionals to the sustainability of our state’s working forests, and we appreciate the efforts of young students who are passionate about the field.”
This year, GFA will also present a scholarship to a student enrolled in the forestry program at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. In addition, the Georgia Tree Farm System is currently accepting scholarship applications for college bound high school seniors, college freshman, sophomores and juniors. Applicants must be a legal dependent of a Certified Georgia Tree Farmer in the American Tree Farm System for at least two years. The deadline for applications is May 15. Download the Tree Farm Scholarship Application →