With my deepest sincerity I want to thank you for selecting me to receive the Idaho State Council of Trout Unlimited Graduate Scholarship. In my application I emphasized that by selecting me for this scholarship you were not only providing monetary funds to support the quality of my research but also providing recognition of the importance of a young scientist pursuing the field of Natural Resources. This recognition is the exact support I need to continue my career trajectory and the future of fisheries management in the United States. Finally, the research you are supporting has already uncovered vital information on endemic Bear Lake Sculpin. The results of my work will help the Idaho Department of Fish and Game and Utah Division of Wildlife Resources monitor the species in Bear Lake to ensure their persistence into the future. I cannot thank you enough.
Best,
Ethan Orach
Ethan’s essay for the scholarship follows…
Fisheries managers across the country seek to maintain a balance between recreational opportunities and the preservation of native species. Effective management requires adaptive and sound research that evaluates the past and the present to promote stability in the future of fisheries. As I devoted angler myself, I cherish the recreational fisheries opportunities I have pursued throughout my young adulthood, but my scientific interests in these fisheries is far deeper. As such, I have begun to pursue my M.S of Natural Resources at the University of Idaho. I strive to gain research experience, learn analytical techniques, and develop technical writing skills. I have a commitment to understanding the underlying mechanisms that constitute effective fisheries management. The skills I obtain from my degree will allow me to make impactful decisions as I pursue a career as a Fisheries Biologist.
Prior to pursing my masters, I completed my undergraduate degree in Wildlife Ecology at the University of Maine in 2021. I graduated with Summa Cum Laude honors. As an undergraduate student I was a track and field runner and the captain of the team during my senior year. Also, I was the vice president of the fishing club during my senior year and American Fisheries Society member. I developed my fisheries management work experience by working seasonal positions with Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and Idaho Department of Fish and Game. Through these opportunities, I have become proficient with a breadth of fish sampling gears and a diversity of sampling designs to achieve research objectives. My responsibilities have required analyzing datasets and have allowed me to complete published writing in regional management reports. At this point in my career, I am committed to my research project and will spend multiple summers collecting data in the field.
I believe I should be selected for this scholarship because of my commitment to make a positive impact in the natural resource community. I hope to bring innovative approaches to fisheries management as threats of climate change, habitat degradation, pollution, and the introduction of nonnative fishes increase.
