The UMass Amherst Department of Environmental Conservation (ECo) recognized outstanding students, faculty, and staff during its annual 2026 Scholarship Award Picnic on May 14, 2026. The event brought together members of the ECo community to celebrate academic excellence, leadership, and service across the department's diverse programs.
Hosted by Department Head Alex Schreyer, the picnic featured scholarship and award presentations recognizing undergraduate and graduate students in Building & Construction Technology, Natural Resources Conservation, Forest Ecology & Conservation, Wildlife Ecology & Conservation, Fisheries Ecology & Conservation, Urban Forestry & Arboriculture, Water Resources, and Environmental Science.
Graduate students were honored through several competitive awards and scholarship funds, including the Blodget Fund for Ornithological Studies, the Dan Oleksak Scholarship, the Richard Cronin Fisheries Research Fund, the Brian Moeckel Memorial Scholarship Fund, and the Paula Milner Memorial Scholarship Fund. Presentations were led by Graduate Program Director Kristina Stinson.
The department also recognized outstanding seniors across multiple academic programs, highlighting exceptional achievement in academics, leadership, engagement, and professional development. Students received support through a wide range of endowed scholarships and memorial funds that reflect the department's longstanding commitment to student success and experiential learning.
In addition to scholarship recognitions, new initiates were welcomed into the Xi Sigma Pi Society, the national forestry honor society, celebrating their dedication to scholarship and professional excellence.
The annual Scholarship Award Picnic serves as an opportunity for the department to celebrate the accomplishments of its students while recognizing the generosity of alumni, donors, and friends whose support helps advance student success in environmental conservation and related fields. The department congratulates all award recipients and graduating seniors and wishes them continued success in their future endeavors.
2026 Award Recipients
BUILDING & CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY
Michael McNally, Presenter
- Outstanding Seniors - Building & Construction Technology: Brennan Ibbitson
- Associated General Contractors of Western Massachusetts: Building and Construction Technology Endowment: Ana Guaman and Cadighan Gladu
- Alumni Scholarship for Academic Merit - Building & Construction Technology: Annabel Culbreth-Loomis and Lucas Oles
- Building and Construction Technology Alumni Scholarship for Leadership: Brennan Ibbitson
- Harry L. Folsom Award from the Donald B. Hyde Memorial Scholarship Fund: D'jackyna Celestin
- Harry and Virginia Braconier Scholarship: Tom Peti
- Henry E. Zottoli Memorial Scholarship: TJ Michel and John Bowler
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION GRADUATE STUDENT AWARDS
Dr. Kristina Stinson, Presenter
- Blodget Fund for Ornithological Studies: Alexis Laskowski
- Dan Oleksak Scholarship: Josh Freniere, Guthrie Diamond, Taylor Lucey
- Richard Cronin Fisheries Research Fund: Mikayla Newbrey
- Brian Moeckel Memorial Scholarship Fund: Shelby Truckenbrod
- Paula Milner Memorial Scholarship Fund: Annaliese Seibel
NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION
~ Environmental Conservation ~
Lena Fletcher, Presenter
- Outstanding Seniors – Environmental Conservation: Christopher Phillips
- Outstanding Senior - NRC Program Engagement & Leadership: Eric Pietrewicz, Cora Attias-Inzano, Lauren Carpenter, Christine Ziadeh
- Warner Natural Resources Conservation Scholarship: Samantha Dingee, Kylie Charron, Tove Schweitzer, Alanna Ertel, Kennedi Holmes, Teagan Fraser, August Mai, Brianna Abend, Keely Zuber, Robin Withers
- Charles Mason Powell Restoration Fund for the Conservation of Natural Resources: Sylvan Knight and Ian Buchanan
- W. Roy Elliot Memorial Fund: Eric Pietrewicz, Cyd Roy-Clark, Ava Liberty
- Ned Taft Scholarship Fund in Environmental Conservation: David Sheldon, Rel Cavanagh, Gabriel Rua, Tammy Nguyen, Maria Sanchez Roa
- Margaret and Stanley Baran Scholarship: Cora Attias-Inzano
- New England Outdoor Writers Association: Thomas Nuhfer and Maya Rao
- Herschel G. Abbott Natural Resources Conservation Award: Cyd Roy-Clark
- Arnold D. Rhodes Natural Resources Conservation Memorial Award: Samuel Hunt
- Donald L. Mader Natural Resources Conservation Memorial Award: Kira Kueppenbender, Cyd Roy-Clark, Maria Sanchez Roa
~ Forest Ecology & Conservation ~
Dr. Malcolm Itter, Presenter
- Outstanding Senior - Forest Ecology & Conservation: Cora Attias-Inzano
- Marlene A. Corbut Scholarship: Eric Pietrewicz
- Edwin A. Pruchnik Memorial Scholarship: Cora Attias-Inzano and Ren Cattafe
- Harry L. Folsom Hoo Hoo Club Endowment Fund (Forestry): Gavin O'Connor
- Adrian Beau Meyer Forestry Scholarship: Ava Liberty, Cyd Roy-Clark, Kyle Henry
- Frank M. West Forestry Scholarship: Ren Cattafe, Harrison Raycroft, Sarah Jones
~Initiates in Xi Sigma Pi Society~
Dr. Malcolm Itter, Presenter
- Maya Rao, Calvin Poole, Eleanor McAden, Emma Waldron, Teagan Fraser, Maxwell Lenci, Hans Boericke, Elizabeth Howard, Kylie Charron, Sarah Jones, Ren Cataffe
~ Wildlife Ecology & Conservation ~
Dr. Huw Lloyd, Presenter
- Outstanding Senior – Wildlife Ecology & Conservation: Natalia Kepczynski
- Christopher Martin Scholarship Fund: Christine Ziadeh
~ Fisheries Ecology & Conservation ~
Dr. Adrian Jordaan, Presenter
- Outstanding Seniors – Fisheries Ecology & Conservation: Jadyn Hood and David Sheldon
- Roger J. Reed Fund: Alexa Hershberger and Chris Emond
- Norwottuck Fish and Game Club Scholarship: Ava Liberty, Eric Pietrewicz, Cora Attias-Inzano, Samantha Dingee
~ Urban Forestry and Arboriculture ~
Rick Harper, Presenter
- Outstanding Seniors – Urban Forestry and Arboriculture: June Moulis
~Water Resources~
Dr. Timothy Randhir, Presenter
- Outstanding Senior-Water Resources: Olivia Rogers
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
Dr. Steven Petsch, Presenter
- Outstanding Seniors – Program Engagement and Leadership: Fiona Jordan, Kayla Pacheco, Hannah Steinbrecher, Cam Swart
- Outstanding Senior – Transfer Student: Leo Windels
- Outstanding Seniors – Natural Systems: Tyler Pelt and Caralyn Rexroad
- Outstanding Seniors – Environment and Society: Hannah Steinbrecher
- Outstanding Senior – Environmental Quality: Lotus Carlson
- Linda G. Lockwood Environmental Sciences Fund: Hannah Steinbrecher and Olivia Whynott
- Shepard Environmental Sciences Fund: Hannah Steinbrecher, Hailey Fink, Graham Williams
- Ned Taft Internship Fund in Environmental Science: Chloe Milliken and Wesley Parent
Celebrating Impending Retirees & Departing Faculty
- Charles Schweik
- Carl Fiocchi