Awards

Description: The highest honor bestowed by The Wildlife Society is the Aldo Leopold Memorial Award for distinguished service to wildlife conservation. The basic selection criterion is the significance of an individual’s contribution(s) to the wildlife field. Recipients receive a medal, plaque and honorary membership in The Wildlife Society.

Following Aldo Leopold’s death in April 1948, there was much sentiment within The Wildlife Society for establishing an award medal in his memory. The first medal, sculpted by Gifford MacGregor Proctor, was awarded to J.N. Darling at the Society’s 1950 meeting in San Francisco.

Models were finished that year and dies were cast early in 1951. After the 1951 meeting, one medal was presented privately to Aldo Leopold’s wife, Estella, as a token of friendship and respect. An engraved medal was sent (a year late) to J.N. Darling, and a second annual presentation was made to Carl D. Shoemaker.

Award Criteria: It is expected that the individual has a well-established and distinguished career that has been of undoubted significance to the cause of wildlife conservation. Individuals who bring their skills and talents to wildlife conservation from across society and across the world will also be considered. This award cannot be given posthumously. Nominations for this award will remain open for two years after initial submission. If re-nominated the older nomination will be removed.

Nomination requirements: 

• A narrative that includes a statement emphasizing the basis for determining “distinguished service to wildlife conservation” 
• Detailed curriculum vitae/resume
• Up to five supporting letters

Read the 1950-2024 winners’ biographies.

2025
Terry Bowyer

2024
Maurice Hornocker

2023
Carol Chambers

2022
John L. Koprowski

2021
Michael K. Phillips

2020
John Organ

2019
W. Alan Wentz

2018
Leigh H. Fredrickson

2017
Winifred Kessler

2016
Dale R. McCullough

2015
James D. Nichols

2014
Robert J. Warren

2013
Anthony R. E. Sinclair

2012
Daniel J. Decker

2011
Kenneth P. Burnham

2010
Douglas H. Johnson

2009
Ronald F. Labisky

2008
Richard D. Taber

2007
James E. Miller

2006
Paul R. Krausman

2005
Charles Meslow

2004
David R. Anderson

2003
Nova J. Silvy

2002
Rollin D. Sparrowe

2001
John W. Mumma

2000
Gary C. White

1999
David R. Klein

1998
John J. Craighead

1997
Milton W. Weller

1996
Robert D. Nelson

1995
Jack H. Berryman

1994
James G. Teer

1993
L. David Mech

1992
Glen C. Sanderson

1991
Jack Ward Thomas

1990
Tony J. Peterle

1989
Laurence R. Jahn

1988
Willard D. Klimstra

1987
Thomas S. Baskett

1986
Robert A. McCabe

1985
Frank C. Bellrose

1984
Joseph P. Linduska

1983
Daniel L. Leedy

1982
Thomas G. Scott

1981
Louis A. Krumholz

1980
H. Albert Hochbaum

1979
Raymond F. Dasmann

1978
Henry S. Mosby

1977
C. H. D. Clarke

1976
John S. Gottschalk

1975
Russell E. Train

1974
Lucille F. Stickel

1973
Gustav A. Swanson

1972
Joseph J. Hickey

1971
Stanley A. Cain

1970
Ian McTaggart Cowan

1969
Durward L. Allen

1968
Stewart L. Udall

1967
Seth Gordon

1966
Homer S. Swingle

1965
A. Starker Leopold

1964
Harry D. Ruhl

1963
Clarence M. Tarzwell

1962
Paul L. Errington

1961
Walter P. Taylor

1960
Enrique Beltran

1959
Ernest F. Swift

1958
E. R. Kalmbach

1957
C. R. Gutermuth

1956
Hoyes Lloyd

1955
Clarence Cottam

1954
Harold Titus

1953
Ira N. Gabrielson

1952
Olaus J. Murie

1951
Mrs. Estella Leopold in honor of her late husband.

1951
Carl D. Shoemaker

1950
J. N. (Ding) Darling

Description: This award recognizes current TWS members who have distinguished themselves through exceptional service to the wildlife profession. TWS Fellows serve as ambassadors of The Wildlife Society and are encouraged to engage in outreach and other activities that will benefit and promote both TWS and the wildlife profession. Fellows are appointed for life. A maximum of two TWS Fellows per Section may be appointed annually, with an annual Society-wide total not to exceed 10, by vote of Council. Council has the discretion to select more than two nominees per Section up to a maximum of 10 Fellows. Sitting members of Council cannot be nominated. 

Award Criteria: The nominee must be a current member of The Wildlife Society who has maintained membership for at least 10 years, and active in TWS at section, chapter, working group or main/international level. Further, they should have a distinguished professional record that includes significant contributions to wildlife resources, management and the profession

Nomination requirements: 

• Provide the nominee’s name, institution, address, contact information, current position title and years in that role; if fewer than five years, include details of the two most recent prior positions with titles, institutions and years of service. 
• Submit a two page narrative: 
  • one-page should include a description of the nominee’s activity at the chapter, section or international level of The Wildlife Society. 
  • Page two should describe the nominee’s distinguished professional record highlighting significant contributions to wildlife resources and the profession.

Description: Caesar Kleberg was one of the great conservationists of his time. Born in Cuero, Texas, in 1873, he witnessed the impact of wildlife being decimated by unregulated hunting while working on his uncle’s ranch at the age of 27. As a result, Caesar set rules for hunting on the ranch as early as 1912. He then served for 20 years on the Game, Fish and Oyster Commission (the precursor to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department), and through that organization effectively stopped all hunting of wild turkeys in the state to promote their conservation. Subsequently, he enlisted the help and support of private landowners to work at restoration efforts for deer, turkey and quail.

Upon his death in 1946 the Caesar Kleberg Foundation for Wildlife Conservation was created. This Foundation has given in excess of $40 million to wildlife research projects and has created endowed positions at six universities. In 1981, the Foundation created the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, and in 2007 the organization made a substantial gift to The Wildlife Society to endow this award.

The Caesar Kleberg Award recognizes those who have distinguished themselves in applied wildlife research and is focused on those whose body of work, in both inquiry and discovery, has resulted in application of management and conservation “on the ground.” The award is not intended to honor the outstanding career accomplishments of research administrators or practitioners of wildlife management or conservation, for whom the Leopold Award is a better fit. In addition to the award plaque and commemorative medal, the recipient receives a complimentary TWS annual conference registration, travel expenses and a $2,000 check. A nominee’s eligibility for the Kleberg Award will not be affected by other awards received from The Wildlife Society (e.g., Leopold Award, Honorary Member and TWS Fellow).

Award Criteria: The nominee must have been a member of The Wildlife Society for much of their career. The nominee must have a sustained record of productivity in applied wildlife research. This award is intended to honor an individual’s record of applied research over a substantial period of time, rather than accomplishments involving a single research endeavor. The research must have had direct context and value for managing or conserving wildlife resources, with a focus on vertebrate species excluding fish. Any intellectual endeavors that result in acquired knowledge about wildlife and physical, biological or social processes that affect wildlife are eligible for this award. The nominee’s research responds to or has potential application to high-priority needs in wildlife management and conservation.

Applications from nominees whose research realizes significant improvements in wildlife management or conservation, on-the-ground management practices or wildlife policies, either by the researcher, wildlife managers, policy-makers or other applied scientists or practitioners are encouraged. The nominee has a national or international reputation for excellence in applied wildlife research. Heads of research organizations may be eligible for the award if they were intellectually involved in the research; i.e., contributed to the experimental design, analysis and/or application of said research. Nominations for this award will remain open for two years after initial submission. If re-nominated the older nomination will be removed.

Nomination requirements: 

• A nomination narrative that clearly outlines:
  • The nominee’s contributions to applied wildlife research, completely covering each of the five selection criteria listed above. 
  • An explicit link between the nominee’s career and a cumulative track record relative to wildlife research findings, recognized success and application of results that have high importance in the field of conservation and/or wildlife management. A list of publications can be included that alone is insufficient. 
• Nominee’s curriculum vitae/resume.
• Names and contact information for at least five references.

Description: Elizabeth Beard Losey, was an unsung pioneer in the field of wildlife management. She was the first woman to receive a Master of Science degree in wildlife management and conservation from the University of Michigan, persevered through numerous hurdles to become the first female wildlife biologist at the US Fish and Wildlife Service and later became the first female member of TWS. She was a pioneer of gender equality and her legacy in our profession is widespread and enduring.The Elizabeth Beard Losey Diversity Award recognizes an individual or organization, who demonstrates outstanding efforts in promoting diversity, equity and inclusion in the natural resource professions, especially wildlife conservation and education. Recognized activities may focus on encouraging diversity, equity and inclusion in the workforce, academic enrollment or organizational membership. Nominations can be submitted by a second party or can be self-nominated.

Award Criteria: Both individuals and organizations are eligible for the award. Individuals include anyone participating in a natural resource field. Organizations include public agencies, institutions of higher education, companies and non-governmental organizations. Evaluation criteria for individuals include leadership, innovation and tangible results. Evaluation criteria for organizations include: innovation and creativity, resource investment, overcoming challenges and obstacles, sustained efforts and tangible results. Nominations for this award will remain open for two years after initial submission. If re-nominated the older nomination will be removed.

Nomination requirements: 

• Nomination narrative that addresses how the nominee has excelled in promoting and/or accomplishing diversity, equity and inclusion in conservation (e.g., recruitment, mentoring, funding, program implementation).
•  At least one, but not more than three, letters of support.

Description: The Jay N. “Ding” Darling Memorial Award for Wildlife Stewardship Through Art was created in 2015 by The Wildlife Society and Sam Koltinsky, nationally recognized Darling expert continuing to champion the family interests of Darling’s grandson, Christopher “Kip” Koss, and his wife, Andrea. This award is intended to be a lasting recognition of the heritage established by Jay N. “Ding” Darling to promote wildlife and habitat conservation through art.  His legacy of artwork and associated conservation messages were instrumental in achieving significant wildlife conservation measures. Among them were the creation of the Federal Duck Stamp Program, National Wildlife Federation, Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit Program, the groundwork for today’s system of National Wildlife Refuges, and many broadly recognized cartoons advocating land and water conservation.“Ding” Darling was a prominent figure in the conservation movement, and in 1938 TWS gave him honorary membership in recognition of his significant contribution to wildlife stewardship. He also was the first recipient of the Aldo Leopold Memorial Award in 1950 — TWS’ highest honor for distinguished service to wildlife conservation. The award consists of a plaque that will be presented at The Wildlife Society’s Annual Conference. There is no monetary component to the award.

Award Criteria: This award encompasses and recognizes any type of “artistic” item or accomplishment that promotes, achieves or benefits wildlife stewardship. It could be an actual artwork piece(s), an endeavor, such as organizing the greatest number of applicants in a wildlife art effort (e.g., the Junior Duck Stamp Program), a photograph or image (e.g., digital, film), an artistic conservation information delivery structure or process or another medium that can be effectively described as an artistic way of promoting collaboration to support wildlife stewardship. The key consideration in this award is to acknowledge vision, concept, design and realization of artwork or art form that emulates what “Ding” Darling would have seen as conveying his message and values about land, water and wildlife conservation. Nomination relates to a recent (within three years prior to nomination deadline) artistic entity or the associated conservation outcome has demonstrably occurred within that time frame for an older artistic entity. There should be a clear link between the art and a conservation message, effort or outcome. Nominations for this award will remain open for two years after initial submission. If re-nominated the older nomination will be removed.

Nomination requirements: 

• A nomination narrative that clearly outlines the nominee’s contributions.
• Letters from at least two individuals or groups other than the nominator have provided statements of support or concurrence regarding the nominated item.
• A high resolution image(s) of the nominee’s work.

Description: The Donald H. Rusch Memorial Game Bird Scholarship was established to honor his legacy by contributing to studies of game bird biology. The award is presented annually to a graduate student studying any aspect of upland game bird or waterfowl biology and management. Studies of bird species not presently hunted because of conservation concerns are also eligible for consideration. This award was originally intended to continue for 20 years and expire in Sept. 2019. However, the scholarship was extended and maintained thanks to Chuck Meslow.

Donald H. Rusch was an avid hunter and angler, with a keen interest in all aspects of game bird biology and conservation. His career in the wildlife profession included research on game birds in Canada, the United States and South America, and contributed greatly to our understanding of ruffed grouse and Canada goose population ecology in particular. As a teacher, Rusch imparted great enthusiasm to his students, encouraged them to think critically and always maintained an open mind toward new ideas. As a scientist, Rusch believed in the value of long-term research over the entire geographic range of a species to provide a comprehensive understanding of population ecology. As a manager, he advocated the wise use of our wildlife resources, and emphasized the importance of scientific research to improve our understanding of wildlife populations and their conservation.


Award Criteria: Applicants must be registered in a master’s degree program (in even numbered years of application deadline) or doctoral degree program (in odd numbered years of application deadline) in wildlife biology, zoology, ecology or a related discipline at a university in North America, support hunting as a sustainable use of wildlife, and be a member of The Wildlife Society. Selection is  based on the applicant’s academic achievements, field experience, involvement in TWS and TWS organization subunits, leadership in education, research and wildlife management, and career interests. Project merit also will be considered and will be weighted to reflect the involvement of the candidate in its development and design. The award is intended to benefit students who show promise as wildlife educators, researchers and managers.

Nomination requirements: 

• A nomination narrative (maximum 4 pages, double spaced) that includes:
  • A description of what influenced the applicant’s entry into the wildlife field, leadership experience in education and research, participation in The Wildlife Society, future career goals and a brief statement regarding the applicant’s perspectives and appreciation of hunting as an integral aspect of wildlife management and wildlife-associated recreation.
  • A brief project description addressing the rationale for the study, the involvement of the candidate in selecting and designing the study, the experimental methods and the potential management implications of the research. Please list collaborators, other supporting individuals and estimated term of study (maximum three pages double-spaced).
• A resume (maximum two pages), including a description of research and field work experience, list of presentations and publications, academic awards and scholarships, and grade-point averages (overall undergraduate GPA and for each year of graduate school).
• A letter of support from the student’s academic advisor. The letter should address the need for and the significance of the research, as well as provide a candid appraisal of the student.

Description: The Ronald F. Labisky Graduate Fellowship in Wildlife Policy was created in 2021 through the generosity of Ronald F. Labisky. This graduate-level fellowship encourages early career wildlife scholars to understand, formulate and recommend wildlife policy on critical conservation issues and further encourages these wildlife scholars to pursue careers advancing wildlife policy issues with “Policy” defined as a “definite course or method of action selected from among alternatives and in light of given conditions to guide and determine present and future decisions.” This Fellowship is intended to provide supplemental funding to a student interested in pursuing a career that advances wildlife policy issues. Selected fellows will receive up to $10,000. A special TWS committee will select the award recipient and reserves the right to forgo an award selection if no suitable candidates apply.

Award Criteria: The award is presented annually to a full-time graduate student enrolled in an accredited university graduate-level degree program in wildlife biology, wildlife ecology, wildlife management or wildlife conservation in the United States, Canada or Mexico who has demonstrated a passion, ability and commitment to advancing wildlife policy. Graduate projects/research can be conducted outside of the United States, Mexico or Canada. Ideal candidates should convey strong writing and communication skills, express a strong interest in the development and advancement of wildlife policy, and provide evidence of commitment to the process of developing and implementing policy with the overarching goal of safeguarding our wildlife resources. Previous recipients can apply for a second year of funding, subject to continued qualification and selection by the committee. No more than two years of funding may be requested. Applicants should be members of TWS as of the date of submitting the application, and the selected candidate should maintain active membership throughout the life of the Fellowship stipend.

Nomination requirements:   

• Resume of academic and professional experiences 
• Nomination narrative: Two-page cover letter describing interest in and commitment to the goals of the fellowship fund, including interest in wildlife policy, if applying for a second year of funding this narrative can be up to four pages and should be a progress report clearly requesting a second year of funding
  • If applying for a second year of funding, include in the narrative (2-3 additional pages) that you are asking for second year of funding, and how first year of funding was used 
• Two-page letter describing interest in and commitment to the goals of the fellowship fund, including interest in wildlife policy
• Resume of academic and professional experiences
• Three letters of recommendation: 
  • Letter of recommendation from academic advisor that includes verification of enrollment in a Master’s or Doctorate-level degree program in the field of wildlife biology, ecology, management or conservation
  • Two from professional sources in the field of wildlife conservation

Description: The Student Chapter of the Year Award honors the exceptional achievements of a student chapter in advancing wildlife science and conservation. Student chapters are crucial to the success of The Wildlife Society’s mission. Through their innovative ideas, community engagement and professional development offerings, student chapters strengthen TWS’ recruitment and retention efforts and support the foundation of wildlife profession for years to come. Many leaders in TWS can trace their engagement back to a student chapter.

Student chapters are invited to nominate themselves for the award. Nominations provide information about chapters with respect to (1) promoting professional standards, (2) enhancing knowledge and technical capabilities, (3) encouraging professional stewardship of wildlife and TWS goals, (4) advocating sound basis for conservation policy decisions, (5) increasing awareness and appreciation for conservation and the wildlife profession and (6) demonstrating financial stability and growth of the chapter. Student chapters receive a $1,000 travel grant to send a student delegation to TWS’ Annual Conference.

Award Criteria: Nominations are encouraged from any interested chapter each year, and student chapters may self nominate. A program could only be awarded this award once every four years. Reviewers of these nominations would be allowed to give this award twice in one year if one chapter is an established program and the other a newly formed or smaller chapter. Please note, a student chapter can only be awarded this award once every four years.

Nomination requirements:

• Provide your chapter’s name, date established, contact details and report on activities from May 1 to April 30.

Descriptions for each goal will be entered individually during the submission process in narrative form. Nomination narratives across all goals can not exceed 2,000 words.

• Describe efforts under Goal 1 to educate students and educators about TWS certification, professionalism, job qualifications and ethical conduct.
• Under Goal 2, report workshops, symposia, conferences or conclaves your chapter conducted or attended, and describe communications such as newsletters, listservs or websites.
• For Goal 3, describe habitat management or conservation projects and any awards programs recognizing stewardship or service.
• Under Goal 4, provide information on policy-related technical papers or position statements and cooperative efforts with other organizations.
• For Goal 5, describe activities that increased public awareness of wildlife conservation, efforts to build relationships with landowners, groups or governments, and initiatives to document the profession’s history.
• Finally, for Goal 6, provide membership numbers, officer and board information, chapter expenses, efforts to promote membership in TWS, strategies to involve students in chapter activities and initiatives to diversify the chapter and profession.
• Provide a letter of support from the student chapter advisor or a letter of support from state chapter or section representative.
• General suggestions: highlight key words or phrases that call attention to the most important aspects of each activity and/or accomplishment; Refrain from preparing lengthy text; focus on statements most relevant and substantive; If possible, provide a few illustrated examples of the most notable three to five accomplishments and outcomes for the chapter during the year, emphasizing those that have cross-cutting value to chapter mission and objectives.

The Special Recognition Award honors truly exceptional contributions that advance wildlife conservation, ecology, management, education, and the mission of TWS. Designed to be both inclusive and prestigious, this award provides flexibility to recognize outstanding individuals, groups, students, Chapters, or partners whose work rises above expectations and delivers meaningful, lasting impact.

Unlike the rigid categories of our traditional award structure, the Special Recognition Award will now be granted to as many—or as few—nominees as warranted in a given year. The standard is intentionally high. Recipients must demonstrate extraordinary achievement, leadership, innovation, or service that meaningfully supports wildlife conservation or strengthens the profession. In some years, no award may be given. In others, multiple honorees may be recognized. It all depends on the depth and quality of nominations received.

The Special Recognition Award now encompasses, but is not limited to, accomplishments historically recognized through several legacy awards, including:

• The Jim McDonough “True Professional” Award
• Conservation education
• Wildlife restoration
• Distinguished service
• Chapter and group achievement
• Student and advisor leadership
• Honorary service

We hope that through this new model, excellence is celebrated thoughtfully, credibly, and with the prominence such achievements deserve. As with any new endeavor, TWS will monitor the effectiveness of this refreshed approach and make changes as necessary to ensure the continued integrity, fairness and significance of TWS awards.

Nomination Requirements

Nominations for the Special Recognition Award must include:

• Contact information for the nominee and nominator
• Narrative Statement describing the nominee’s contribution and why it is extraordinary to our profession and/or TWS.
• Letter of support (minimum of one, up to five), combined into a single document.
• Supporting materials, such as, a nominee’s CV, examples of work, and other relevant information (up to two additional files can be uploaded with the nomination).

Description: Our Wildlife Publication Awards recognize excellence in scientific literature of wildlife biology and management issued within the last three years. The publications selected are characterized by originality of research or thought and a high scholastic standard in the manner of presentation. Six categories of research or management-oriented publications are eligible for awards: book, edited book, article/journal paper, monograph, student paper and biography/history of wildlife biology.

Members of the Society are strongly oriented to the values of wildlife to people. Hence we are concerned with management and maintenance of wildlife populations within the natural environment. The award committee will be interested in, but not limited to, investigations into the biology and ecology of wildlife and their habitats that have direct or indirect implications for wildlife management, research and conservation.

Ordinarily, purely taxonomic, anatomical, physiological and similar treatments do not qualify. However, a Committee may decide, for example, that a paper on the effects of radioactive fallout on hummingbirds is within its purview. This would be most likely if such a publication helped to explain basic phenomena common to many species of wildlife.

Works recognized by this award of excellence are scientific writing characterized by originality of research or thought and a high scholastic standard in the manner of presentation. Publications reviewed will be research or management oriented. This would not ordinarily encompass text books, compilations, bulletins or purely popular writings. Fishery publications are excluded since these are the prerogative of the American Fisheries Society.

Award Criteria: Each year, works published in the prior three years are eligible for the award (e.g., in 2023, works published in 2020, 2021, and 2022 were eligible). Nominations submitted in previous years, but did not win, are also eligible for re-nomination if they still meet the nomination criteria.

Multiple-authored works are eligible on the same basis as single or dual authorships. All candidate works must be published in a standard outlet or format that makes them generally and permanently available or recoverable in the scientific literature of the world. Mimeographed or processed materials or unpublished theses do not qualify as publications for purposes of this award.

Six categories of research or management-oriented publications are eligible for awards: book, edited book, article/journal paper, monograph, student paper and biography/history of wildlife biology.

For the article/journal paper, only a discrete individual paper is eligible. A series of papers or companion articles are not eligible for the journal award.

For the student paper, the lead author must be a student and represent work that was completed predominately while the lead author was a student at university/college. The student should be the largest contributor to the writing and analysis, and in many cases contributed to the research idea. The paper must be published in a peer-reviewed publication. All papers where the student is lead author would be given equal weight, whether they be an undergraduate, MS or PhD student. Papers submitted with a “student” status could also be considered under the article/journal paper or monograph categories. Nominations for student paper must include: a cover letter, written by the advisor or student, clearly describing the student’s contributions and declaring which category they are submitting the paper for (i.e., student paper, article/journal paper and/or monograph). The nominated paper can only win in one category. The student does not need to be a member of TWS for the nominated year; however, being a TWS member will add bonus points for the Committee’s scoring process. If the paper is submitted in the journal or monograph category and wins, it is not eligible for the student paper in subsequent years. However, if the paper did not win in any nominated category, it can be resubmitted in the journal paper, monograph, or student paper category the following year if it meets the criteria.

Biography/History of Wildlife Biology, addresses any aspect of the history of wildlife biology. It includes biographies of distinguished wildlife biologists and ecologists; history of an idea, policy, etc. important in the field of wildlife biology; and narratives concerning personal experiences as a wildlife biologist, particularly in looking back over one’s career and how wildlife biology may have changed. This award category will be awarded every other year, or even numbered years (e.g., 2022, 2024, etc.).

Nomination requirements: When you decide to nominate a publication please send a nomination letter and a digital copy of the publication to aw****@******fe.org. Generally for authored and edited book nominations a hard copy of a nominated book or edited book will need to be sent to up to eight committee members by March 1. Once the digital materials are received, information on where to send hard copies will be provided to the nominator. Authors are encouraged to contact their publishers who usually are willing to provide books for nomination.