NRA Women’s Wildlife Management/Conservation Scholarship

by
posted on February 6, 2017
ahwire_ah2015_fs.jpg

In the July 2015 issue of American Hunter, we wrote about how the National Rifle Association supports wildlife conservation through the Women’s Wildlife Management/Conservation Scholarship (WWMCS). The scholarship is the 2006 brainchild of the Women’s Policies Committee of the NRA and is intended to help preserve national resources for future generations through educational subsidies. We thought it would be interesting to follow the career track of one who put the scholarship to good use, the 2009 WWMCS recipient, Samantha Pedder.

From 2011 to 2015, Samantha was the Hunter Outreach Coordinator for the Game Commission in her home state of Pennsylvania, where she oversaw the agency’s efforts to recruit, retain and reactivate Pennsylvania’s hunters and shooters. In April 2015, she took on national-level responsibilities as the manager of diversity and outreach for the National Shooting Sports Foundation. American Hunter was not surprised to learn that Samantha continued with her commitments to wildlife management as the director of business development for the Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports. In this capacity, she works with state fish and wildlife agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and industry members to develop national strategies to recruit, retain and reactivate hunters and recreational shooters.

“To some, hunting and target shooting is a lifestyle; to others, a profession. Fortunately for me, it is both. Each day I am thankful to work in this field, and I recognize that it took the support of many people, including my family, mentors and colleagues, and programs such as the WWMCS, to get me to this point. Now, I have spent the early years of my career addressing the challenges that others face when they attempt to learn to hunt or target shoot. The outdoor world provided me with so many opportunities, and I view it as my role to make sure others, especially other women, are as fortunate as I to experience these.”  

In her free time, Samantha enjoys hunting, target shooting and spending time with her family outdoors.

Samantha holds a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife and Fisheries Management from Penn State University and a Master of Science in Natural Resources from Utah State University, and is currently pursuing a Master of Business Administration from Georgia Southern University.

To support the Women’s Wildlife Management/Conservation Scholarship, please send contributions to The NRA Foundation, c/o Ruthann Sprague, 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030. Contributions to The NRA Foundation Inc. are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by federal law. Your contributions provide a renewable, one-year $1,000 scholarship. Applicants must complete the online forms no later than November 1 each year.

Latest

MAIN Meat Cooking
MAIN Meat Cooking

Slow Cooker Honey & Garlic Venison and Bear Loins

Looking for a way to introduce a new audience to bear meat? Check out this recipe, from contributor Brad Fenson, for an easy way to do it.

Re-evaluating the 20-Gauge

Thanks to technological advancements in ammunition, the 20-gauge is now nearly as capable as a 12-gauge. It wasn’t always that way, however, nor was it always viewed in a positive light.

Opening Day Turkey Hunting Tactics

Hunters who don’t map out a plan of action beyond when to wake up risk getting skunked. Here’s insight into the mind of turkeys to help you pick the right spots to set up, and when to move and call to outfox toms from sunup to sundown.

8 Great New Hunting Rifles for 2023

Here’s a closer look at some of the most exciting hunting rifles introduced this year.

Recipe: Oven Barbecue Venison Steak

Contributor Brad Fenson gives his audience a recipe that will help keep a venison steak nice and moist in the oven.

Behind the Bullet: .370 Sako Magnum

In 2003, Finnish firearms manufacturer Sako released its own variant of the 9.3mm rimless cartridge: the 9.3x66mm Sako, or as it is known in the U.S., the .370 Sako Magnum. It delivers performance on par with the beloved .375 H&H in a package which can hold one additional round in the magazine in a lighter rifle.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.