STUDENT ACTIVITIES
Welcome to the 70th Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference! The program at this year’s meeting will offer many opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students to make connections with other students and professionals, learn important job-seeking skills, build their network within the fish and wildlife community, and maybe even have a little fun! The links below will take you to information about specific student activities during the conference, as well as a very helpful FAQ to help you prepare for the conference, whether this is your first time attending or you are a seasoned veteran. If you have any questions about student activities or the content on this page, please contact Student Activities Chairs, Stacy Lischka (slischka@illinois.edu) or Gary E. Potts (Gary.Potts@illinois.gov).
Frequently Asked Questions about the Midwest Conference
Not sure how to introduce yourself to a professional?
Not sure what to wear to the conference?
Click here for a crash course in conference etiquette!
Beginning Your Professional Journey Workshop
Want to learn more about a highly-reviewed workshop that will help you
hone your interviewing skills and plan for your future go here!
Conference Mentoring
Would you like to meet individually with a professional to learn more about their professional journey? Would you like to make networking at the conference a little easier?
Click here to learn how to sign up for conference mentoring!
Janice Lee Fenske Memorial Award for Outstanding Students
Click here to learn how to apply to be one of 25 outstanding students
selected and formally recognized for your achievements. Finalists will be invited to
attend an exclusive breakfast in honor of the late Jan Fenske and two
awardees will receive a $500 scholarship.
Student-Professional Mixer
Looking for a place to chat with professionals and other students from around the Midwest?
To learn more about the Student-Professional Mixer, a perfect place
to meet new people, connect with potential employers and have a little fun go here
Connect with Other Students
Looking to share a room or a ride to the conference?
Wondering if friends from other Universities are attending?
To connect to other students through the Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference Facebook page go here
Frequently Asked Questions about the Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference
Thanks to Rebecca Christoffel and the Madison Student Activities Committee
for permission to use this information!
What is the appropriate attire?
In terms of students, the appropriate attire for a professional conference is business casual. If you happen to be making a poster or oral presentation, you’ll want to “gussie” up for the event, but during the remainder of the conference, you’ll find that people generally wear business casual. Jeans may be acceptable in some instances, but you certainly won’t miss with casual dress pants and a button down blouse or shirt.
How about my body piercings and tattoos?
Tattoos and body piercings have gained incredible popularity in the past 10-15 years. However, at a conference or at any sort of a professional function, the safe bet is to leave your tongue or nose ring at home and conceal rather than emphasize tattoos. Many of the professionals with whom you may work may not be as enamored of the piercings or tattoos as you are and you may cheat yourself out of opportunities by displaying piercings or tattoos.
How do I go about meeting the people that might hire me as an employee or take me on as a graduate student?
Come to the all-day student workshop on Sunday entitled “Beginning your Professional Journey”, where you’ll learn about networking and where many professionals will be helping out for the day. Students will have breaks and lunch with the professionals and will have one on one interaction with them throughout the day.
Sign up for Conference Mentoring! We will pair interested students and professionals for the duration of the conference. Professionals are encouraged to meet with their student mentee early in the conference, maybe over lunch or dinner, to share their advice on how to best navigate the student to professional transition. Learn directly from an experienced individual how they made the “big decisions.”
Attend the Sunday evening reception. Beforehand, you might read over your program and abstracts of presenters whom you would like to meet. Then, seek those people out and introduce yourself and ask them about their work – everyone loves to talk about themselves!
Come to the Monday night Student-Professional Mixer! Employers and academics from throughout the region will be on hand to talk with students about potential positions either in the workforce or as graduate students. Be sure to bring multiple copies of your resume and business cards to leave with people!
OK, now I’ve talked with the person, but I need to move on. How do I gracefully extricate myself? How long should I talk with any one individual?
Once you’ve attentively listened to the person and have asked them your questions of interest, and are ready to move on, there are several tactics that can be used to close the conversation. For example:
“Dr. White, it was fascinating talking with you. I look forward to your presentation on Tuesday. Thanks for taking the time to tell me about opportunities in your lab. Here’s my card. Will you please contact me if you receive funding for the project that we discussed?”
and with that, you give Dr. White your card, and move on to the next person with whom your wish to speak.
If you don’t necessarily want to follow up with the person in the future, you might use the excuse that you want to refresh your drink, or look at your watch and exclaim that you need to move along to meet with a friend or other acquaintance, etc.
You want to make several connections at the conference, as do the professionals who will be in attendance. A good rule of thumb in terms of time might be as long as it takes to gather the desired information, but probably no longer than about ten minutes, unless you’ve been asked to join the individual for a meal or to be introduced to his or her colleagues.
The key is to remember that being at a conference is a little like being on one “very long” job interview. You must be on your best behavior the entire time. This does not only include the conference venue. These same individuals may be at the restaurant or bar that you and your friends decide to visit on any given evening. The whole time you are at a conference, you are being evaluated as a potential employee or student. You might not want your potential future graduate advisor witness your dance with the bar stool or your karaoke performance.
How do I leave information about myself with people that I’m either interested in working under as a student or as an employee?
It’s not too early to have a business card to distribute at meetings. Here are a couple of pointers regarding business cards. You probably don’t want to be distributing a business card on which you have listed your hotmama@yahoo.com account. If you have a web page listed, be sure that you feel that you are presented in a professional manner on that web page. You are making a “professional” contact, not a personal contact. Do you really want the Chief of the State Wildlife Division to see you snorting beer out your nose? The point is to think beforehand about the information that you’re providing and what the individual will view, should they go to a web page.
I don’t know that I want to volunteer at the conference. Is it really worth it?
Actually, especially if you are uncomfortable stepping out and introducing yourself at mixers, you might find that volunteering is a wonderful way to meet professionals and to make a very positive first impression. They’ll notice that you ARE a volunteer and are helping to make the conference a success. You’ll need to gather information from them if you are moderating a session, and by doing so, will start to get to know those professionals. It will be easier to talk with them when you meet them again, either at the current conference or in the future.
I’m just a student. Surely I don’t need to attend the business meeting of TWS or AFS?
There’s no better way to send the signal that you’re serious about your chosen profession than to get involved as a student in your local and/or regional TWS or AFS chapter. Students, actually free help from anyone, is greatly appreciated by professional societies, and it’s a FABULOUS way to meet the professionals with whom you would like to work or learn from. It also gets you on professionals’ radar screen because you have a role in the local or regional chapter.
Beginning Your Professional Journey Workshop
Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009
8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Are you trying to figure out the requirements and best way to apply to graduate school, or what types of positions employers have for new graduates and what they're looking for in future employees? Eager to prepare for those inevitable interview questions such as "Why should we hire you for this position?" If so, 'Beginning your Professional Journey' is the workshop for you! Four sessions will include Resumes and Professional Correspondence, Academic and Employer Panels, Networking, and Interview Skills. Participants will have opportunities to practice their newly acquired skills during the Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference and will receive binders full of resource materials for future use.
Participants from the past 2 years enthusiastically endorsed the workshop. "This workshop far exceeded all expectations that were held by students. We came out of it with a feeling that we were more equipped to start applying for jobs and for graduate schools. I think every undergraduate should attend this workshop!"
Specifically designed for undergraduates, this all-day workshop is available to students for only $20 and is limited to the first 50 pre-paid registrants.
Contact Rebecca Christoffel with questions about this workshop.
Conference Mentoring
Are you a little nervous about attending your first Midwest Conference? Or are you a seasoned veteran student interested in meeting more professionals in your field? Would you like the chance to meet and talk individually with a one of the professional attendees to learn about their professional journey? If so, sign up for the Conference Mentoring at this year’s meeting!
We will pair interested students with professionals of similar interests to give you the opportunity to interact personally with each other. Graduate and undergraduate students are encouraged to participate. Professionals will represent management agencies, academic institutions, and non-government organizations in multiple specialties from around the Midwest. This is a unique opportunity to get to know a professional from outside your normal group of colleagues!
Several weeks before the conference, we will forward contact information to mentors (professionals) and mentees (students). We encourage you to meet for lunch or dinner early in the conference to get to know each other and to continue your interactions during the sessions, social events and even after the conference has ended! Use this opportunity to get to know someone in your field personally, and get another perspective on what it means to be a fish or wildlife professional today!
Student Mentee Responsibilities:
Contact your mentor before the meeting to determine how and when you will meet.
Come prepared with some questions to discuss with your mentor.
Be prepared to share some things about yourself and where you’d like to take your career in fish or wildlife management.
Professional Mentor Responsibilities:
Contact your mentee before the meeting to determine how and when you will meet.
Engage your mentee during sessions, meetings, social events and at other times to discuss what being a professional means to you and in your field.
Be prepared to share your experiences and professional journey.
Introduce your mentee to other professionals who they may be interested in speaking with.
If you are interested in signing up for the Conference Mentoring activity, please indicate that on your registration form. Don’t forget to include your area of interest so that we may match you with an appropriate mentor!\
Janice Lee Fenske Memorial Award for Outstanding Students
Monday, December 7, 7:30-8:30 a.m.
Springfield, Illinois
Sponsored by:
Illinois Chapter of the American Fisheries Society
Illinois Chapter of The Wildlife Society
Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference Steering Committee
We are pleased to accept applications from students for the Janice Lee Fenske Memorial Award. Up to 25 outstanding students majoring in fisheries or wildlife management will be selected, formally recognized for their achievements, and invited to attend an exclusive breakfast held during the Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference in honor of the late Jan Fenske. The breakfast will provide a unique opportunity for students to meet and closely network with many fish and wildlife leaders from around the region.
Undergraduate and graduate students who plan to attend the Conference are encouraged to apply. Student finalists will be selected based on academic ability and scholarly achievements. Two of the student finalists, one majoring in fisheries management and one majoring in wildlife management, will be presented with a Fenske Memorial Award that includes a scholarship of $500. The two winners of the Fenske Memorial Award will be selected based on the characteristics that made Jan a remarkable fisheries biologist, including enthusiasm to protect fisheries and wildlife resources through management activities, selflessness and motivation to teach others, interest in professional involvement, and integrity, positive attitude, and compassion. For more information, please visit the Michigan AFS website.
To apply, please submit a resume including your GPA, two letters of recommendation from academic advisors or professionals in fisheries or wildlife management, and a cover letter including future career goals and reasons for attending the Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference to:
Jessica Mistak, Fenske Award Committee Chair
mistakjl@michigan.gov
Deadline for submission is October 30, 2009. E-mail submissions are preferred. Please have the recommendation letters e-mailed directly from the academic advisor or resource professional.
Student applicants selected as finalists will be notified by November 20, 2009.
“I applied for this award after hearing about it from my advisor and reading about Janice’s story and all of the qualities that made her so special, both professionally and personally. I had a wonderful time at the breakfast where I met other students and professions. We discussed everything from graduate projects to wildlife education, and I barely ate the delicious food because I was having such a good time mingling. I knew I was in a pool of amazing applicants so when my name was called for the award I was surprised and honored. Receiving the award meant so much to me, helped me to purchase books for school, and I aspire to represent the qualities that Janice embodied and the award stands for.” -Mackenzie Shardlow, 2008 Fenske Award Recipient
Student-Professional Mixer
Monday, Dec. 7, 2009
6:30 – 7:30 pm – Students only
7:30-9:30 pm – All conference attendees
You are invited to attend the Student-Professional Mixer on Monday evening, December 7, 2009 from 6:30PM – 9:00PM at the Hilton Hotel.
Students are invited to arrive early for pizza and soft-drinks from 6:30 to 7:30 pm. Come early to get a chance to meet some of your fellow students at the meeting, learn a little about how to network in a social setting, and enjoy some refreshments.
The mixer will officially kick off at 7:30 pm when all conference attendees are invited to mingle with students. Professionals will be asked to apply a sticker to their name tag upon entry to identify their interests and type of employment. Snacks and beverages will be provided.
This mixer will be a special opportunity for students to meet with representatives of state and federal agencies, private companies, non-government organizations and universities. What an opportunity to discuss graduate school, your career and share some relaxed social time with others in your profession!
Students and professionals are encouraged to participate in this important event to support the future generation of our field!
For more information contact:
Student Events Co-Chairs
Gary E. Potts or Stacy Lischka
Connect with Other Students
Are you looking for a roommate for the conference? Or someone to share a ride with to Springfield? Maybe some advice from other students who’ve been to this conference before? Do you have questions about the conference you just can’t find an answer to anywhere else?
Join the Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference group on Facebook here
Use this group to connect with other students and professionals before and after the conference!
