The David Belk Cannon Foundation has awarded the South Carolina Waterfowl Association (SCWA) a $500,000 grant to fund a fellowship program for students enrolled in the SCWA Gary Dietrich Wildlife Management Apprentice Program. The name of the fellowship program will be the “Warlick-Rankin-Matthews Quail and Wildlife Management Fellowship.” Andy Warlick, Richard Rankin, and Gene Matthews, who live in Gastonia, North Carolina, were high school classmates and athletic teammates, and are lifelong friends, hunting buddies, and community volunteer partners.
According to SCWA Chief Executive Officer, David Wielicki, “this generous gift will endow two fellowship positions in our apprentice program bringing the total number of apprentices to nine. The mission of the program is to train future generations of qualified wildlife managers who will have a long-term positive impact on wildlife habitat. This gift from the David Belk Cannon Foundation will have a perpetual impact on generations of wildlife habitat professionals and wildlife habitat.”
Candidates with “wildlife management” or “natural resource” Associates, Bachelors or Master of Science degrees are encouraged to apply. Apprentices complete a rigorous two-year hands-on program while receiving an annual stipend with lodging. The program covers all aspects of waterfowl, quail, turkey, dove and deer habitat as well as hunt management. Recipients of the Warlick-Rankin-Matthews Quail and Wildlife Management Fellowship will receive additional training in Quail habitat and hunting management. Upon program graduation, SCWA staff will work to place each apprentice in a top-quality wildlife management position in the public or private sector. For more information, contact Jonathan Patrick, our SCWA Wildlife Habitat and Apprentice Program Director at jonathan@scwa.org or 803-968-7995.