ROGER'S OUTDOOR NEWS SCHOLARSHIP AVAILABLE

Wisconsin Outdoor Communicators Association • President—Patrick Durkin • Vice President – Bob Haase • Secretary/Treasurer – Laurel Steffes September 11, 2017 Subject: UW-Stevens Point Student Awarded Writing Scholarship Stevens Point, WI – The Wisconsin Outdoor Communicators Association (WOCA) in cooperation with the Outdoor Heritage Education Center (OHEC) has awarded its annual scholarship to University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point undergraduate student Shay Spatz of Westfield, WI. Her application featured a video presentation on the Candlelight Hike UW-Stevens Point has every semester at the nature reserve on campus. She was the multimedia reporter for the school newspaper, The Pointer, during the making of the video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvF5rtQdB7A Spatz is completing a degree in media communication with a minor in environmental communication and hopes to become a documentary filmmaker and documentary photographer for the national parks. Wisconsin Outdoor Communicators Association (WOCA) is an organization of professional outdoor writers, photographers, and radio and television communicators. Membership is open to anyone involved in outdoor communications. The group offers the annual $1500 competitive scholarship in cooperation with the Outdoor Heritage Education Center to encourage and support student interest in communicating information about conservation and outdoor recreational activities through print, radio social media and television. “As our population becomes increasingly urban, experience with the natural world and opportunities to enjoy the outdoors can be hard to come by,” said WOCA President Patrick Durkin. “Helping foster that connection is critical to developing tomorrow’s conservation stewards.” In recommending Spatz for the award, media Professor Alex Ingersol noted her classwork reveals high stands, talents as a media producer, and a rigorous and collaborative work ethic. . In 2018 WOCA will award a $1,500 to any student enrolled in a Wisconsin-based college or university who has a demonstrated interest in outdoors recreational communication. Interested applicants should visit WOCA’s website at http://www.w-o-c-a.org/ The scholarship is jointly funded by WOCA and the Outdoor Heritage Education Center in Hazel Green. http://www.outdoorheritageeducationcenter.com/ WOCA’s 2018 annual meeting will be July 20-22 at Trees for Tomorrow in Eagle River