Each year the Wisconsin Chapter honors deserving members with one or two awards and three scholarships. The awards and scholarships are described below, along with the list of past honorees.
Bill Threinen Outstanding Service Award
Since 2000, this honor has been presented to individuals who have really gone the extra mile in service to our Chapter. This award is not given every year, and represents recognition of longtime commitment and outstanding dedication to the Wisconsin Chapter.
| Year | Recipient |
|---|---|
| 2021 | Bradley Eggold |
| 2019 | Tim Kroeff |
| 2015 | Pete Segerson |
| 2010 | Kurt Welke |
| 2008 | Steve Gilbert |
| 2005 | Steve Yeo |
| 2003 | Steve Yeo |
| 2002 | Don Fago |
| 2001 | George Boronow |
| 2000 | John Nelson |
Best Paper Awards
The Wisconsin Chapter recognizes three individuals for their outstanding scientific presentations at the annual meeting. The Steve Serns Award is given for the best paper presented by a fisheries professional, the Steve Yeo Award is given for the best presentation delivered by an undergraduate or graduate student and an award is given for the best poster presentation. The awards committee solicits judges to review papers during each annual meeting. A plaque and a check for $50 are presented to each winner.
| Year | Recipient |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Zach Lawson, Steve Serns Best Paper Award – Bridging Groundwater and Surface Waters; Relationships With Brook Trout |
| Ryan Eastman, John Lyons Best Speed Paper – Identifying Potential Sources of Natural Recruitment for Muskellunge in Green Bay, Lake Michigan. | |
| Dylan Undlin, Steve Yeo Student Paper Award – Salmonid Movement and Habitat Use in Minnesota Tributaries to Lake Superior | |
| Taylor Preul-Stimetz, Best Poster Award – Fish Community Rehabilitation | |
| 2025 | Max Wolter, Steve Serns Best Paper Award – What happened when we asked Nelson Lake to get Rad? |
| Evan Sirianni, John Lyons Best Speed Paper – Optimizing Instream Habitat Sampling: How many transects are enough? | |
| Maxwell Wilkinson, Steve Yeo Student Paper Award – Evaluating the distribution of Fish Community production in northern Wisconsin lakes | |
| Roni Maddox, Best Poster Award – Round Goby impacts to native fish | |
| 2024 | Dray Carl, Steve Serns Best Paper Award – If you protect it, they will come: Protected areas and Lake Whitefish in Lake Superior |
| Ryan Eastman, John Lyons Best Speed Paper – Identifying potential sources of natural recruitment of muskellunge in Green Bay, Lake Michigan | |
| Quinnlan Smith, Steve Yeo Student Paper Award – Long-term trends and effects of coarse woody habitat on fish communities | |
| Zachary Locklear, Best Poster Award – Water quality mapping across the Upper Manistee watershed to support Arctic Grayling reintroduction | |
| 2023 | Ryan Eastman, Steve Serns Best Paper Award – Lake Whitefish Spawning in Green Bay Tributaries: Genetics, Behavior, Dynamics, and Demographics |
| Lisa Izzo, John Lyons Best Speed Paper – Examining the Thermal Ecology of Walleye in Green Bay, Lake Michigan, Using Archival Temperature Loggers | |
| Kayla Reed, Steve Yeo Student Paper Award – Initial Insight of the Thermal Ecology of Lake Whitefish in Northwestern Lake Michigan | |
| Selina Walters (poster) – Effects of Riparian Habitat Type on Macroinvertebrate Drift in the Lower Plover River, Wisconsin | |
| 2022 Virtual | Zachary Feiner, Implications of increasingly unpredictable phenology for walleye recruitment |
| Joseph Mrnak (student), Is top-down control a requirement from food web restoration? Effects of a whole-lake invasive rainbow smelt removal and native cisco introduction | |
| Ben Breaker (poster), Evaluating maxillae as a non-lethal aging structure for Brook Trout and Brown Trout | |
| 2021 Virtual | Bryan Maitland, A long-term look at Wisconsin Brook and Brown Trout populations and the role of hydrologic change |
| Natalie Coash (student), Phenology and habitat utilization of spawning Brook Trout in the Little Plover River, WI | |
| Rebecca Henningsen (poster), Fecundity and reproductive potential of black bullhead in a north temperate lake | |
| Ben Martin (speed paper), Predation by a native planktivore exceeds an invasive invertebrate’s production | |
| 2020 Eau Claire, WI | Tom Cichosz, Dispelling common misconceptions about tribal spearing in Wisconsin |
| Aaron O’Connell (student), Evaluation of methods for estimating age and growth of Lake Sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) | |
| Dan Dembkowski (poster), Replicating northern pike cleithra ages using otoliths, pelvic fin rays, and scales: precision and sampling guidelines based on sex and total length | |
| Joseph Gerbyshak (speed paper), Digging deep: A look at the Shovelnose Sturgeon population in the lower Chippewa River | |
| Ethan Brandt (speed paper student), Assessing abundance of centrarchids and juvenile Yellow Perch in northern Wisconsin lakes with different Walleye recruitment histories | |
| 2019 Green Bay, WI | John Lyons. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (retired). Large-scale hybridization between longnose gar and shortnose gar in the Fox River drainage |
| Ben Martin (student). A perch is a perch; the role of individual trait variation in invasive species management | |
| Andrew Ransom (student). Lake whitefish larval production from Wisconsin tributaries to Green Bay | |
| 2017 Milwaukee, WI | Ryan Koenigs, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Downstream passage survival of lake sturgeon at two dams on the Wolf River, Wisconsin |
| Douglas Zentner (student), Using GIS to predict near shore habitat composition in lakes | |
| Benjamin Schleppenbach (poster), Genetic Origin of Walleye Stocked in the Manitowish Chain of Lakes, Vilas County, WI | |
| 2016 La Crosse, WI | Max Wolter, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. The Ups and Downs of Water Level Management on the Chippewa Flowage |
| Hadley Boehm (student), Identifying Recruitment Bottlenecks for Age-0 Walleye in Northern Wisconsin Lakes | |
| Dan Dembkowski (poster), Influence of Habitat Additions on Survival, Growth, and Condition of Extensively-reared Muskellunge | |
| 2015 Eau Claire, WI | Max Wolter, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Volunteer River Guides as a Source of Fisheries Data Collection. |
| Zachary Snoble (student), Using Side-scan Sonar to Assess Habitat use of Sub-adult Lake Sturgeon in the Wolf River, Wisconsin | |
| Keith Turnquist (poster), Use of Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction for Identification of Larval Walleye and Yellow Perch | |
| 2014 Green Bay, WI | Jeff Janvrin, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Method for estimating pre-dam distribution of centrarchid over-wintering habitat on the Mississippi River. |
| Zachary Beard (student), Evaluation of dorsal spines and scales as nonlethal alternatives to otoliths for estimating bluegill ages. | |
| Craig Kelling (poster), Use of DNA barcoding as a method for identifying partially-digested Fish in diet studies. | |
| 2013 Rothschild, WI | Daniel Iserman, University of Stevens Point. Evaluating Harvest Regulations for Lake Sturgeon in the White Rapids Section of the Menominee River. |
| Christine Koeller (student), A Comparison of Historical Changes in Lake Morphology of Six Inland Lakes in Wisconsin. | |
| Hadley Boehm (poster), Status and Trends of Wisconsin Musky Tournaments . | |
| 2012 Marinette, WI | Ron Bruch, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Use of a modified Form Factor to compare condition among North American lake sturgeon stocks. |
| Lucas Nathan (student), Temporal Stability of Lake Whitefish Stocks in Lake Michigan. | |
| Shannon Davis Foust (poster), Using Otolith Growth Chronology as an Archive of Environmental Change. | |
| 2011 Stevens Point, WI | Ron Bruch, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Recovery of the Lake Sturgeon Population in the Winnebago System, 1970-2010. |
| Matthew Faust (student), Age and Growth of Muskellunge in Wisconsin’s Ceded Territory | |
| Elliot Hoffman (poster), Comparison of otolith and scale methods for ageing bluegill and black crappie | |
| 2010 Green Bay, WI | Mike Seider, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Age, growth and maturity of siscowet lake trout in Wisconsin waters of Lake Superior, 1994-2007. |
| Shannon Davis-Foust (student), Using a Biochronology to Detect the Effects of Zebra Mussel Establishment and Food Resource Abundance | |
| 2009 Duluth, MN | Ron Bruch, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. “Modeling the population dynamics and sustainability of lake sturgeon” |
| Katherine Lee (student) – “Contrasting littoral and pelagic zooplankton diversity and abundance in northern temperate lakes.” | |
| Kevin McDonnell (student) – “The use of fixed videography to examine daily and seasonal activity rates of pumpkinseed in a Michigan, USA Lake” | |
| 2008 Wausau, WI | Ron Bruch (and Shannon Davis-Faust), Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. “Validation of true age of lake sturgeon and implications for population and harvest management” |
| Luke Roffler (student) (and Brian Sloss), University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. “Maintenance of genetic diversity in lake sturgeon restoration stocking” | |
| 2007 Milwaukee, WI | John Janssen, University of Madison-Milwaukee. “Lake trout spawning and fry production at Lake Michigan’s deep reefs” |
| Van de Hey, Justin (student) University of Wisconsin Stevens Point. “Genetic Structure Among Lake Michigan’s Whitefish Spawning Aggregates” | |
| 2006 Dubuque, IA (joint meeting with Iowa Chapter) | Vetrano, David M., Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. “History of the Wild Trout Stocking Progam in SW Wisconsin (La Crosse Area)” |
| Franckowiak, Ryan P (student), Brian L Sloss, and Michael Bozek, Wisconsin Cooperative Fisheries Research Unit, University of Wisconsin Stevens Point; Steven Newman, WDNR. “The impact of stocking on the genetic integrity of the walleye population in Escanaba Lake, Wisconsin” | |
| 2005 Onalaska, WI | Sloss, Brian L, and Ryan Franckowiak, Wisconsin Cooperative Fisheries Research Unit, University of Wisconsin Stevens Point; Martin Jennings, WDNR; Dennis Pratt, WDNR. “Utility of Molecular Genetic Analyses for Assessing Coaster Brook Trout Rehabilitation in Wisconsin” |
| Franckowiak, Ryan P (student), Brian L Sloss, and Michael Bozek, Wisconsin Cooperative Fisheries Research Unit, University of Wisconsin Stevens Point; Steven Newman, WDNR. “Temporal Genetic Change in the Escanaba Lake Walleye Population: Implications for Managing the Genetic Resources of Naturally Reproducing Populations” | |
| 2004 Marinette, WI (joint meeting with Michigan Chapter) | Roger Bergsted and Ray Argyle. “An In Situ Look at Chinook Salmon Temperature and Depth Preferences” |
| Nick Johnson. “Species specificity of the male sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) sea pheromone 3-keto petromyzonal sulfate” | |
| 2003 Madison , WI | Michael J. Hansen, Jennifer A Devin, and Stephen T Schram: “A Food Web Analysis of the Fish Community in Chequamegon Bay, Lake Superior” |
| G.G. Sass (student), J.F. Kitchell, S.R. Carpenter and J.J. Weis: “Fish Community Responses to a Whole Lake Manipulation of Littoral Zone Coarse Woody Debris” | |
| 2002 Wausau, WI | John Nelson, Brain Graber, and Martin Melchior: Managing thermal pollution in the upper Onion River. |
| Mark Rodgers (student), and Michael J Hansen: Catchability of adult walleyes to electrofishing in northern Wisconsin Lakes. | |
| 2001 Superior, WI | Ed Avery Response of a brook trout population to long term beaver control |
| Aaron Frey (student), Michael Bozek , Steven Newman and Clayton Edwards: Food habit and predation between walleye and smallmouth bass in a northern Wisconsin lake. | |
| 1999 LaCrosse, WI | Ruth King Wisconsins Safe Harvest System for Walleye Spearing Quotas and Angling Bag Limits. |
| Theresa Schrieier, V.K. Dawson and WH Gingerich: Summary of Chloramine-T efficacy call-in data to prevent or control bacterial gill disease | |
| 1998 Eau Clair, WI | Mike Vogelsang Use of Oxytetracycline to Evaluate Relative Contributions of Stocked Larval and Juvenile Walleye.” |
| 1997 Oshkosh, WI | Kurt Welke , Teresa Naimo, Pamela Thiel: An evaluation of relocation of unionid mussels into an artificial pond. |
| 1996 Stevens Point, WI | John Lyons: Implications of the recent decline in distibution and abundance of the state-endangered slender madtom. |
| Thomas Skip Sommerfeldt: Response of a bluegill population to two years of feeding in a small soft water lake. | |
| 1995 Madison, WI | Mike Bozek and Chris A. Picard: Validation of a land use model for protecting brook trout habitat in headwater streams of Northwestern Ontario during timber management” |
| 1994 Marinette, WI (joint meeting with Michigan Chapter) | John D. Lyons and Timothy D. Simonson: Development of an index of Biotic Integrity for Coldwater Streams in Wisconsin |
| 1993 Stevens Point, WI | Stephen P. Czajkowski , Coble and Copes: Geographic information system (GIS) analysis of migration and distribution of walleyes in Lake Winnebago |
| 1992 Waukegan, IL (joint meeting with Illinois Chapter) | Mike Staggs: Evaluation of a regional 15-inch Size Limit for Wisconsins Ceded Territory |
| 1991 Hudson, WI (joint meeting with Iowa and Minnesota Chapters) | Dawson, Verdel K: Effects of the lampricide 3-triflouromethyl-4-nitrophenol on dissolved oxygen in aquatic ecosystems |
| 1990 Prairie du Chien, WI | Terry Margenau: Comparative survival and cost effectiveness of stocking fall fingerling and spring yearling muskellunge in three Wisconsin Lakes. |
| 1989 Oshkosh, WI | Jim Kempinger: Fish Kills in the Fox River |
| 1988 | Terry Bills, Lief Marking, George Howe and Jeff Rach: A possible cause of non-target fish kills associated with the use of lampricide TFM |
| 1987 Marinette, WI | Frank Pratt: Effects of special regulations on the trout fishery in the Namekagon River Sawyer Co, Wisconsin |
| 1986 Madison, WI | Jim Weiner: Mercury concentrations in Wisconsin Walleyes: relation to chemical characteristics of soft water lakes |
| 1985 Wausau, WI | Ron Bruch: Characteristics of the yellow perch population in southwestern Lake Michigan |
| 1984 Superior, WI | Mike Dombeck & Bruce Menzel: Muskellunge Spawning habitat and reproductive success |
| 1983 Appleton, WI | Mary Balcer: The feeding behavior of young rainbow smelt |
| 1982 Eau Claire, WI | Steve Serns: Influence of various factors on the density and first year growth of walleye fingerlings in Escanaba Lake, Wisconsin 1958-1980. |
| Darwin Witrock and Frederick W. So: Ornithodiplostomum ptychocheilus: a trematode encased in the brains of fathead minnows. | |
| 1981 Stevens Point, WI | J. Magnuson, UW-Madison: A 50 year comparison of pH, alkalinity and conductivity in Northern Wisconsin Lakes |
| 1980 Milwaukee, WI | 9th WI chapter meeting |
| 1979 Stevens Point, WI | 8th WI chapter meeting |
| 1978 La Crosse, WI | 7th WI chapter meeting |
| 1977 Stevens Point, WI | 6th WI chapter meeting |
| 1976 Stevens Point, WI | 5th WI chapter meeting |
| 1975 Stevens Point, WI | 4th WI chapter meeting |
| 1974 Stevens Point, WI | 3rd WI chapter meeting |
| 1973 Stevens Point, WI | 2nd WI chapter meeting |
| 1972 Stevens Point, WI | 1st WI chapter meeting |
Richard Frie Memorial Scholarship
This $1000 scholarship is awarded annually to a deserving junior, senior, or graduate student at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point who is enrolled in a fisheries or water resources program.
| Year | Recipient |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Bryson Kautz |
| 2025 | Bishop Peterson |
| 2024 | Nicholas Jalocha |
| 2023 | Matthew Bartz |
| 2021 | Rachael Valeria |
| 2020 | Rachael Valeria |
| 2019 | Rafael Davila |
| 2018 | Alex Catalano |
| 2017 | Taylor Beaman |
| 2016 | Timothy Gander |
| 2015 | Ben Breaker |
| 2014 | Matthew Bach |
| 2013 | Ian Hackett |
| 2012 | John Grosch |
| 2011 | Matt Gunderson |
| 2010 | Ben Kissinger |
| 2009 | Jorge Buening |
| 2008 | Joshua Maxwell |
| 2007 | Michael Hosack |
| 2006 | Seth Herbst |
| 2005 | Erich Parizek |
| 2004 | Jeff Blonski |
| 2003 | Jennifer Hurt |
| 2002 | Jason Carrao |
| 2001 | Brian Jacoby |
| 2000 | Kevin Jorgensen |
| 1999 | Christopher Huff |
| 1998 | Patrick Schmalz |
| 1997 | James Devlin |
Carroll Norden Memorial Scholarship
This $1000 scholarship is awarded annually to a deserving junior, senior, or graduate student enrolled in a fisheries or water resources program at a College or University other than UW- Stevens Point. More >
| Year | Recipient | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Evan Sirianni | UW – LaCrosse |
| 2025 | Quinn Smith | UW – Madison |
| 2024 | Max Monfort | UW – LaCrosse |
| 2023 | Zach Locklear | UW – Green Bay |
| 2021 | Kristina Morben | UW – LaCrosse |
| 2020 | Kristina Pechacek | UW – LaCrosse |
| 2019 | Ben Martin | UW – Madison |
| 2018 | Stefan Tucker | UW – Green Bay |
| 2017 | Lydia Doerr | UW – Green Bay |
| 2016 | Logan Sikora | Northland College |
| 2015 | Jeremiah Shrovnal | UW – Green Bay |
| 2014 | Amanda Smith | UW – Stout |
| 2013 | Allison DeRose | Northland College |
| 2012 | David Lawrence | UW – Green Bay |
| 2011 | Margaret A. Harings | Northland College |
| 2010 | Eric Struck | UW – Green Bay |
| 2009 | Laura Schmidt | Northland College |
| 2008 | Lawrence Eslinger | UW – Green Bay |
| 2007 | Katie Renschen | Northland College |
| 2006 | Melissa Kjelvik | Northland College |
| 2005 | Shannon Davis-Faust | UW – Oshkosh |
Joan Duffy Student Travel Award
One award is given to a student from each North Central Division chapter for travel assistance to a conference. Each chapter is responsible for selecting its respective recipient and forwarding such information to the North Central Division chair prior to the annual meeting. The NCD matches Chapter student travel awards up to $100. Students will be honored and checks presented during the NCD Business Meeting. Interested students should contact their local chapters. More ›
| Year | Recipient | University |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Celia Schwartz | UW – Stevens Point |
| 2025 | Lin-Li Szczesny | UW – Stevens Point |
| 2024 | Ryan Bohen | UW – Stevens Point |
| 2023 | Kayla Reed | UW – Stevens Point |
| 2022 | Jordan Everson | UW – Stevens Point |
| 2021 | Kristina Pechacek | UW – LaCrosse |
| 2020 | Ethan Brandt | UW – Stevens Point |
| 2019 | Robert Sheffer | UW – Stevens Point |
| 2018 | Lydia Doerr | UW – Green Bay |
| 2015 | Hadley Boehm | UW – Stevens Point |
| 2010 | Matthew Faust | UW – Stevens Point |
| 2008 | Katie Renschen | Northland College |
| 2006 | Rachel Koehler |
Tim Kroeff Fisheries Scholarship
The Tim Kroeff Fisheries Scholarship provides financial support to fisheries students. Junior, Senior, or Graduate students who are studying aquatic or fisheries biology/science at a Wisconsin university or college, and are student members of the Wisconsin Chapter of AFS are eligible to receive this $1000 scholarship More >
| Year | Recipient | University |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Maxwel Wilkinson | UW – Stevens Point |
| 2025 | Elise Bass | UW – Stevens Point |
| 2024 | Kayla Reed | UW – Stevens Point |
| 2023 | Kayla Reed | UW – Stevens Point |
| 2022 | Logan Sikora | UW – Stevens Point |
| 2021 | Natalie Coash | UW – Stevens Point |
| 2020 | Joseph Mrnak | UW – Madison |
| 2019 | Robert Sheffer | UW – Stevens Point |