2026 Scholarship Winner

Elise Koller

The Friends of Gavins Point National Fish Hatchery would like to announce that Elise Koller, of Yankton, SD has been awarded this year’s annual scholarship. Elise is the daughter of Eric Koller and Lydia Wentworth of Yankton, SD. The $1,000 scholarship is awarded to a student that is planning a career in Wildlife management, conservation, or similar fields.

Elise graduated from Yankton High School and will be attending the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, SD majoring in conservation biology.

She was chosen from several very good candidates. Thank you and best wishes to all our applicants.

Pictured Left to right: Nick Starzl, Project Leader; Dawn Kabella, friends group member; Elise Koller, scholarship winner; Brenda Willcuts, friends group president; Diane Anderson, friends group member.

2025 Scholarship Winner

The Friends of Gavins Point National Fish Hatchery would like to announce that Holly Nesmith, Vermillion, SD has been awarded this year’s annual scholarship Holly is the daughter of Matt and Mary Jo Nesmith, Vermillion, SD. The $1,000 scholarship is awarded to a student that is planning a career in Wildlife management, conservation, or similar fields. Holly graduated from Vermillion High School and will be attending the University of South Dakota to pursue a major in biology and conduct research on habitat and wildlife of the Missouri River during her undergraduate study.

She was chosen from several very good candidates. Thank you and best wishes to all our applicants.

Pictured left to right: Nick Starzl, Project Leader Gavins Point National Fish Hatchery/ Great Plains FWCO; Holly Nesmith, scholarship winner; Brenda Willcuts, President.

2024 Scholarship Winner

Pictured left to right: Brenda Willcuts, President; Elizabeth Wortman scholarship winner; Sam Stukel, Hatchery Biologist & Aquarium Curator;

The Friends of Gavins Point National Fish Hatchery would like to announce that Elizabeth Wortman, Crofton, NE has been awarded this year’s annual scholarship. Elizabeth is the daughter of Chris & Holly Wortman Crofton, NE. The $1,000 scholarship is awarded to a student that is planning a career in Wildlife management, conservation, or similar fields. Megan graduates from Crofton High School and will be attending Environmental Studies at the College of Saint Benedict in St. Joseph, MN.
She was chosen from several very good candidates. Thank you and best wishes to all our applicants.

2023 Scholarship Winner

The Friends of Gavins Point National Fish Hatchery would like to announce that Megan Tramp has been awarded this year’s annual scholarship.

Megan is the daughter of Lonnie and Beth Tramp of Crofton, NE. The $1,000 scholarship is awarded to a student that is planning a career in Wildlife management, conservation, or similar fields.

Megan graduates from Crofton High School and will be attending SDSU this fall and plans to major in wildlife and fishery sciences. She was chosen above several very good candidates.

Thank you and best wishes to all our applicants.

Pictured left to right: Brenda Willcuts, President; Megan Tramp, scholarship winner; Nick Starzl, Project Leader Gavins Point National Fish Hatchery.

2022 Our 3rd Annual Scholarship Winner of the Friends of Gavins Point National Fish Hatchery

Pictured left to right: Nick Starzl, Project Leader Gavins Point National Fish Hatchery; Camryn Zoeller, scholarship winner; Brenda Willcuts, President; Ed Fefjar, Friends Group Scholarship Committee member; Marv Ehlers Treasurer.

2022 Scholarship Winner

The Friends of Gavins Point National Fish Hatchery would like to announce that Camryn Zoeller, is being awarded their 3rd annual scholarship. Zoeller, is the daughter of Jim and Becky Zoeller of Yankton, SD.

The $1,000 award is given to a student planning a career in wildlife management, conservation or similar.

Camryn already has an impressive amount of experience helping with wildlife-related studies and is ranked eleventh in her class at Yankton High School.
Her future goals are to earn a bachelors’ degree in biology from Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington and then go on to earn a master’s degree in Environmental Management.

Thanks to all that applied.

2021 Scholarship Winner

Lane Hansen is the 2nd Annual Scholarship Winner of the Friends of Gavins Point National Fish Hatchery. Pictured left to right: Marv Ehlers treasurer, Lane Hansen, Brenda Willcuts, president

The Friends of Gavins Point National Fish Hatchery would like to announce that Lane Hansen of Centerville, SD is being awarded their 2nd annual scholarship. Lane is the son of Scott and Bridget Hansen of Centerville, SD. The $1,000 award is given to a student planning a career in wildlife management, conservation or similar. Lane will be studying towards a career in the wildlife sciences at SDSU.

Thanks to all that applied.

2020 Scholarship Winner

The Friends of Gavins Point National Fish Hatchery would like to announce that Jakob Strom of Yankton is being awarded their inaugural scholarship. Jakob is the son of Mary and Rich Strom of Yankton, SD.

The $1,000 award is given to a student planning a career in wildlife management, conservation or similar. Jakob (who will be attending SDSU to study Natural Resource Law Enforcement this fall) was chosen from an impressive set of applicants. Thanks to all that applied.

Scholarship Opportunity

The Friends of Gavins Point National Fish Hatchery are again offering a $1000 scholarship to be awarded this year to a regional high school senior. The selected scholar should be interested in continuing their education in fields related to fish and wildlife, conservation or other closely related fields and select a major that will help prepare for the career. Recipient may attend any two or four-year college. No minimum class rank or ACT. Forms have been sent to 22 regional high schools.

Deadline to submit an application is April 1st.

Download the application form below. Money will be paid directly to the recipient at Gavins Point National Fish Hatchery & Aquarium.

2026 Scholarship Application

Download "scholarship application.docx"