NALMS Announces 2025 Recipients of Kenneth H. Reckhow Student Scholarships

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 30, 2025

Contact: Alyssa Anderson, Director of Development & Marketing
Phone: 608-233-2836
Email: info@nalms.org

NALMS Announces 2025 Recipients of Kenneth H. Reckhow Student Scholarships

We are thrilled to announce this year’s recipients of the Kenneth H. Reckhow Scholarship. The two recipients are: Cat Schlenker, MS (University of South Carolina) and Richard Shafran (SUNY Oneonta).

Photo courtesy of Dr. Kenneth Reckhow

Established through the generosity and kindness of NALMS Life Member, Dr. Kenneth Reckhow, the Kenneth H. Reckhow Scholarship Fund provides financial support to graduate students to use toward their education. “Along with NALMS members Denny Cooke and Gene Welch,” Dr. Reckhow explains, “I was part of the pre-NALMS conferences in Madison, Minneapolis, and East Lansing, leading to the 1980 meeting in Portland…NALMS helped me grow as a scientist. These are just a few of the great memories that I have, which makes me want to give back to NALMS through this scholarship fund.”

With a unique tie-in to a NALMS tradition and Dr. Reckhow’s personal history with the Society, the scholarship winners were directly linked with an event that occurs each year at the NALMS annual symposium: the Clean Lakes Classic 5K. Starting with the 2021 Clean Lakes Classic 5K Run/Walk (which was a virtual fun run due to the pandemic), one female and one male graduate student participant in the event is randomly selected each year to receive $500 for use toward their education.

Learn more about the Kenneth H. Reckhow Scholarship Fund: https://www.nalms.org/nalms-student-programs/reckhow-scholarship-fund/. Details for students interested in applying for a 2026 scholarship will be released in the coming months.

Learn more about our scholarship recipients:

Photo courtesy of Cat Schlenker

Cat Schlenker, MS // University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC

I’m currently working toward my PhD in Biology at the University of South Carolina and my research focuses on phytoplankton ecology. I’m fascinated by phytoplankton and the role they play in maintaining ecosystem health. I’m particularly interested in how phytoplankton communities are impacted by environmental changes, as well as how that may be influenced by management practices. I was introduced to NALMS by another USC graduate student (Emily Bores). I look forward to continue contributing to the science of lake and watershed water quality and management!

Photo courtesy of Richard Shafran

Richard Shafran // SUNY Oneonta, Oneonta, NY

I’m enrolled in SUNY Oneonta’s Lake Management Program, pursing my Masters of Professional Science in Lake Management. My primary interests are in fisheries, but I’m starting to become interested in managing/controlling harmful algal blooms. I got introduced to NALMS by my advisor who encouraged me to attend the recent conference at Myrtle Beach.

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Founded in 1980, the North American Lake Management Society (NALMS) is a nonprofit organization focused on the management and protection of lakes and reservoirs. NALMS welcomes anyone with an interest in lakes and strives to forge partnerships among citizens, scientists, and professionals to achieve this mission.