Grace Temple wins the Elwood B. Moore Forestry Award

Major: Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources

Minor or certificate: Certificate in Environmental Geomatics

Award name: Elwood B. Moore Forestry Award

Majoring in Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources was one of the easiest and most gratifying decisions I made throughout my college experience. The major comprises so much of what I love, and I was excited for the opportunity to learn more about our natural world and all the organisms it contains.

My time at Rutgers and within this major has been full of amazing experiences and people. The diverse range of classes offered by the EENR department has allowed me to grow and explore my interests.

I've always had a passion for trees and forests, but it was fully actualized when I took Dr. Jason Graboksy's Dendrology course in Fall 2022. I want thank him for his great mentorship and teachings. He not only encouraged my passions but helped shape my professional and academic goals.

Additionally, my internship at Hutcheson Memorial Forest solidified my love for fieldwork and working hands-on outdoors. Meanwhile my courses in environmental geomatics gave me a stronger technical background, with its usefulness in applying and digitizing real-world data.

After graduation, I will be working in the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection with the New Jersey Urban and Community Forestry as a Forestry Assistant. After a couple of years immersing myself in the work field, I hope to pursue my passions and interests in urban ecology and forestry in graduate school. I have a strong research interest, therefore, I hope to integrate it into my career path and my greater education as much as possible. Finally, I aspire to use the knowledge I have gained and will continue to in order to teach others about their natural world and advocate for our ecosystems.