Programs

The Big Game Conservation Association administers programs for various pursuits.  Watch this page to see what we offer.  Of course send us suggestions for any programs you think we may need.

Scholarship

We will be awarding a $1,000 scholarship in 2023.  It will be available to a Nebraska resident pursuing a Fisheries & Wildlife degree at one of the many Nebraska institutions of higher learning.

2024 Application

2017 Winner

Programs - Ruby Rolland

Ruby Rolland grew up in Blair, Nebraska.  She attended Blair High School and is a 2017 graduate.  During this time she was in National Honor Society and was awarded honor roll for eight consecutive semesters.  Not only will Ruby be attending the University of Nebraska-Lincoln but pursuing a Fisheries and Wildlife degree.  Of course she has always been involved in the outdoors.  Whether it was fishing, hunting, or hiking.  No doubt a fisheries and wildlife major is a perfect fit for her.   Ruby also plans to continue her high school Spanish by pursuing a minor in it while at UNL.  Outside of school, Ruby volunteers for Ducks Unlimited and her church.

2019 Winner

programs

Hunter Swanson is a senior at Arapahoe High School in Arapahoe, Nebraska. An avid outdoorsman, he has grown up in an environment that taught him the true importance of wildlife and habitat conservation. He gives back to nature what he gets out of it. Hunter is the Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever National Youth Leadership Council Vice President, Republican Valley Pheasants Forever Youth President/Founder, and a member of the Nebraska Game and Parks Collegiate Advisory Board.

Hunter has also taken part in legislative affairs, traveling to Capitol Hill in order to advocate for certain legislation for the benefit of wildlife and habitat. He hopes to continue his local projects of education and outreach while pursuing a degree in Fisheries and Wildlife at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

2020 Winner

Kate Asmus grew up on a farm on the outskirts of Pierce, Nebraska. She enjoys spending her free time fishing, hunting, camping, hiking, and horseback riding. After graduating high school, she attended Northeast Community College where she received her Associate of Science Degree. With the desire to learn more, she transferred to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where she currently majors in Fisheries and Wildlife.

            Kate understands the importance of conserving and protecting, not only wildlife, but the habitat they live in, for the current and future generations. Participating in a bird banding internship in the Jama-Coaque Ecological Reserve of Ecuador managed by Third Millennium Alliance lead her to a job working for the North Dakota Game and Parks Department as a dove banding technician. This summer, she accepted a job with the Nebraska Game and Parks and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln working on the Tern and Plover Conservation Partnership.

2022 Winner

KayLynn Miller currently attends Chadron State College (CSC) majoring in Rangeland Wildlife Management. She is also pursuing a minor in Criminal Justice.  KayLynn’s goal is to become a Conservation Officer.

KayLynn grew up on the outskirts of Valentine.  Her love for the outdoors and the conservation of wildlife began, quite literally, when she was born.  Her parents put her in a stroller two weeks after being born and took KayLynn on her first deer hunt!

Her hobbies include hunting, camping, water skiing, volleyball, and agriculture.  Both of KayLynn’s parents started their law enforcement careers as Conservation Officers.  Her parents showed her what their passions were, which soon became her’s.  KayLynn has come to know and love this type of lifestyle. Her parents are the biggest reason for the dream of becoming a Conservation Officer.  She also has three brothers who are constantly keeping her on her toes. 

2023 Winner

aidan dressel

Aidan Dressel was born and raised in Chadron, Nebraska.  He graduated from Chadron High School in 2023.  Aidan plans to attend the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and major in Fisheries and Wildlife in his pursuit of becoming a Zoologist.  Wildlife has always fascinated him, particularly reptiles and amphibians. 
 
For years, Aidan has been the local snake enthusiast, relocating native snakes which are otherwise viewed as pests. As an avid herpetoculturist, he has kept over a dozen exotic species in his ten years of experience. It is his dream to advance the standard of welfare for all captive exotic reptiles and amphibians while advocating for the conservation of native Nebraskan species. 
 

2024 Winner

Reece Kocian is a 2023 graduate of East Butler High School. He now attends the University of Nebraska – Lincoln where he majors in Fisheries and Wildlife with a minor in Criminal Justice.
 
Reece grew up with an agricultural background while living on a farm raising beef cattle, farming row crops, and everything else living on a farm entails.
 
He has always had an ongoing passion for the outdoors. From the countless hours in the field hunting to the crisp mornings on the water, he has always felt most at home in the outdoors. That passion for the outdoors has led him down his career path where he plans to become a Nebraska Game Warden and preserve Nebraska’s wildlife species for generations to come!