Give Back to the Department
Make a Donation | Gift in Memory | Gift in Honor | Setup up a Scholarship
Make a Donation
Please consider making a donation to the Department’s gift account! These funds are used by the Department to support undergraduate student travel, graduate student travel, student events, alumni events, undergraduate and graduate student awards, and in some cases scholarships.
You can click here to print a giving form for mailing purposes. Or, you can submit your payment online. You can also choose to designate this gift in honor of someone.
Gifts in Memory
Joan Trial Graduate Student Travel Award
The Joan Trial Graduate Travel Award fund is being established at the University of Maine Foundation in 2024. This is being accomplished with gifts from family, colleagues, and friends.
Joan earned her BS, MS, and PhD degrees at the University of Maine. Joan’s professional focus included Atlantic salmon and other fishery topics related to habitat and assessment. During her career, Joan held positions in teaching and research with state and federal agencies as well as academic units. Notably, Joan was the first female fisheries biologist hired by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. Joan served as Senior Biologist with the Maine Atlantic Salmon Commission and held an appointment on the graduate faculty at the University of Maine. In 2012, Joan was awarded the Dwight A. Webster Memorial Award for lifelong contributions to fisheries science.
Of particular interest to Joan were the students she taught and mentored. Establishment of this award will continue to support student’s professional development in her memory.
Donate directly to the Joan Trial Fund by mail, download Trial Gift-Form and send along with a check to the University of Maine Foundation. To donate online, please click here and indicate the amount of your donation and then you click on the dark blue box, “Other Fund Not Listed Here“. In the open box below that type, “Joan Trial Grad Student Travel Award” and fill out the rest of the information (name, address, credit card info).
If you run into difficulties or have any questions, feel free to contact Liz Erickson (elizabeth.erickson@maine.edu or 207-581-1145).
Erin Peterson Memorial Fund
This award has been established in memory of Dr. Erin Peterson, a graduate of the University of Maine and a fisheries biologist with the State of Washington. Erin lost her life at the age of 31 doing what she loved.
The award is a collaboration with the Penobscot County Conservation Association (PCCA) and Erin’s family and friends. Beginning in 2024, the award will be made annually to an individual who is pursuing an advanced degree focused on conservation and management.
Selection of the student awardee will be based on both research quality and work-life balance in recognition of the roles Erin balanced as researcher, community volunteer, spouse and parent.
Donate directly the the Erin Peterson Memorial Fund by downloading this form and sending along with a check directly to the PCCA.
David M. Veverka Memorial Fund
The David M. Veverka Memorial Fund was established at the University of Maine Foundation in 2006 for the benefit of the University of Maine, Orono, Maine with gifts from students, faculty, family, and friends of David Veverka, who was killed in Iraq in May 2006 while serving his country.
Eric C. York ’92 Memorial Travel Fund
The Eric C. York ’92 Memorial Travel Fund was established in the University of Maine Foundation for the benefit of the University of Maine, Orono, Maine, in 2008 with gifts from Eric’s family, his many friends and from conservation and wildlife groups from across the Country.
Raymond J. O’Connor Memorial Fund
Raymond J. O’Connor was a faculty member in the Department of Wildlife Ecology at The University of Maine for 18 years (1987-2005). He was a renowned researcher and quantitative ecologist with great enthusiasm for graduate mentoring and the lively exchange of ideas with other scientists. The
Raymond J. O’Connor Memorial Fund was established in his honor to support professional development of graduate students and interactions among graduate students, faculty, and established scientists in the fields of wildlife ecology and avian biology.
Gift in Honor
Honorary gifts are a wonderful way to pay tribute to someone like your favorite college instructor, your first roommate, or the administrative assistant in the office that helped you register for classes every semester. The gift may mark a celebration, achievement, or other notable events. If you would like to make a gift in honor, please use this Gift-in-Honor-Form. Be sure to designate to the “Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Conservation Biology”.
Upon receipt of such gifts, the University of Maine Foundation promptly notifies the honoree so that they might directly thank the donor, but the value of each gift is not disclosed. Gift receipts also are issued by the Foundation to the donors.
Set up a Scholarship
Click here if you are interested in establishing a scholarship. It can be named in honor or in memory of an individual, organization, or corporation. Please contact the department chair to discuss the specific needs of the department.
Updated: 1/9/2024