Submitted by: Ginny Adams, gadams@uca.edu on 04/07/2026
Student leadership, research, outreach, and service have earned the University of Central Arkansas American Fisheries Society Student Subunit (part of the Fisheries and Wildlife Student Organization) some of the organization’s highest honors.
The UCA AFS Student Subunit received both the Arkansas Chapter American Fisheries Society Outstanding Subunit Award and the Southern Division American Fisheries Society Outstanding Subunit Award for its accomplishments in 2025. The group has also been nominated for the international American Fisheries Society Outstanding Subunit Award.
Founded in 2008, the subunit includes nearly 90 undergraduate and graduate students and has built a strong reputation for developing future fisheries professionals through hands-on research, professional development, conservation service, and public engagement.
Throughout 2025, students gained research experience on fisheries and aquatic ecology projects, presented at scientific meetings across the state and region, hosted guest speakers and technical workshops, and earned multiple presentation awards and fellowships. The subunit also raised its visibility on campus through events such as Conway Daze and UCA Homecoming, where members won first place for a parade float featuring native fishes and sampling gear.
Members also made a significant impact through education and outreach, engaging several thousand K–12 students and community members through STEM events, public programs, field experiences, documentary screenings, and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Generation Conservation Summit. Additional efforts included maintaining a native fish aquarium in Lewis Science Center and expanding the group’s social media reach to more than 400 followers.
Faculty advisors Ginny and Reid Adams noted that many of the subunit’s accomplishments were student-driven, with members organizing events, coordinating speakers, managing outreach, and representing the profession with initiative and professionalism.
Together, these achievements reflect UCA students’ commitment to stewardship of aquatic resources and service to communities across Arkansas.
https://www.instagram.com/uca_fws/
