Thomas O. Tyler III Excellence in Forestry
Memorial Scholarship
To honor the memory of a dedicated forester, friend, and past-president of MFA, the Thomas O. Tyler Excellence in Forestry Scholarship has been established to help Maryland residents earn a forestry degree at Allegany College, and take their place among the forest management professionals of tomorrow.
past recipients ~ Where are they now?
How can I help?
Thomas O. Tyler, III Memorial Scholarship Established at Allegany College of Maryland The scholarship has been established through funding from the Maryland Forests Association (MFA) and the Association of Forest Industries. Tyler was a past president of MFA(1990-91), and served as chairman of MFA's Legislative Committee until 1996. A Regional Forester for the Woodlands Division of Chesapeake Forest Products, he was also in charge of the Virginia-based firm's government relations and environmental affairs in Maryland. Tyler served on the Governor's Forestry Advisory Commission, the Governor's Task Force on Trees and Forests and the MD Senate Budget and Taxation Citizen Review Committee.
MFA has created an Endowment Fund to ensure its annual contribution the scholarship in perpetuity. The scholarship is awarded solely on merit to a full-time student enrolled in the forest technology curriculum or the forestry transfer curriculum of the Allegany College of Maryland.
The scholarship, which is the only forestry scholarship offered solely to Maryland residents, is also the largest forestry scholarship at Allegany College. Allegany College was chosen for the scholarship because it offers the only forestry curriculum in the state.
Applicants for the scholarship must be enrolled full-time at Allegany College in the forest technology curriculum or the forestry transfer curriculum, and have maintained a minimum 3.0 grade point average. Selection of the recipient is made by a panel of three representing MFA, Association of Forest Industries and Allegany College. The scholarship is being managed through the Allegany College Foundation. You may contact them for more information at 301-724-7700.
In 1997, Brett Smiley of LaVale, Maryland became the first student to receive the scholarship. Brett is a third year student at Allegany College. Having recently received an Associates Degree in Forest Technology in May of 1997, Brett plans to continue his studies at Allegany College for another year. In September of 1998 he will attend Penn State. Tentatively, Brett will graduate from Penn State with a B.S. degree in Forestry in December of 1999.For a college student, Brett has quite a work history. He volunteered at the National Park Service C&O Canal working under the supervision of Park Ranger Rita Knox. He worked on John Rephann's Tree Farm in Finzel, MD pruning trees and Steve Lancaster's Tree Farm, implementing various silvicultural projects. Brett worked for Wood Products, Inc. in Oakland this past summer, cruising and marking timber, scaling logs and running property lines. Currently, he works on the Morris Tree Farm in Beans Cove, PA and at Lowe's of Cumberland in the lumber department. Brett is a member of the Society of American Foresters, the Allegany College Forestry Club and the Allegany College Alumni Association.
The recipients of the scholarship to date have been Steve Bacon, Brent Smiley, Justin Weimer, Steven Lowe and Melissa Stevens. Steve Bacon graduated from Virginia Tech, Brent from Penn State and Justin is currently attending University of Montana. All in forestry degree programs. SteveLowe is working in New England as a forest technician and Melissa Stevens will be attending WVU in the fall.
How Can YOU Help?
The MFA Board of Governors is seeking contributions to the scholarship endowment fund. All contributions are fully tax deductible; MFA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All contributions will go directly to the endowment fund, in their entirety. Persons, businesses or organizations wishing to make a contribution to the scholarship endowment fund are asked to send their checks, made payable to MFA, to:MFA SCHOLARSHIP FUND, c/o Maryland Forests Association, P.O. Box 599, Grantsville, MD 21536.
Please provide the following information with your tax-deductible contribution:
(Anonymous donations may also be sent.)
Name _____________________________________________
Business or Organization _____________________________
Address ____________________________________________
City _________________ State __________ Zip ___________
receipt requested (please check one) ____ yes ____no
The T.O.T. scholarship is awarded solely on merit to a full-time student enrolled in the forest technology curriculum or the forestry transfer curriculum of the Allegany College of Maryland.To learn more about Allegany College of Maryland's Forestry Program visit their website.