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Silvia is the recipient of the 2024 "Buck" Rogers Memorial Scholarship sponsored by the Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation.
Silvia hails from Columbia, Mo. and is enrolled at the University of Missouri where she currently carries a grade point average of 3.81 and is a member of the esteemed University of Missouri Honors College. Silvia will graduate in December 2024.
Silvia currently works part-time as a Lab Technician for the School of Natural Resources conducting
wildlife data collection for Missouri
Department of Conservation-funded research. Duties include filtering game camera footage, identifying wildlife species including large mammals, number of individuals, habitat use, weather conditions, location, date and time of species present at baited and unbaited camera locations across diverse Missouri habitats.
Silvia also has lead multi-day science-based backpacking trips through Sierras' backcountry, navigated groups through remote areas and gained strong familiarity with Yosemite National Park while serving as a camp counselor for Skylake Yosemite Camp in Bass Lake, California. Additionally, Silvia has studied abroad in Australia where she conducted field ecology studies on rocky intertidal zones, temperate rainforests of the Dandenong Range, and lakes across Victoria Territory. While there, she also completed a course on water and land management focused on the Yarra River Catchment surrounding Melbourne. In Tasmania, Silvia joined an expedition to temperate rainforests across Tasmania and surrounding islands while observing unique wildlife such as wombats, kangaroos, wallabies and echidnas.
Here's a little bit about Silvia and her passions, in her own words:
My name is Silvia Stambaugh and I am a senior at the University of Missouri studying Natural Resources - Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences.
I was born and raised in Columbia, MO and was raised in a family that taught me about the natural world from a very young age. My father is a Fire Ecologist and Forestry Professor, which exposed me to the professional side of natural resources and sparked my interest in also pursuing a career based in the outdoors.
Throughout my life, vacations, free time, and my education have always heavily focused on spending time outside, which became a central part of my lifestyle. My hobbies include rock climbing, running, hiking, camping, and cycling, all of which have allowed me to build connections in the outdoor community.
Through my studies I am planning to build a career in wildlife biology with a focus on large carnivores. I start a seasonal job working with mountain lions in Nevada in May 2024, where I will gain field experience and meet other professionals within the field.
After graduating from the University of Missouri, I plan to work seasonally for state and federal agencies and return to graduate school.
Congratulations, Silvia!
It's an honor to have you as a part of the Missouri Outdoor Communicators.
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