Forestry students from the University of Arkansas at Monticello have proven once again that UAM’s forestry program can compete with the big boys. 

   Lance Vickers of Hermitage, Jonathan Hartley of Pine Bluff, Kimberly Pedigo of Star City and Seth Glaze of Camden – all forestry students at UAM – defeated student teams from the University of Florida, Allegheny College, Michigan Tech, Auburn and the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point to win the Society of American Foresters National Quiz Bowl competition held Oct. 25 at the annual meeting of the SAF in Pittsburgh, Pa. 

   Student teams from 32 colleges and universities across the country competed in the annual event. 

   “This is a tremendous achievement for our students and a very positive reflection on our program,” said Richard Kluender, dean of the UAM School of Forest Resources. “We are very proud of their accomplishments.” 

   The Quiz Bowl consisted of five rounds of competition. UAM defeated Florida 15-10 in the opening round, Allegheny 25-15 in the second round, Michigan Tech 15-10 in the third round, Auburn 15-5 in the fourth round and took a one-sided 20-5 win over Wisconsin-Stevens Point in the finals. 

   “Possibly the most impressive thing about our students’ performance was that none of the rounds were that close,” Kluender said. “We were able to win comfortably in each round. I think this speaks volumes about the quality of our faculty and the job they do in preparing our students for success in forest resource management.” 

   Vickers, Pedigo and Glaze are senior forestry majors while Hartley is a graduate student.