An endowed scholarship fund in Ron's name will support graduate student travel to the annual meeting of the Gulf and Caribbean 
Fisheries Institute. Since students are the life blood of any educational organization, the intent of this scholarship is to make it possible for the next generation of fishery professionals to experience the benefits that come with participation in international meetings in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean region. Because of Ron's interest in and dedication to sustainable marine recreational fisheries, students with a social, economic, biological, ecological, or management perspective on recreational fisheries will be eligible to apply for the travel scholarship. Each scholarship will cover the costs of airfare, lodging, and meals to attend the GCFI annual meeting. Selection of awardees will be based on the level of achievement, innovation, and promise demonstrated in abstracts submitted for the annual meeting as well as a vita and statement of career goals in fisheries management. This will be an endowed scholarship in that interest income only will be used to make awards. It is envisioned that more than one award will be made annually in the future.
The GCFI is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and all contributions are tax deductible. Checks should be made payable to the Ronald L. Schmied Scholarship Fund and forwarded to the Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute, c/o Robert B. Ditton, 1807 Leona Drive, College Station, TX 77840 for processing. All contributors will receive an annual report on total funds raised and information on awardees when scholarships can be awarded.
For more information on the Schmied Scholarship and a list of contributors, please visit: http://lutra.tamu.edu/rbd/schmied.htm or contact Robert B. Ditton.
