The Students of NALMS

July 12 ^th , 2024 — Are you an avid crafter, literary enthusiast, part time artist, or field equipment connoisseur? Donate to the Student Silent Auction! The Student Silent Auction is a space for you to exhibit your hidden hobbies and leverage connections in support of the next generation of lake scientists and managers. Tie your donation to a lake related theme, or contribute with other items you see valuable to NALMS members. Exhibitors, sponsors, local businesses, and NALMS members are invited to contribute items or services to the Student Silent Auction held this fall during this year's  Annual International Symposium  (November 5-8, 2024) in South Lake Tahoe, California/Nevada. The Student Silent Auction is one of the most crucial contributors to Student Programs at NALMS, as all proceeds are donated directly to the  Eberhardt Memorial Student Fund , which was established to support student attendance at Symposium. 

Unlike a traditional auction with numbered paddles and a smooth talking auctioneer, silent auctions display items for a set period of time, giving participants space to peruse and bid at their own pace. If an item catches your eye, participants can write in their own bid on the item's corresponding bid sheet and may check back in until the auction closes to see if they remain the highest bidder!

Questions? Reach out to the Student Director at student@nalms.org!

June 1  ^st , 2024 — In the month of July, NALMS invites you to participate in the social media Show Your Lakes Appreciation Challenge! The goal of the challenge is to promote and encourage support for Lakes Appreciation Month, as well as to highlight the importance of lakes, reservoirs, and all freshwater resources, along with the issues they face.

Here’s how you can join in:

The contest officially runs July 1st-31st. Log onto Facebook and/or Instagram and upload your picture. Share a #lakeselfie or photos of your friends, family, colleagues, pets, etc. enjoying or working on a lake or reservoir!

Be sure to use the hashtag #LakesAppreciation and tag NALMS in your post so we can find your entry. Only utilizing the #lakeselfie hashtag will not guarantee entry in the contest.

May 21  ^st , 2024 — July has been Lakes Appreciation Month for the past 26 years. To help us celebrate, appreciate, and bring attention to lakes, we are inviting elementary, middle, and high school students to submit posters reflecting on how important lakes are to all of us. Submitted artwork will be a big part of NALMS’ celebrations through July across North America. Show us your love for lakes by sending us your artwork!

Who can submit a poster?

• Any student in grades K – 12th (including graduating seniors!)

What should my entry include?

• Posters should be an interpretation of the theme “The Lake is Calling”
• Each entry must include the following information and/or an attached  entry form :
  • Student’s name
  • Grade Student’s contact info (email and mailing address)
  • School/Organization name
  • School/Organization contact info (email and mailing address)

How do I submit my poster?

• Poster submissions must be submitted electronically to lakesappreciation@nalms.org with the subject line “2024 LAM Poster Contest.”
• Accepted high-quality (300 dpi) digital file formats include: JPEG, PNG, PDF, InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop. If you have any questions about suitable formats, please contact lakesappreciation@nalms.org. Fonts should be embedded or provided separately; otherwise, fonts may be substituted.
• Students may use any variety of media, keeping in mind that submissions are required to be in a digital format.
• One poster submission per student is allowed (Students may not work in pairs or groups).

How will posters be judged?

• Posters will be judged by grade range with a winner in each category: elementary (grades K-4), middle (grades 5-8), and high school (9-12).
• Posters will be judged by NALMS volunteers who serve on the Lakes Appreciation Month program committee.
• Posters should reflect the values of Lakes Appreciation Month – that freshwater resources, such as lakes and reservoirs, are vital to all life and it should not be taken for granted.
• Poster follows an interpretation of the open theme: “The Lake is Calling”
• Poster displays original and creative ideas.
• Poster contains proper spelling and grammar.

Are there any prizes?

• The three winners (one from each grade range) will be selected and notified via email by Monday, July 1st. All participants will be notified of the winners by this same date.
• A total of three $250 cash prizes will be awarded to the winning student artist’s school or organization (4-H, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, other youth groups, etc.)
  • Schools and organizations are encouraged to utilize these funds for STEM or lake ecology curriculum/materials, activities, and/or field trips.
• A total of three $50 cash prize awarded to the student artist in each grade range
• All submissions will be featured on the NALMS Lakes Appreciation Month webpage in a photo slideshow; with the winning submissions on the homepage!
• All submissions will be featured on NALMS social media channels, including Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Feb. 1 ^st , 2024 — NALMS has opened their call for abstracts for the 44th annual symposium, held November 5–8, 2024 in South Lake Tahoe, California/Nevada. This is an exciting opportunity for students to attend a conference and present their work in oral or poster formats. Additionally, students who present as primary authors will be considered for student awards and are eligible for student travel grants to attend the conference.  

All students studying aspects of lake and reservoir management are encouraged to submit abstracts, especially those researching:  

Dec. 1 ^st , 2023 — The Student Director serves as a member of the Board of Directors and the Chair of Student Program(s). This position is an annual term that can be renewed for up to three years. The purpose of the Student Director is to communicate and promote student needs and activities to the BOD, communicate and promote NALMS activities and opportunities to students, and advocate for student support through fundraising and promotional activities.

Mikala L’Hote is a current master’s student at Paul Smith's College studying Natural Resource Conservation. In conjunction, she also serves as a graduate research assistant with the Adirondack Watershed Institute, where she has had the opportunity to work on a variety of lake assessment and management projects touching upon complex water related questions and concerns throughout the Adirondack Park. Her graduate research specifically addresses landscape-scale drivers of road salt pollution on lakes within the Lake Champlain Basin, aiming to provide both the public and key stakeholders with the information needed to understand and address road salt impacts in this region. Mikala is passionate about merging both the scientific and social realms with her research, recognizing the importance each serves in understanding environmental problems and effectively implementing management actions.

Nov. 14 ^th , 2023 — Each year at the NALMS symposium, awards are selected for the best student oral and poster presentations. These awards, ranging from cash prizes to plaques, are based on scientific merit, research design, visual aids, clarity, and presentation. Congrats to these students on their outstanding presentations this year!

• Charlotte van der Nagel (oral), Southern Nevada Water Authority, Henderson, NV — Phytoplankton dynamics in a large, semi-arid reservoir
• Jamie Would (poster), Queen’s University, Kingston, ON, Canada — Tracking long-term effects of silver mining along a spatial gradient of lakes on traditional Na-Cho Nyäk Dun First Nation territory (YT).

• Katie Vasquez (oral) — Using Macroinvertebrates to Assess Aquatic Macrophyte Restoration in Austin, Texas Reservoirs Post Hydrilla Invasion.
• Greg Lemke (poster) — Evaluating round goby’s use of Lake Erie’s tributaries using otolith elemental analysis.