To 2026 Southeastern Wildlife Conclave attendees, volunteers, and sponsors, 

Thank you. Conclave 2026 at the University of Florida was an incredibly successful event, and we could not have done it without all of our passionate attendees, hard-working volunteers, and generous sponsors. This event was a massive undertaking and resounding success. We welcomed nearly 350 students and professors from 19 different universities to the University of Florida and the Sunshine State. Participants enjoyed three jam-packed days with 21 different academic, physical, and artistic competitions, 5 different game-calling contests, 18 different field trips across North-Central Florida, a networking social at Cypress & Grove Brewery, a competitive Quiz Bowl tournament, keynote speeches from Dr. Evelyn Merrill, President-Elect of The Wildlife Society, and Ron Magill, Communications Director for Zoo Miami, and a hectic team competition featuring 20 natural resource-related stations. 

Our team and individual competitions were mentally and physically challenging, but ultimately rewarding and tons of fun. Team competition tables included mammal skull identification run by the FWC Bear Management Team, trap setting and identification facilitated by USDA Wildlife Services, native fish identification run by FWC Freshwater Fisheries, quantitative ecology facilitated by University of Florida Wildlife Ecology & Conservation professors and graduate students, and 16 other amazing stations run by University of Florida students and industry professionals. Team competition saw lots of action and a stiff contest, but Mississippi State topped the podium. 

Individual competitions had some stellar performers as well. Drake Hodge from University of Tennessee Martin was doing a lot of walking during Saturday evening’s awards banquet and received awards for Turkey Calling, the goofy “Other” calling category, and Free Form Art. Jonah Yinger from North Carolina State University received 1st overall in the BioBlitz with the identification of 43 species, comprising exactly half of the total number of species identified in the competition. Jonah also visited the stage again, winning 1st place in Field Measurements. Noah Lasley from Murray State University received an award for Duck Calling and placed 1st overall in the Cast Net competition. The Quiz Bowl team from the University of Georgia dethroned reigning champions Mississippi State, but Mississippi State avenged their Quiz Bowl loss by coming in 1st overall for the 4th year in a row. Congratulations Bulldogs!

When students were not competing, they were exploring the wealth of nature in North-Central Florida. Our wonderful Social Media and Website Manager, June Ryan, coordinated field trips traveling to 18 different conservation and natural resource-related destinations. Attendees kayaked at Silver Springs, tubed the Ichetucknee River, toured museum collections, learned archery on an olympic-style range, swam at springs, photographed alligators in Paynes Prairie State Park, and much more! 

This spectacular event could not have been possible without you: our attendees, volunteers, and sponsors. Thank you to all of our student and faculty attendees for bringing the energy, learning and competing to your fullest potential. Thank you to our volunteers who helped gather specimens, solidify permits, facilitate transportation, organize and run competitions, and shepherd 350 people. Thank you to our sponsors whose generous donations allowed us to rent numerous event spaces and made field trips for our 350 attendees completely free. We sincerely appreciate your contributions, and could not have done it without all of you. 

Thanks again, and Goooooo Gators! 

Sincerely, 

Your friends at the UF Student Chapter of The Wildlife Society

Will Welsh, President    

Dr. Christina Romagosa, Faculty Advisor

Marin Chester, External Vice President

Maxwell Geller, Internal Vice President  

Madden Haag, Secretary

Zadi Almond, Treasurer

Ciara Coulombe, Conclave and Social Coordinator

June Ryan, Social Media and Website Manager

Taylor Petrock, Fundraising Coordinator

Brooke DeMoor, Education and Outreach Coordinator