Page 41 - September/October Outdoor Oklahoma Magazine

and ongoing projects is massive but includes a diverse Many interns have moved on to careers in the natural
suite of collaborators from other state wildlife depart- resources. Many have taken the step to pursue graduate
ments, US Fish and Wildlife Service, numerous univer- level degrees. Eleven former PRC interns are currently
sities at home and abroad, the Natural History Museum employed by the Department in full-time positions, which
of London, Peoria Tribe, and others. These varied col- demonstrates that the PRC internship has served as an
laborations have resulted in the assembly of massive effective recruiting and training tool for careers in the
amounts of research data, numerous published papers Department. An additional three former interns worked
on a myriad of paddlefish topics, and even a book on for the Department for a time before moving on to other
paddlefish management. The PRC interns contributed in career choices. At the onset of each spring PRC season, I
some way to all of these endeavors. invariably get asked by multiple colleagues, “So, do you
have a good batch of interns this year?” I feel very fortu-
INTERNS AND THEIR ORIGINS nate that I have been able to honesty and emphatically
As of 2022, the PRC has hired 104 interns since the answer “YES!” every time.
program began in 2011. Intern class size has ranged Most of the PRC interns have been students of
from 9 to 15, depending on the annual applicant pool, in-state universities. Twenty-nine interns originally came
budgets, needs, and other factors. More than a third of from Oklahoma State University, followed by 20 from
interns have returned for an additional season or more. Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, 18 from Northeastern State

WILDLIFEDEPARTMENT.COM “ I interned for two seasons at the PRC in 2011

and 2012 while majoring in fisheries and
wildlife management at Northeastern State
University. Interning at the PRC allowed me to
get my foot in the door with ODWC. Interning
at the PRC also gave me the experience of
interacting with anglers on the water, which
gave me an edge over others. I tell everyone
interested in working for ODWC to apply for
an internship, it’s a great way to learn what we
do, and you’ll have fun doing it.”

Only the first intern class of 2011 got to experience the original — J.D. Stauffer, Game Warden
“temporary” facility at Twin Bridges State Park, as shown in this
earliest-known PRC group photo. based in Rogers County, ODWC

WILDLIFEDEPARTMENT.COM

Group photo of the 2013 PRC Intern class including current Department employees Kendall Robbins, Matt Pallett, and Jeremy Duck (2nd, 7th,
and 9th from left, respectively).

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 39