Daily Pioneer News

PLATTEVILLE- UW-Platteville graduate, Erin McGraw has been hired as an intern by the Aldo Leopold Foundation near Baraboo. McGraw, a native of Mineral Point, graduated from UWP in December 2002 with a bachelor of science degree in reclamation, environment and conservation with a biological emphasis and an environmental science minor.

According to McGraw, the Aldo Leopold Foundation is an organization that works to educate and assist landowners in becoming good stewards of the land. The Aldo Leopold Foundation was formed in honor of Aldo Leopold, most noted for his composition, "A Sand County Almanac and Sketches Here and There." More information pertaining to the Aldo Leopold Foundation can be found at http://www.aldoleopold.org.

Duties included in McGraw's position as ecological restoration intern are prescribed burns, brush removal and invasive species removal. McGraw enjoys the prescribed burning portion of her position most.

"It is important to educate land owners and the general public about prescribed burning. It [education] is essential to maintain oak savanna, prairie and woodlands," said McGraw.

Though her position will only continue until November, McGraw looks at her experience with the Aldo Leopold Foundation to be a stepping-stone in her career.

"I wanted to see if I wanted to work for a non-profit organization. I didn't want to make a decision about working with a company right away," said McGraw.

McGraw is planning on taking the graduate school entrance exam this summer and tentatively plans to pursue a master's degree in the area of fire ecology, specifically focusing on the effects of fire on oak savanna and prairie.

"The reclamation degree I acquired at UWP gives me tools in life sciences and a strong background," said McGraw. "This position is exactly what I was looking for. I'm applying the skills I learned in college mainly pertaining to the restoration and management of land."