Renaissance Woman: USU Natural Resources Student Receives Art Award
Utah State University graduate student Dawnee Burson is the recipient of the New Jersey-based Prudent Publishing Company’s fourth annual Create-A-Greeting-Card $10,000 Scholarship Contest. As winner of the nationwide competition, Burson’s design becomes a part of the company’s Gallery Collection of holiday greeting cards, she receives a $10,000 scholarship and she earned $1,000 for USU’s College of Natural Resources.
“I was really excited and surprised when I learned about the award,” says Burson, who is pursuing a master of natural resources degree with National Environmental Policy Act certification. “And it’s awesome that the award includes funding to help another student, as well.”
The College of Natural Resources will formally award a $1,000 scholarship to undergraduate Michaela Stuver, a wildlife science major, at the college awards banquet this weekend [April 9, 2011].
Burson’s winning design is an oil painting of a snow-covered log home in an idyllic mountain setting. Her parents’ newly constructed retirement home near Burson’s hometown of Ramah, N.M., was the inspiration for the piece.
“I love the details of the home and added a few ideas of my own,” she says.
For example, the home’s setting reflects childhood summers Burson spent on her grandmother’s ranch in Montana, rather than the redrock hills of northwestern New Mexico.
“I initially created the painting in a fall setting,” she says. “Then, using layers, I painted a summer, a spring and, finally, a winter setting for my contest entry.”
Burson was set to submit her entry in the previous year’s competition, but circumstances derailed her plans.
“I was working as a trail guide for the National Park Service at New Mexico’s El Morro National Monument and saving money to start grad school at Utah State in spring 2010,” she says. “But I had to undergo unexpected surgery and had to leave my job.”
That delayed the start of Burson’s USU studies until fall 2010 and she chose to enter the contest this past January.
“So, the scholarship couldn’t have come at a better time,” she says. “And I hope to return to El Morro this summer.”
At USU, Burson is focusing her studies on recreational land management and policy negotiations, with classes in resource management, conflict resolution and economics.
“My long-term goal is to work as a mediator for a public agency or private company and help in solving land use conflicts,” she says. “It’s a fascinating area of study. Even though policies are put into place, it’s a challenge to balance the needs and concerns of all stakeholders.”
Burson says she’s particularly enjoyed field activities with USU’s range management and forestry clubs.
“I think the College of Natural Resources is wonderful – there are so many great activities for students and opportunities to participate in realistic, hands-on projects that prepare us for future careers,” she says.
Related links:
Prudent Publishing Create-A-Greeting-Card $10,000 Scholarship Contest
USU College of Natural Resources
Contact: Dawnee Burson, dawneelb@gmail.com
Writer: Mary-Ann Muffoletto, 435-797-3517, maryann.muffoletto@usu.edu
Graduate student Dawnee Burson received a $10,000 scholarship for her artwork and earned scholarship funds for USU's College of Natural Resources.
Burson's greeting card design was inspired by her hometown in New Mexico and by memories of summers spent at her grandmother’s Montana ranch.
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