Missouri Student Wins NWTF’s National Academic Scholarship Sponsored by Mossy Oak

Chelsie Todd of Kirksville, Mo., is the recipient of the National Wild Turkey Federation’s (NWTF) $10,000 National Scholarship sponsored by Mossy Oak.

“I was absolutely shocked,” Todd said after she was surprised with the check at her father’s office. “This is great. I had been saving a lot of thoughts about paying for college, and I’ll use this to help. I’d like to thank the NWTF and Mossy Oak.”

A straight-A student at Kirksville High School with aspirations of becoming a doctor, Todd was chosen from more than 900 entrants nationwide. She plans to enter the University of Missouri in the fall and major in nutritional sciences with medical school in her eventual plans.

In addition to writing a powerful contest essay, “Conserving the Circus,” which describes her passions for conservation and our hunting heritage, Todd’s numerous achievements include:

• Missouri Girls State delegate
• Several 4-H leadership positions and awards at the local and national level
• Captain of Kirksville High volleyball team
• Wendy’s High School Heisman Scholarship recipient
• Kirksville High National Honor Society President
• Kirksville High Student Ambassador
• Missouri Department of Conservation volunteer and research assistant

“Mossy Oak is committed to conservation,” said Toxey Haas, Founder and CEO of Mossy Oak. “NWTF is active in getting young people outdoors and supporting conservation efforts. We’re glad to be a part of this scholarship program with such an upstanding organization.”

NWTF scholarships are set up to benefit youth with a commitment to conservation and preserving the hunting tradition, and recipients may pursue any type of degree they wish.

Todd and her family also will receive a trip to the 2013 NWTF National Convention and Sport Show, February 14-17 in Nashville, Tenn., where she will be recognized for her achievements.

For more information on the NWTF scholarship program, call (800) THE-NWTF, email scholarshipinfo@nwtf.net or visit www.nwtf.org/education.

National Wild Turkey Federation

The National Wild Turkey Federation is the leader in upland wildlife habitat conservation in North America. The NWTF is a nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving the wild turkey and preserving our hunting heritage.

Through dynamic partnerships with state, federal and provincial wildlife agencies, the NWTF and its members have helped restore wild turkey populations throughout North America, spending more than $331 million to conserve nearly 16 million acres of habitat. Wild turkeys and hundreds of other species of upland wildlife, including quail, deer, grouse, pheasant and songbirds, benefit from this improved habitat.

The NWTF also brings new conservationists and hunters into the fold through outdoor education events and its Women in the Outdoors, Wheelin' Sportsmen, JAKES and Xtreme JAKES youth outreach programs. Our dedicated NWTF volunteers introduce about 100,000 people to the outdoors through these programs every year.

Founded in 1973, the NWTF is headquartered in Edgefield, S.C., and has local chapters in every state and Canada. According to many state and federal agencies, the restoration of the wild turkey is arguably the greatest conservation success story in North America's wildlife history.