Karen Howland 2009 Recipient of the Al Kowaleski Memorial Scholarship
Bartlesville OK — Nineteen-year-
The Birdsboro, Pennsylvania fisherman who was known for mentoring young people in the joys of catch-and release carp angling succumbed to cancer in late 2007. The scholarship was established by CARP Tournament Series, formerly known as ACS Tournaments, to honor Kowaleski by acknowledging college-level students of fisheries management or biological sciences with a focus dedicated to the preservation of the environment and the common carp species.
A panel of advisors—Robert Bernowski, Michael Malone, Mark Metzger, David Moore and Kathleen Kelly-Ori, all members of the Carp Anglers Group—agreed that Ms. Howland’s concentration of biology courses formed a solid foundation for the next step in her collegiate journey by taking on a caseload of electives which include aquatic life and fisheries management. Her goal is to continue to the graduate-level in the same or similar studies.
In her application essay, Howland says she is among those in “a new generation of carp fishing”. She states her participation in the St. Lawrence International Junior Carp Tournament hosted by the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce each August has helped her grow to love the sport. Kowaleski often served as a teacher and marshal for the event. Howland professes the importance of promoting catch-and-release fishing as well as proper fish care and enjoys teaching young children the thrill of carp angling. Immersing herself in sport fishing, she is employed by a major sporting goods store and currently garners accolades on the pro-circuit by competing among the world’s best carp anglers.
“Karen has become a celebrity on the pro-circuit not only because of her bank side talents but because of her unique team partnership with her mother Carol. The mother-daughter team holds their own in competition,’
Ms. Howland said of her award that it is her hope that other young anglers will embrace the sport as she has, and she’ll continue to encourage and educate others—especially children—to learn catch-and-release carp angling.
Photo:
http://www.prlog.org/
