Luke continues his academic studies at North Carolina University. Upon graduation, he plans to pursue his master’s degree in forestry and entomology. His goal is to graduate school with minimal to no student debt and find work with the US Forest Service at their southern research station in western North Carolina where he can examine and develop methods to restore species damaged by invasive pests.
Having overcome oral cancer, he has spent his current semester serving as a research assistant in the forest health lab, working on projects focusing on removing newfound populations of the invasive spotted lanternfly. Luke has secured a summer internship with timber company Weyerhaeuser at their hardwood division in West Virginia. Here he will be able to learn more about hardwood forest management, how the forests of Appalachia operate within the private forestry sector.
Associate Professor Robert Jetton writes, “Luke is my undergraduate research assistant, and he stands out as a dedicated student and diligent, reliable worker. His attention to detail and understanding of his research makes him an indispensable member of my team that all my graduate students request to be involved in their projects. These traits demonstrate that Luke would be a deserving recipient of a National Fallen Firefighters Foundation scholarship.”
