Caleb fishing on the Farmington River in his home state of Connecticut.

This year’s recipient of the David C. Mahan Fellowship is Caleb Richert of Messiah University, located in Mechanicsburg, PA. Caleb is completing his second year at Messiah and is majoring in Environmental Science and minoring in Environmental Engineering. This summer he will take courses in Lake Ecology and Fish Ecology at Au Sable’s Great Lakes campus in northern Michigan.

The Mahan Fellowship, started in 2017, celebrates the work and legacy of Dr. David C. Mahan, Au Sable’s Associate Executive Director for over 30 years, from 1985 to 2016. Known for his warmth, humor, and relational skills that made hundreds of friends for the Institute over his more than three decades of service, Dave’s namesake Fellowship is awarded to a student who has shown ability to accomplish goals in conservation through collaborative, relational effort with others.

In his application for the Mahan Fellowship, Caleb wrote, “I appreciate the Au Sable Institute and Dr. Mahan’s heavy emphasis on freshwater ecological sciences. Caring for freshwater resources is vital both to our duty to care for Creation and provide for society. Dr. Mahan’s emphasis on relational collaboration to accomplish environmental restoration is the most effective way to care for Creation.”

Congratulations Caleb! We trust that you will continue to inspire others to serve, protect, and restore God’s earth in your future relationships and collaborations.