Porter James (seated left) and Samuel Evans (seated right) officially sign their scholarship offers for the President’s Outdoors Scholars Program at the University of Montevallo. James and Evans were joined by (standing, left to right) parents Mark and Lauranne James, program director William Crawford and parents Sandy and Mark Evans.

By Alison James

alison.james@fct.wpengine.com

After a campus visit to the University of Montevallo, RHS students Porter James and Samuel Evans were sold. But it was a new program that drew them to visit: the President’s Outdoors Scholars Program, instituted last year by University President Dr. John Stewart.

“We’re looking to get anywhere from 20-25 new students in the program next year,” explained program director William Crawford. Crawford made a visit to Calvary Baptist Church last week to promote the Outdoor Scholars Program to student outdoorsmen from throughout northwest Alabama. “It seems like there is just a big niche for this program in this area … I thought it would be worthwhile to come up here and visit and see how much interest there was.”

James and Evans have already been accepted into the program. Others’ applications are processing, Crawford said.

The program, Crawford said, is designed “to educate students on different career opportunities that involve the outdoors, as well as “to allow students to be a part of something they enjoy while they are in college.”

The President’s Outdoor Scholars Program is an extracurricular program with a scholarship tie-in. It is, to this point, unique in not only the state but also the nation.

The program includes conservation and game management; monthly on-campus meetings; preparation of fish and wild game for the table; academic lectures related to sporting and outdoor life and more. A number of potential trips are offered, like bass fishing with a professional guide on Lake Fork in Texas, quail hunting at an exclusive private club, guided big-game hunts and trout fishing in Venice, La.

“It’s a very unique opportunity for you, and it’s not far from home,” Crawford said.

Evans said signing up for the outdoor-focused program with his friend James was a no-brainer.

“It’s just something we always do,” Evans said. “We’re always in the woods together.”

“We were wanting to go into an outdoor field as far as a career,” James added. “I think it’s exciting we got accepted.”