Northern Michigan University criminal justice major Jersey Hoover, who successfully harvested an 8-point buck with her bow over Thanksgiving weekend, has received a scholarship for her commitment to engaging new audiences and/or generations with Michigan's natural resources and rich outdoor heritage. The Hancock native is one of only five college students statewide selected for the 2022 John A. Muter Memorial Scholarship, named for a sportsman who passed away in 2016 after a long and courageous battle with cancer.
“My dad started taking me hunting when I was able to sit on his lap,” said Hoover, whose hometown is Hancock. “It's always something he showed me that's important to me, and continued doing it ever since. I hunt, backpack, camp, hike, basically anything that'll let you enjoy the outdoors. Bow hunting is my favorite.”
Hoover is the second NMU student to be selected for the award. Along with her major, she is pursuing a minor in wildlife conservation law and policing. After graduating, she plans to attend the Michigan Conservation Officer Training Academy and join the state as a conservation officer.
“Hopefully, I'm stationed somewhere in the Upper Peninsula, and I plan on trying to make sure that everybody can enjoy what I got to enjoy as a child. I can do that by ensuring that everyone is following the rules and making sure that our wildlife populations are on a good track. In the U.P., we have so much access to God's creation. If we can do our part to try and sustain wildlife and nature in general, it's going to last a long time.”
Hoover and the other scholarship winners were selected based on their clear passion for Michigan and its outdoor opportunities, and their demonstrated commitment to introducing others to those opportunities, including but not limited to fishing, hunting, camping, boating and wildlife watching. She will receive $1,000 to support her 2022-2023 academic expenses.