Bass Fishing Hall of Fame has announced the recipients of its 2026 Fisheries Management Scholarships. It is part of the Hall’s mission to continue to advance the sport of bass fishing by supporting and encouraging high school and college bass fishermen to pursue careers in fisheries and natural resource management. This way, healthy fisheries can be preserved well into the future, public fishing access can be improved, and the waters that sustain the sport of bass fishing can be protected. This year, six students from across the country were awarded scholarships of $4,000 each, for a total of $24,000 in educational assistance.
2026 Fisheries Management Scholarship Recipients
• Riley Cox – Oregon State University
• Joshua Goff – University of Nebraska
• Matthew Graff – North Carolina State University
• Cole Hubbard – Paul Smith’s College
• Teague McClurg – Purdue University
• Levi Umland – University of Missouri
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“The response to this event continues to be extraordinary,” said BFHOF President Bruce Stanton. “We have a dedicated Conservation and Education Committee, led by board member and Hall of Fame inductee Gene Gilliland, that pays great attention to the selection process. These scholarships represent an investment in the future of our fisheries and the sport we all love. Healthy fisheries are essential to a healthy sport, and supporting these students aligns perfectly with the Hall’s mission to celebrate, promote and preserve bass fishing.”
Recipients are all undergraduate and graduate students currently enrolled in programs with declared majors or career goals in biology, aquatic ecology, fisheries, marine science, or closely related natural resource fields, all of which helps support the future of the sport of bass fishing.
“Each year, our independent panel of judges is impressed by the caliber of applicants and their passion for fisheries conservation,” Gilliland said. “These students represent the future managers of our fisheries, and we are proud to assist them in their educational journey.”
Funding for the Fisheries Management Scholarship Program is made possible by the generous support of Hall of Fame inductees, professional fishermen, bass fishing enthusiasts, participants in the Hall’s annual online fundraising auction, and numerous companies in the bass fishing industry. To date, the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame has awarded approximately $100,000 in scholarships since the program began.
The Bass Fishing Hall of Fame will honor its Class of 2026 during its annual induction ceremony on September 24 at the Johnny Morris Wonders of Wildlife Museum and Aquarium near the Bass Pro Shops flagship store in Springfield, Missouri. The Class of 2026 includes Takahiro Omori, Rick Pierce, Pam Martin-Wells, Don Iovino and Mike Whittaker.
The Bass Fishing Hall of Fame will announce details and application requirements for the 2027 Fisheries Management Scholarship Program later this year.
Eugene L.
Writer for All Outdoors.com and OutdoorHub.com Lifelong fisherman who will fish for anything that swims, firearms enthusiast and hunter. Instagram – mrfish49
