Katie Nichols Receives Young Forester Award From OSAF

Katie Nichols has received the Young Forester Award from the Oregon Society of American Foresters (OSAF), which was presented at the OSAF virtual Annual meeting on May 13, 2021. The Young Forester Leadership Award recognizes outstanding leadership by a young forestry professional in the development and promotion of an individual program or project, or for a sustained leadership role benefiting the practice of forestry and the Society of American Foresters. “Katie epitomizes what we hope for in young forester leadership,” said Mark Buckbee, a SAF board member. “She willingly volunteers for leadership roles and then does an excellent job carrying out those responsibilities.” A graduate of Oregon State University’s Forest Engineering Program, Nichols works for Lone Rock Timber Company as an Internal Operations Administrator and Sustainability Coordinator. She is a licensed forest engineer and is working toward licensure in land surveying and is currently a land surveyor in-training. Nichols has been active in the Umpqua Chapter and OSAF since coming to Roseburg six years ago. Upon joining Umpqua SAF, she almost immediately took on the duties of Education Chair, a responsibility she retains to this day. Umpqua Chapter has a substantial education program, and Nichols coordinated their involvement with Earth Day Fairs, STEM Fairs at UCC, Douglas County Fairs, Glide Forestry Tour (5 th /6 th graders throughout Douglas County), UCC Career Fairs, requests for speakers from local schools, and probably a few other activities that have been missed. In 2020, Nichols was elected and served as the OSAF Delegate-At-Large and helped to organize the 2021 Northwest SAF Leadership Conference. She currently serving as the 2021 OSAF Foresters Fund Chair. In addition to SAF, Nichols is an active member of the Public Land Surveyors of Oregon since 2015. Via OSAF