Jamie’s journey with the Spring Creek Chapter of Trout Unlimited began with a brilliant idea: transforming the YMCA into a great location for “Trout in the Classroom”. Despite encountering opposition, her vision, known as “Y-trout”, eventually come to fruition. She subsequently led the chapter’s youth outreach efforts.

From 2019 to 2023, Jamie served as chapter President, steering the organization through unprecedented challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. During this time, the chapter transitioned to online meetings, hosting educational programs by renowned speakers remotely while continuing with its many activities.

Jamie is passionate about educating youth on fishing and environmental conservation. Under her leadership, the Chapter’s robust youth outreach program flourished, featuring events like family fishing day, trout in the classroom and youth fly tying sessions. She also played a pivotal role in advancing the women’s angling program, which grew to be one of, if not the largest, and most active women anglers’ chapters in Trout Unlimited.

Under Jamie’s leadership, the Chapter secured State funded grants for the Spring and Bald Eagle Creek watershed restoration projects. In addition, the Chapter continued with its annual Spring Creek Redd Count and cleanup days. All these activities contributed to the health of our local streams.

Despite working full time, and guiding in her off hours, Jamie volunteered extensively for the chapter, demonstrating effective leadership during challenging times.

Mario was a member of the Spring Creek Chapter of Trout Unlimited Board of Directors from 2016 through 2023 serving as Treasurer. During his tenure, he kept detailed records of the Chapter's revenue and expenses, wisely invested chapter funds, deposited checks, paid bills, filed taxes, kept track of conservation project finances, helped set up online fundraising and event registration, developed annual budgets, and submitted TU National's required reports on time. He was very transparent about all financial matters; sending out financial updates on the first of every month, updating the full Board at its monthly meetings, and gladly answering any ad hoc questions. His efforts as Treasurer were vital to the success and reputation of the Chapter. In addition, Mario was an active participant in all the chapter activities and was integral in the development of the veterans program and conservation activities.

Larry Ragan was presented with the Robert F. Eberhardt Order of the Sulphur at the March 26th Winter Fly Fishing 101 Class. These classes have been offered each year since 2018 and have helped those attending, of all ages, gain an interest and knowledge of the sport of fly fishing. The success of these classes can be attributed to Larry's dedication and hard work developing the course material and bringing in some of the best fly fishing instructors in Pennsylvania.

Larry is a member of SCCTU and actively participates in the Annual Redd Count, Family Fishing Day and is a VSP Instruction Coordinator and Coach as well as a Regional Coordinator of Trout in the Classroom and support for teachers at State College Area High School. Congratulations and thank you Larry!

Jennifer Shuey is the recipient of this year’s Robert J. Eberhart Order of the Sulphur award for her years of dedicated work with the chapter. Jennifer is the Director of Development for the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts. Prior to that she served nearly fifteen years as Executive Director of ClearWater Conservancy of Central Pennsylvania. She has been a longtime advocate for the Watershed, Chapter supporter, and volunteer.

Jennifer believes in giving back to community benefit organizations. In addition to volunteering with the Chapter, she has donated art and volunteered with many non-profits including: ClearWater Conservancy, the Centre County Farmland Trust, Millbrook Marsh Nature Center, Mount Nittany Conservancy, and the Centre County Youth Service Bureau. She also serves on the Millbrook Marsh Nature Center Advisory Committee and the Boards of the Centre County Farmland Trust and Mount Nittany Conservancy.

Paula is primarily a conservationist – definitely not a fisherperson and has played an extremely important role in the Chapter. She was a board member, Vice President, Annual Banquet Chair, Newsletter Editor, Public Relations Chair, Conservation Activist, and much, much more. As a Board member, she played and important and significant role for some six years providing insight and keeping the Board focused on the chapter objectives. As co-chairperson for the annual Dinner and FUNdraiser, she has played an invaluable role in creating the structure and back office recording and records keeping the make the Banquet such a success over the past 6 years. As a conservationist she participates in our conservation projects such as the McCoy Planting, Commercial Street

Bob was the Chapter President from 2014 - 2018. During his leadership period the chapter received three national awards including the Gold Trout award as the nations most outstanding chapter in TU. He authored grants and managed projects in excess of $500,000. He expanded the partnerships amongst conservation and other organizations.

Rick was a member of the Board of Directors for 10 years and served as the Treasurer for 6 years. In addition, he volunteered for every conservation and citizen science event that the chapter undertook.

Jim Lanning is the founder of the Veterans Service Program and the "Logistics Guy". He is there for every activity of the chapter - conservation, citizen science, outreach. If you need something to get done ask Jim. He was the recipient of the National Service Award - Veterans Service Program.

Bob Donaldson has been active in the protection of the water quality of Spring Creek for nearly all of his lifetime. He has been a member of the Board of Directors of both ClearWater and SCCTU, a member of the Spring Creek Watershed Commission, and was instrumental in the creation of the Spring Creek Watershed Association. He established the “Watershed Watch” a program by SCCTU to monitor the water quality for problems and fix them.

Judi was President of the Chapter for four years (2010 - 2014) and a member for eight years. She initiated the Women Angler's (formerly the Central Pennsylvania Women Anglers), expanded the youth education and outreach program, managed the Backyard Makeover, and started the Get Outdoors Family Picnic.

The founders of the Spring Creek Chapter of Trout Unlimited were awarded the Order of the Sulphur at the 40th Annual Dinner and Fundraiser.

Katie Ombalski probably wrote more grants and managed more conservation project for the Spring Creek watershed than any other individual. She worked for Clearwater for many years and initiated the stewardship program.

Al Phillips is a very long time member of the chapter who volunteers to help - for everything. He is pictured here with Paula Sowers at the Rock doing the Spring Creek Watershed Cleanup. Al spent many years on the TU Board and arranged the general meetings.

Joe became involved in virtually every project undertaken by the Spring Creek Chapter from that point forward, as well as volunteering with ClearWater as a site steward. Many of the bank stabilization projects undertaken over the past decade have included partnerships between ClearWater and SCCTU. Joe was intimately involved in the McCoy Dam Removal, the Sheep Farm Projects[s], the “550” bank stabilization and riparian planting project, “The Distillery”, Milesburg Upper and Lower, Fisherman’s Paradise, Rock Road, and the McCoy Area Riparian planting now referred to as the “Boston Commons”. Joe has served as the project manager, grant author, and chief steward at many of the above sites.

Dick has been a long-time member of SCCTU but is not sure exactly when he joined and served 2 three-year terms on the board. He chaired the annual banquets from 2005 through 2010 and received the Sulphur Award at the 2010 banquet. Dick currently enjoys being an administrator and a stream side mentor with the SCCTU VSP.

Bob Carline led the effort towards the first Sheep Farm project, in 1989 whereby the university built fences to keep livestock out of Spring Creek. He was integral in the creation of the Water Resources Monitoring Project, and the Spring Creek Watershed Association. More recently he has helped to modernize the REDDS survey - he is shown here teaching volunteers how to recognize redds.

Ted has been active in the chapter for more than 30 years. An active participant and organizer of the Veterans Service Program, Ted was a key member of the effort to limit the treated water into Spring Creek based upon temperature - which led to the University Area Joint Authority's beneficial reuse program.