Center for Lakes & Streams staff and students attended the 27th Annual ILMS Conference at Oakwood Resort in Syracuse. Bottom row, from left: Madisson Heinl, Heather James, Joellyn Moine, Hannah Fraser, Jasmine Goshert, Caitlin Yoder, Amy Bloemendaal, Seth Bingham, Tim Bradley.Top row, from left: Alix Underwood, Casey Kunz, Josiah Hartman, Ryan Workman, Danila Kurkulin, Nate Bosch, Tiler Reese.

By MADISSON HEINL
Grace College

The Center for Lakes & Streams at Grace College attended the 27th annual Indiana Lakes Management Society, Inc. conference at Oakwood Resort in Syracuse Thursday March 5 and Friday, March 6. Five staff members and 12 students attended the conference during Grace College’s spring break.

The annual ILMS Conference is an opportunity for property owners, scientists and researchers, lake enthusiasts and students to attend presentations and lectures, network with other contacts and organizations, and learn about issues or solutions concerning local waterways.

Four undergraduate Grace College students, Seth Bingham, Joellyn Moine, Tiler Reese, and Alix Underwood gave research-based presentations at the conference. Bingham gave an analysis of lakes and streams in the Barbee and Chapman lake chains; Moine gave a presentation about water levels on Lake Wawasee and Syracuse Lake; Reese spoke about the historical impact of scientific research in Kosciusko County and how this research shaped the community; and Underwood shared research about blue-green algae in Kosciusko County lakes.

Research Assistant Alix Underwood received an award for best student presentation at the ILMS Conference. Josiah Hartman also received a scholarship from the Indiana Lakes Management Society.

Center for Lakes & Streams director Nate Bosch also delivered a presentation about E. coli levels on Pike and Center lakes. Presentations were approximately thirty minutes long with a question and answer time.

Bosch said of the students that attended the conference, “They are all hard workers who are eager to serve the community. Their presentations were professional and they did a great job of representing Kosciusko County.” Students who did not present at the conference assisted with moderating presentations, working registration, or volunteering at the conference in other capacities.

Also at the conference, Josiah Hartman, a student employee with the center, was awarded a scholarship from the Indiana Lakes Management Society. Center for Lakes & Streams research assistant, Alix Underwood, also received an award for best student presentation.

The Center for Lakes & Streams at Grace College conducts applicable research, engages and educates residents, and collaborates with other organizations in efforts to make the lakes and streams of Kosciusko County cleaner. For more information or to support their efforts, visit lakes.grace.edu.