College of Agriculture & Natural Resources Institute of Agricultural Technology

MSU IAT Forest Technology Student Leann Shope 
Awarded 2026 Leann Shope, a student in the Michigan State University Institute of Agricultural Technology (MSU IAT) Forest Technology program, has been named a 2026 Warren Suchovsky Scholarship recipient. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Leann Shope, a student in the Michigan State University Institute of Agricultural Technology (MSU IAT) Forest Technology program, has been named a 2026 Warren Suchovsky Scholarship recipient. The $2,000 scholarship is awarded annually by the Michigan Association of Timbermen (MAT) to students pursuing forestry and related fields at Michigan colleges and universities. Shope received the award at MAT's Annual Convention at Boyne Mountain Resort in Boyne Falls, Michigan, on April 17, 2026. 

The Warren Suchovsky Scholarship Fund awards two $2,000 scholarships each year to Michigan students enrolled in forestry, natural resources, forest product manufacturing, and related programs. The fund is supported by Forest/Loggers/Mauck Insurance Agencies, GreenStone Farm Credit Services, and the Michigan Forest Association. 

The scholarship honors Warren Suchovsky of Stephenson, Michigan, who dedicated more than 60 years to advancing sustainable forestry in the state. He is best known for founding the Michigan Master Logger Certification Program, which recognizes logging companies that meet rigorous sustainable forest management standards. Suchovsky served in numerous leadership and advisory roles at the local, state, and national levels throughout his career. He passed away in November 2025, and the scholarship endures as a tribute to his lasting impact on Michigan's forests and the people who steward them. 

Shope's path to forestry is shaped by personal growth, a lifelong love of the outdoors, and a drive to make a difference. A mother of five — two biological children and three bonus children — she chose to pursue a new career in her thirties. An avid hiker and traveler, she joined her local fire department in 2024, an experience that deepened her interest in forest health and solidified her commitment to a career in forestry. 

“It took me until my thirties to figure out what I want most out of life. I used to think a career was just about making an income — and yes, that matters — but if you love what you do and can make a difference along the way, it becomes something so much more. Becoming a firefighter for my community and learning about how fire affects our forests made me want to do more. My kids sit with me every night while I do homework, reading through my slides and asking so many questions. These past few years have really shaped who I am and who I want to be.” 

— Leann Shope, MSU IAT Forest Technology Student 

Shope has also demonstrated initiative in her professional life. In mid-2024, she was tasked with launching a drone-based roundwood inventory program at her workplace — with no prior experience in drone technology. Over four months, she researched equipment, evaluated vendors, coordinated demonstrations, and built a program now used across multiple locations. That hands-on problem-solving reflects the skills the MSU IAT Forest Technology program is designed to develop. 

Shope is enrolled in the MSU IAT Forest Technology certificate program, offered in partnership with Bay College in Escanaba, Michigan. The two-year program combines online and in-person instruction with extensive hands-on lab and field experiences, preparing students for careers in forest management, procurement forestry, consulting, and wildland fire. Students build practical skills through tree identification, forest inventories, wildland firefighting, and GPS/GIS and drone technology applications. Field trips to area agency and industry partners connect classroom learning to real-world practice, and all students complete a paid professional internship with a local forestry employer. Graduates earn both a Certificate in Forest Technology from MSU IAT and an Associate in Applied Science degree from Bay College, and are prepared to enter the workforce or transfer to a four-year institution. 

MSU IAT Director Dr. Jennifer “Jeno” Rivera congratulated Shope and highlighted the program’s partnership with Bay College: 

“Leann Shope’s receipt of the 2026 Warren Suchovsky Scholarship is a tremendous honor and a testament to her growth, initiative, and commitment to forestry education. At MSU’s Institute of Agricultural Technology, we are proud to support students like Leann who bring real-world experience, leadership, and a deep commitment to serving their communities into the classroom and the field. Through our partnership with Bay College, the Forest Technology program is preparing the next generation of forestry professionals — and Leann’s success is a powerful example of the impact these students will have on Michigan’s sustainable forestry future.” 

— Dr. Jennifer “Jeno” Rivera, Director, MSU Institute of Agricultural Technology 

Justin Knepper, Executive Director of the Michigan Association of Timbermen, also praised Shope’s dedication: 

“Hearing Leann’s story — how hard she has worked as a student in MSU’s Forest Technology program and how passionate she is about Michigan’s forests — made this scholarship decision an easy one. We’re excited to see what she’ll accomplish, and we look forward to watching the MSU IAT Forest Technology program continue to grow and graduate outstanding students here in Michigan.” 

— Justin Knepper, Executive Director, Michigan Association of Timbermen 

Shope is also focused on one of the industry’s most pressing concerns: workforce succession. In her scholarship application, she identified the aging timber workforce and a shortage of young professionals entering the field — along with unpredictable winters that disrupt wood movement — as the greatest challenges facing Michigan’s timber industry. She sees herself as part of the solution. 

The Michigan Association of Timbermen represents nearly 350 businesses and organizations across Michigan dedicated to sustainable forestry — ensuring that Michigan’s forests continue to provide goods, services, and ecological value for future generations. MAT administers the Michigan Master Logger Certification Program and advocates for workforce development across the state’s forest products industry. 

For more information: 

MSU IAT-Bay College Forest Technology Program: canr.msu.edu/iat/forest-technology 

Warren Suchovsky Scholarship Fund: michigantimbermen.com/scholarship