The Suzanne L. and Joseph T. Collins Award
for Excellence in Kansas Herpetology
General Conditions of The Collins Award

Because of a substantial seed grant from Westar Energy, Topeka, Kansas, this Award was established by the Board of Directors of The Center for North American Herpetology (CNAH) in 1997 as a trust in perpetuity in recognition of the scientific and photographic achievements of Suzanne L. Collins and Joseph T. Collins, whose life-long study and conservation of the native amphibians, turtles, and reptiles of Kansas is amply demonstrated in their extensive and excellent writings and photography, both academic and popular, about these animals.

The Award shall be known as the

Suzanne L. & Joseph T. Collins Award for Excellence in Kansas Herpetology

The Collins Award, if a qualified recipient is identified, shall be presented once each year, and may not be divided, but must be presented in full to a single individual. The recipient of The Collins Award shall be chosen by the Kansas Herpetological Society, and the amount of the award shall be presented to the recipient by CNAH, in accordance with an agreement between these two entities. To receive The Collins Award, the recipient must be present at the annual meeting of the Kansas Herpetological Society.

Specifications of The Collins Award

In even-numbered years, The Collins Award shall be bestowed upon an individual who,
in the preceding two calendar years, accomplished the following:

Had published a paper of academic excellence on the systematics, ecology, or conservation of a native species of Kansas amphibian(s), turtles(s), and/or reptile(s) in the Journal of Kansas Herpetology, Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science, Herpetological Review, or the Journal of Herpetology, and/or presented a lecture of excellence on the systematics, ecology, or conservation of a native species of Kansas amphibian(s), turtle(s) and/or reptile(s) on the occasion of the annual meeting of the Kansas Herpetological Society. To qualify for The Collins Award, a portion of the field work or observations must have occurred in Kansas, or the systematic data must have been based in part on Kansas specimens.

In odd-numbered years, The Collins Award shall be bestowed upon an individual
who accomplished the following:

Was chosen the best in a juried competition featuring the art of photography in portraying amphibians, turtles, and/or reptiles, said competition to take place under the auspices and on the occasion of the November annual meeting of the Kansas Herpetological Society. To qualify for The Collins Award, the art work must portray species native to Kansas.

Donate to the Collins Award:

Recipients of
The Suzanne L. & Joseph T. Collins Award for Excellence in Kansas Herpetology

1998
Travis W. Taggart
University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
for his published research paper entitled
Status of Bufo debilis (Anura: Bufonidae) in Kansas
Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter 109: 7-12 (1997) View PDF Document
A Commemorative Plaque and $1,000.00

1999
Gregory A. Sievert
Emporia State University, Emporia, Kansas
for his exquisite photograph of a
Gray Treefrog (Hyla versicolor) View Picture
A Commemorative Certificate and $1,000.00

2000
Emily C. Moriarty
University of Texas, Austin
for her research presentation entitled
A Morphometric and Molecular Comparison of Pseudacris triseriata
and Pseudacris maculata from Sympatric Populations in Douglas County, Kansas View PDF Document
at the 25th Annual Meeting of the Kansas Herpetological Society in 1998
A Commemorative Plaque and $1,000.00

2001
Daniel D. Fogell
University of Nebraska, Omaha
for his exquisite photograph of a
Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix) View Picture
A Commemorative Certificate and $1,000.00

2002
John F. Cavitt
Kansas State University, Manhattan
for his published research paper entitled
Fire and a Tallgrass Prairie Reptile Community: Effects on Relative
Abundance and Seasonal Activity
Journal of Herpetology 34(1): 12-20 (2000) View PDF Document
A Commemorative Plaque and $1,000.00

2003
Larry L. Miller
Northern Hills Junior High School, Topeka, Kansas
for his exquisite photograph of an
Eastern Racer (Coluber constrictor) View Picture
A Commemorative Certificate and $1,000.00

2004
Dwight R. Platt
Bethel College, North Newton, Kansas
for his published research paper entitled
Lizards and Snakes (Order Squamata) of Harvey County, Kansas
Journal of Kansas Herpetology 6: 13-20 (2003) View PDF Document
A Commemorative Plaque and $1,000.00

2005
Larry L. Miller
Northern Hills Junior High School, Topeka, Kansas
for his exquisite photograph of a
Common Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina) View Picture
A Commemorative Certificate and $1,000.00

2006
Henry S. Fitch
The University of Kansas
for his published research paper entitled
A Field Study of the Timber Rattlesnake in Leavenworth County, Kansas
(with George R. Pisani, Harry W. Greene, Alice F. Echelle & Michael Zerwehk)
Journal of Kansas Herpetology 11: 18-24 (2004) View PDF Document
A Commemorative Plaque and $1,000.00

2007
J. Daren Riedle
West Texas A&M University, Canyon
for his exquisite photograph of a
Common Map Turtle (Graptemys geographica) View Picture
A Commemorative Certificate and $1,000.00

2008
Dustin J. Wilgers
Kansas State University, Manhattan
for his published research paper entitled
Effects of Different Burn Regimes on Tallgrass Prairie Herpetofaunal Species
Diversity and Community Composition in the Flint Hills, Kansas
(with Eva A. Horne)
Journal of Herpetology 40: 73-84 (2006) View PDF Document
A Commemorative Plaque and $1,000.00

2009
Paul Rodriguez
University of Nebraska, Omaha
for his exquisite photograph of a
Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix) View Picture
A Commemorative Certificate and $1,000.00

The Center for North American Herpetology is grateful to the following,
whose financial contributions made The Collins Award possible:

Corporate Contributor
JTC Enterprises, Lawrence, Kansas
Stevens & Brand, L.L.P., Lawrence, Kansas
Touchstone Energy, Washington, D. C.
Westar Energy, Topeka, Kansas


Individual Contributor
Adler, Kraig, Ithaca, New York
Anderson, Pat & John, Lawrence, Kansas
Barry, Sean, Davis, California
Brand, John W., Lawrence, Kansas
Brunfeldt, Joan, Lawrence, Kansas
Capps, Lee & Lois, Lawrence, Kansas
Casper, Gary, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Clay Blair, Overland Park, Kansas
Collicott, Sheila F., Charlotte Hall, Maryland
Collins, Jeffrey George, Virginia Beach, Virginia
Collins, Jerry & Kay, Cincinnati, Ohio
Creque, Terry R., Springfield, Virginia
Cross, Frank & Marie, Lawrence, Kansas
Cumberland, Carol & Harry, Wichita, Kansas
Debicki, Andrew, Lawrence, Kansas
Edwards, Carroll & Virgie, Lawrence, Kansas
Elmore, John & Rosie, Lawrence, Kansas
Gallagher, Patricia, Prairie Village, Kansas
Green, Nancy & Jerry, Knoxville, Tennessee
Greer, Allen E., Kings Cross, Australia
Haack, Paul & Maggie, Columbia Heights, Minnesota
Hatton, Donald & Carol, Lawrence, Kansas
Hayes, John, Topeka, Kansas
Hornyak, Valerie, Toldeo, Ohio
Huelsmann, Martin J. & Shirley A., Ft. Mitchell, Kentucky
Irwin, Kelly J., College Station, Texas
Johnston, Richard F. & Lora Lee, Lawrence, Kansas
Kamb, Al, Lawrence, Kansas
McEachen, Joann & Gary, Shawnee Mission, Kansas
Miller, Suzanne L. & Larry L., Wakarusa, Kansas
Mills, Barbara Nash, Beverly Hills, California
Moriarty, Emily, Notre Dame, Indiana
Nelick, Kathryn, Lawrence, Kansas
Praeger, Mark & Sandy, Lawrence, Kansas
Raney, Richard, Lawrence, Kansas
Salzberg, Allen S., Forest Hills, New York
Scannell, Dale & Marilyn, Indianapolis, Indiana
Schmidt, David, Kansas City, Missouri
Strawn, Rick, Kansas City, Missouri
Sudlow, Robert & Barbara, Lawrence, Kansas
Tacha, Deanell & John, Lawrence, Kansas
Taggart, Bruce & Germaine, Hays, Kansas
Taggart, Travis W., Hammond, Louisiana
Tarnower, Amy, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Toepfer, Karen, Hays, Kansas
Van Blaricum, Galen & Karen, Lawrence, Kansas
Weaver, Chelsea, Salado, Arkansas
Weaver, Randy & Nancy, Salado, Arkansas
Whelan, Richard & Carol, Prairie Village, Kansas
Wyatt, Flora & Benji, Lawrence, Kansas


The Center for North American Herpetology serves as a safe and secure haven for funds designated for herpetological awards and grants. Such funds are deposited in specific trusts in perpetuity, thus ensuring that they will be used only for the purposes for which they were donated. Individuals interested in establishing state or regional awards of a similar nature should contact The Center for North American Herpetology.
© 1994-2010, CNAH - Director - Joseph T. Collins Programmer/Webmaster - Travis W. Taggart
Accessed at: 7/30/2010 12:29:11 AM CT.