Illinois Conservation Foundation awards Brent Manning Memorial Scholarship recipients

SPRINGFIELD - Five Illinois students are recipients of the Illinois Conservation Foundation's (ICF) 2026 Brent Manning Memorial Scholarship. The annual scholarships go to outstanding Illinois high school seniors pursuing careers in conservation, natural resources and related fields.

Formerly known as the Conservation Achievement Scholarship, the program was recently renamed to honor the life and legacy of Brent Manning, former director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and a founding leader of the ICF.

Manning died in January 2024 after a distinguished career in public service. As the longest-tenured director of IDNR, he helped guide conservation policy and expand outdoor programs statewide. He was also credited with helping to form the ICF during his time as director.

Throughout his career and into retirement, Manning remained deeply committed to mentoring young people and encouraging them to pursue conservation careers. Renaming the scholarship in his honor reflects that enduring commitment.

"Brent was passionate about inspiring younger generations, knowing that within them are the future leaders and conservationists of our world," said Mannin's wife, Cathy Manning. "He carried a deep conviction that it is our role to nurture their connection to nature and prepare them to lead. Our family is deeply grateful that this scholarship continues the work he loved, inspiring others to connect with the natural world and carry his legacy forward."

Administered by the ICF, the scholarship awards multiple one-time scholarships of $2,000 each to students who have demonstrated long-term, voluntary dedication to Illinois' natural resources. In recent years, due to strong interest and board support, ICF has expanded the number of scholarships awarded annually.

"Brent's leadership shaped conservation in Illinois for decades," said IDNR Director Natalie Phelps Finnie, who chairs the ICF board. "It's fitting that this scholarship supports young people who are ready to continue that work."

2026 Brent Manning Memorial Scholarship recipients

Taylor Graham | Pittsfield High School, Pike County

Growing up on his family's farm, Taylor Graham has spent years improving wildlife habitat through food plot management, controlled burns, and predator trapping to support ground-nesting bird populations. He has mentored peers in ethical hunting, fishing and trapping practices. He plans to study pre-law at Quincy University with a focus on agriculture and conservation law.

April Wilken | Central Community High School, Clinton County

April Wilken has dedicated her high school years to hands-on conservation through roadside litter cleanup, ethical deer hunting for wildlife population management, school greenhouse stewardship, and helping her grandfather maintain native grasses and habitat areas through the Continuous Conservation Reserve Program. She supports organizations including Whitetails Unlimited, Ducks Unlimited and Quail Forever by raising awareness and contributing to fundraising efforts that protect Illinois wetlands and wildlife habitat. She plans to major in journalism at the University of Missouri.

Ella Jenkins | Lincolnwood High School, Montgomery County

Ella Jenkins has been an active member of the Montgomery County Pheasants Forever chapter throughout high school, participating in habitat work including tree planting, prescribed burns and pollinator plot maintenance. A four-year FFA member and secretary, she plans to pursue education at Lincoln Land Community College with a goal of becoming a teacher.

Henry Karduck | St. Thomas More High School, Champaign County

Henry Karduck designed and installed a 450-square-foot native pollinator garden at his high school as an Eagle Scout project, earning the Prairielands Council Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year award. He has also removed invasive species, maintained church pollinator gardens and participated in multiple community conservation events. He intends to study agricultural and biological engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Elaine Howard | Mahomet-Seymour High School, Champaign County

Elaine Howard has volunteered with Illinois RiverWatch since 2020, conducting mussel surveys, crawfish monitoring, stream macroinvertebrate sampling, and Winter Chloride Watch testing, work that earned her the 2025 Illinois RiverWatch Young Scientist Award. She founded her high school's Environmental Club and led an effort to transform the middle school courtyard into a certified Monarch Butterfly Waystation. She plans to study environmental science at the college level.

"The Brent Manning Memorial Scholarship reflects both Brent's legacy and our ongoing commitment to cultivating conservation leaders," said ICF Executive Director Jenny Vaughn. "These students embody the passion, service and stewardship that defined Brent's career. ICF is proud to continue investing in Illinois' next generation of conservation professionals through programs like the Brent Manning Memorial Scholarship."

About the Illinois Conservation Foundation

The Illinois Conservation Foundation is the nonprofit partner of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. ICF supports conservation, outdoor recreation, and environmental education initiatives across Illinois through grants, scholarships, and donor-funded programs.