Mark Steingraeber discusses his career as a fishery biologist for the Service with 8th grade students at Aquinas Middle School in La Crosse, Wisconsin.

Mark Steingraeber, a fishery biologist at the La Crosse National Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office, participated for the fifth consecutive year in the 8^th Grade Career Day at Aquinas Middle School in La Crosse, Wisconsin.  A total of 84 students attended the March 11 event.  Twenty different careers were represented at the fair this year.  Students selected from among these and attended four brief presentations given by a local professional who works in that occupation.  The morning event culminated a month-long Guidance Department program designed to encourage students to think about career options for their future.  Information on the duties, responsibilities, and requirements of a professional fishery biologist for the Service were described while the computer screensaver distributed at the 2003 National Fisheries Leadership Conference was projected to display examples of the diverse work performed by Service fishery biologists around the country.  Based on personal experiences dating back more than 30 years, Mr. Steingraeber described the educational path and life-journey that led him to a satisfying natural resource career in service to the nation.  The importance of communication, information technology, math, and interpersonal skills was stressed in whatever career a student may select.  Students were also encouraged to closely examine potential career choices by actively participating in job-shadow and volunteer opportunities offered to them in high school and college.