Brandon Sagraves, an Ohio native and wildlife enthusiast, describes his time at Texas Tech University as the best experience of his life.
Sagraves is a senior wildlife biology major has lived all over the country and spent most of his childhood in what he says is “the middle of nowhere.”
“I was always outdoors,” Sagraves said, “hunting and fishing, whatever I could get my hands on and get dirty.”
Growing up, Sagraves always thought he wanted to be in law enforcement like his dad, but then he discovered he could get paid to handle wildlife.
“I just want to protect the natural resources,” Sagraves said.
“He had numerous qualities that I knew would take him to amazing places – the proclivity to work hard, a positive attitude, and the desire to learn.”
Blake Grisham
Sagraves said he didn’t know if Texas Tech was where he was supposed to be and wanted to move to Wyoming to be closer to his family where his dad was working but was encouraged by one of his professors, Blake Grisham, Ph.D., an associate professor in the Department of Natural Resources Management, to stay and “stick it out a little longer.”
“I met Brandon as an engaged, eager freshman,” Grisham said. “He had numerous qualities that I knew would take him to amazing places – the proclivity to work hard, a positive attitude, and the desire to learn.”
Sagraves has dedicated himself to research, leadership, and hands-on experiences. On campus, he is actively involved in Texas Tech’s Wildlife Society- the largest chapter in the state. This year the chapter was given the prestigious title as the 2021 Student Chapter of the Year.
For two summers, Sagraves has interned with Wyoming Game and Fish, conducting research and spending time outdoors. In 2019, he was a habitat and access technician where he lived alone in a trailer creating habitats for pheasants and managing lake wildlife in the Tetons. During the summer of 2020, he was a wildlife intern assisting with various projects, including setting bear traps and surveying trout populations.
Sagraves loves Texas Tech and the Davis College because despite the large campus it still feels small. He said he is glad he chose Texas Tech because of the one-on-one educational experience, and he thinks it will take him further than large lectures from other universities.