Dec. 7, 2009
The Department of Natural Resources and the Michigan Natural Resources Commission recognized Vic Ouellette of Gaylord as the 2009 Hunter Education Instructor of the Year at the NRC meeting on Dec. 3 in Lansing.
Ouellette, a retired Shiawassee County Sheriff's deputy, has been involved in the Michigan hunter education program since 1975. He started first as a volunteer, and became a certified instructor in 1980.
"Hunter education instructors like Vic Ouellette are invaluable to the future of conservation in Michigan," said DNR Director Rebecca Humphries. "They literally are teaching the next generation of conservation leaders and outdoorsmen and women, and the DNR is grateful for the work they do."
Ouellette is now the hunter education and International Bow Education Program coordinator for Otsego County and the surrounding area. He also is the president of the recently formed Michigan Hunter Education Association.
"Vic's dedication to the hunter education program is remarkable," Humphries said. "He has sacrificed countless hours, and even his own money, to improve the program and better incorporate the use of technology in it."
Ouellette recently secured donations of 500 computers for distribution to hunter education instructors statewide. He is a strong proponent of the use of technology in the classroom, including the Laser Shot system and the new Hunter Education Tools program. Ouellette realized instructors would need computers to run these programs, so he contacted area schools for used computer donations, collecting the computers in his garage. He spends nearly three hours per computer loading programs in preparation for distribution to instructors, and he regularly travels around the state, donating his own time and money, to deliver the computers personally.
Ouellette also volunteers as a certified ORV and snowmobile instructor.
Ouellette retired from the Shiawassee County Sheriff's Department after 26 years of service. He and his wife Connie now live in Gaylord.
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