Posted: 10/1/2025
SNR Alumni: Tylr Naprstek, 2003 Graduate
What degree(s) did you earn from UNL and in what year(s)?
Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources in December 2003, emphasis in Fisheries Management
How do you feel your SNR education prepared you for your career?
By being made aware of a wide array of a multitude of real world examples and getting the background story to match, the education I received really paid dividends by producing a generalized foundation on which a career could be built. Specific case and example; my introduction to GIS was done categorizing Salt Creek Tiger Beetle habitat, which evolved into a skill set on which I based my entire career. We also were made aware of issues that continue to face us today such as nitrate contamination in drinking water, in the case we studied, for the municipal well in Hickman. All of this exposure to real world scenarios helped achieve a successful career in Natural Resources Management.
Who were some of your favorite (or most memorable) professors and classes?
My advisor and professor of Ichthyology was Dr. Ed Peters, who was very passionate about all things fisheries. Some of my memorable outdoor experiences was getting to conduct fish surveys using seine net fishing techniques along the Platte River, which turned out to be a muddy good time. Also, conducting Largemouth Bass size surveys at night using an electro-shocking boat at a local lake was very intriguing. Even the inside classroom stuff was impactful, like when we were studying fish anatomy, Dr. Peters brought smoked salmon to help demonstrate myomeres location and function, which really sticks with a poor, starving, college kid! I would be remiss if I didn't mention the value that was derived from Dr. Larkin Powell's Wildlife Management class, specifically exposure to Geographic Information Systems (GIS). What started as just a small portion of a section of class, with a very basic operating system, Arc Map 3.2 and minimal features prove to be the genesis of a program that would come define my entire career. I currently use Arc Pro 3.5+ with a multitude of features that all owe their start to that limited exposure I had with the program back with Dr. Powell first started!
Describe your non-academic activities during your time at the university. For example, were you involved in any SNR-related student groups? Did you study abroad?
When it comes to non-academic activities, two of them specifically come to mind Marching Band/Pep Band and Wildlife Club. I look back at my time at UNL and there is just no way to not at least consider my time with the band, it is woven into my DNA. There was a lot of hard work associated with it, early mornings and late nights of marching drill, mountains of music to memorize, endless band camp jokes, but the payoff was well worth it. Memorial Stadium in all its glory on those crisp fall days, the hostile fan base of opposing schools, the bowl trips, and even a trip to Ireland to march in the St. Patty’s Day Parade. Many of my closest friends came from that experience. There were also all the pep band activities, getting to see both the volleyball and women’s basketball start to build. It also meant food, as they usually fed us at the games! The other non-academic activity was UNL Wildlife Club. A much different experience, most of these people involved had similar backgrounds and were looking for an outdoor experience. As vice president, I organized and led a group down the upper Snake River near Merriman, Nebraska. What was supposed to be a relaxing canoe trip turned into a survival demonstration as we timed the deer fly hatch perfectly, faced numerous water hazards, and the stormy weather at night prevented any one from getting any rest. Needless to say, I was banned from planning any more events!
Describe your post-SNR career path. Did you attend graduate school (when/where)? If so, what did you study and how did you determine your research interests?
I really considered attending graduate school, in fact there was a particular interview at SDSU that had major appeal studying Rainbow Smelt movements along the face of Oahe Dam. While it did not pan out, there are times I wonder about where I would have ended up if I had attended graduate school. The state made huge budget cuts and to compensate, the Game and Parks had to terminate all of their temporary staff that year. That, coupled with the expiration of my lease at my Lincoln apartment left me broke, jobless, and homeless. Upon returning to Valentine, I found a technician position with the Middle Niobrara Natural Resources District and assisted with their tree program and started collecting water quality and quantity samples.
When did your professional career begin to take shape?
About 3 months into the NRD job in Valentine, I discovered I had a great interest in all things groundwater. I was able to attain a Natural Resources Technician license from the Nebraska Well Licensing Board and started conducting Chemigation safety checks on well sites in Brown, Keya Paha, and Rock Counties. From there, I have been able to study groundwater quality and quantity, learn aquifer properties, and promote conservation programs in the Niobrara River Basin, Elkhorn River out of O'Neill, and finally the Loup Basin where I currently reside.
What position do you currently hold? What do you most enjoy about it and what do you find most challenging?
I am the Assistant General Manager at the Lower Loup Natural Resources District. The most enjoyable part of the job is also the most challenging in that no two days are ever the same. NRD responsibilities and management are in a constant state of evolution, and to stay on the forefront of promotion of education and technology requires frequent revisiting and revisions of various management plans. A major achievement is, when working with a focus group of stakeholders or landowners they specifically mention that they rely on the continuous mountain of data the NRD releases to gauge the status of area natural resources. But there is always more that can and should be done.
Would you change anything about or take anything back from your time at SNR?
Overall, I was extremely satisfied with my time at SNR and for the most part I would go back and relive it if that were possible, however, one item I would have changed was more interaction with the Agriculture side of CASNR. Living in Burr Hall, and even my time at city campus, I came into contact with numerous people that I have since crossed paths with again later in life. We have that time at UNL that we share, and a lot of the same experiences. But once you mention east campus and some of the specific courses, that bond becomes even stronger and there is an immediate connection there. There was a wealth of networking that could have been done, which would bridge conversations and lead to a greater working relationship with the Ag sector. I just wish I was more open to look outside my own degree.
What advice would you give to current SNR students who aren’t sure or don’t feel confident about their postgraduate future?
There was a document released by the school during my time there that I took to heart, which specifically spelled out a formula on how to be successful and find a job within 6 months after graduation. My memory is a little fuzzy on it, but I recall the formula stated that maintaining at least a 3.2 GPA, attending all optional study sessions in one's major, being involved with at least 2 non-academic activities on campus, and interning or volunteering in one's fields of study would result in immediate employment. The formula apparently worked for me and I believe there is something similar available to current students. I would encourage current students to not only look outside of their specific field of study, but also look around the State. Greater Nebraska is in need of smart, young, career minded individuals and there is a lot more to our state than just Omaha or Lincoln. If one is willing to move a little, and broaden their perspective, a successful, rewarding career can be found.