MEMPHIS, Tenn., March 1, 2011 – Each spring, Ducks Unlimited announces its Sweet 16 listing of top-producing college chapters throughout the nation. The following list of chapters made it into the elite group out of nearly 120 DU collegiate chapters.

To qualify for the "DU Sweet 16," chapters needed to raise more than $11,000 in grassroots income during the 2010 calendar year. Collegiate chapters throughout the country have raised more than $513,680 this year, with $290,650 coming from the Sweet 16 chapters. 

"Ducks Unlimited's university program has become a critical part of our overall fundraising effort. Not only is it vital from a direct financial perspective, but it's also a source of organizational awareness and a strong and consistent volunteer base," said David Schuessler, DU's national director of grassroots fundraising. "The volunteers who make up these 16 college chapters are the future conservation leaders of not only DU, but all conservation efforts in the country. I personally thank them for their efforts."

Ducks Unlimited is the world's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving North America's continually disappearing waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has conserved more than 12 million acres, thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science and dedicated to program efficiency, DU works toward the vision of wetlands sufficient to fill the skies with waterfowl today, tomorrow and forever.

Lauren Oxner 

loxner@ducks.org

901-758-3851