15th Annual UCANRAA Auction
The College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Alumni Association (UCANRAA) invites you to attend its 15th Annual Auction on Sunday, September 25, 2011. The Auction will feature a wide array of goods and services, including restaurant gift certificates, weekend getaways, paintings, flowers and specimen plants. A pre-sale begins at 11:00 a.m. and the auction starts at 1:00 p.m. Proceeds benefit students, faculty and staff of the College. Due to the generous donations we have received in the past, the UCANRAA Auction has raised funds to sponsor several initiatives that include; the establishment of a UCANRAA Endowed Scholarship Fund, a Student Travel Fund, Career Night, and an annual awards program to recognize outstanding faculty and staff.
The UCANRAA Auction is open to all and runs in conjunction with the CANR Cornucopia Fest. For more information, contact Pam Chudzik, Director of Alumni Relations, at Pamela.chudzik@uconn.edu.
UCANRAA membership drive
Become a new, dues paying member of UCANRAA — or refer a friend who becomes a new member — and be entered into a drawing to win two tickets to the women’s 2012 Big East Basketball Tournament. Offer ends February 1, 2012. For more information about drawing eligibility, contact Pam Chudzik at Pamela.chudzik@uconn.edu.
UCANRAA announces board members
The College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Alumni Association (UCANRAA) is pleased to announce the election of three new members to its Board of Directors. Jessica Hart earned her BS in horticulture in 2005 and upon graduation, she joined the family business, Hart’s Greenhouse and Florist. She currently manages their newest store in Norwich. While at UConn, Hart was a member of the Horticulture Club and worked in the Floriculture Greenhouses. Courtnay Lawrence earned her degree in Animal Science in 2000, and is currently a therapeutic riding instructor, certified by both NARHA and ARIA. She works in a program with at-risk youth and those with behavioral and cognitive challenges, and also manages the farm for the program. In addition, Lawrence lives on her own small horse farm with her family. While at UConn, Lawrence was active in the Dairy Club and Sigma Alpha, and spent most of her free time working at the Kellogg Dairy Center. Kurt Nieminen earned his degree in Animal Science in 2000. Currently, Nieminen works as an agricultural inspector for the Connecticut Department of Agriculture and has a small herd of Holsteins with his family. Nieminen has been a lifelong member of 4-H. While at UConn, he was a member of AGR, Block and Bridle and the Dairy Club. UCANRAA welcomes these members to the Board of Directors, and looks forward to continuing its service to the UConn community.
UCANRAA wins award
UCANRAA has been awarded the UConn Alumni Association 2011 U-Learn Award for the event “Meet and Greet with Dr. Temple Grandin.” Grandin, regarded as a world leader in autism advocacy and as an animal behaviorist, visited with the UConn community and participated in lectures, classroom visits and a book signing. UCANRAA President Liz Ackell accepted the U-Award on behalf of UCANRAA at the UCAA Annual Meeting on June 4, 2011.
In an effort to recognize the outstanding contributions of alumni volunteer groups, the UConn Alumni Association created the U-Awards. U-Awards are presented annually to geographic groups and other alumni groups that have distinguished themselves through exceptional program offerings. The U-Learn Award is given to the group that organizes the most outstanding career or life-development programs, life networking opportunities, and/or lifelong learning/continuing education offerings.
UCANRAA Annual Meeting and Awards Event
On April 28, 2011, UCANRAA held its Annual Meeting and Awards Event. Following the meeting, alumni, staff and faculty gathered to recognize those who have made outstanding contributions to the College. UCANRAA President Liz Ackell was on hand to present the following awards: Dr. Joan Smyth, associate professor in the Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science, received the 2011 UCANRAA Excellence in Teaching Award. Karen Nye, Agriculture and Resource Economics and Kathleen Pelletier, Department of Animal Science, were each awarded the 2011 UCANRAA Outstanding Staff Award. Kenneth M. Couture, a high school agriculture education teacher, was named the 2011 Honorary UCANRAA Member. Dr. Frank Gwazdauskas ’66 was recognized with the 2011 UCANRAA Distinguished Alumni Award.
UCANRAA was pleased to partner with the College to create an event to recognize the contributions of the College community. For more information about the UCANRAA Annual meeting or Awards process, contact Pam Chudzik at Pamela.chudzik@@uconn.edu.
In memoriam: Jan Ohms, Class of 1950
Jan S. Ohms, a leader in the Dutch flower bulb sector, died on May 27, 2011 at 85. He was a 1950 graduate of the College with a degree in landscape architecture and agricultural economics. He also earned a specialized degree in ornamental horticulture from the Rykstuinbouw School in Lisse, Holland.
Ohms was involved in horticulture and flower bulbs in the U.S. and Holland for over 60 years. He was CEO of three direct-mail-order gardening companies, all based in Bantam, Connecticut: Van Engelen, John Scheepers and John Scheepers Kitchen Garden Seeds.
Ohms grew up working in his family’s flower bulb nurseries and fields. In 1952, he married Faith van Slingerlandt, and shortly after moved with his family to Stamford., where he sold bulbs to private estates. In 1970, Ohms acquired Van Engelen, and he started the Van Engelen wholesale flower bulb catalog. In 1991, he bought John Scheepers and began business in retail mail-order. In 1991, Jo-Anne van den Berg-Ohms, Ohms’ daughter, joined the family business. Jan Ohms was the third generation of his family to work in the Dutch flower bulb business.
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