The College of Agriculture, Health, and, Natural Resources held their annual Honors and Awards Ceremony on March 31, 2021 honoring, faculty, students, and alum for their contributions to the College, research, and community.
The virtual event kicked off with remarks from CAHNR Dean and Director Indrajeet Chaubey.
“I am delighted to celebrate tonight with you the contributions you have made in discovery, learning, and extension and outreach,” Chaubey says. “Your hard work and your dedication to the land grant mission of our college and your pursuit of excellence makes a difference in the students we teach, the future leaders we prepare, discoveries we make, and extension programs we provide.”
Since the event was cancelled last year when in-person operations were suspended, the ceremony recognized both the 2020 and 2021 winners.
The 2020 winners were:
Tricia Leahey, associate professor in the Department of Allied Health Sciences, won the Excellence in Research Award.
Junichi Sakaki, a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Nutritional Sciences won the Graduate Student Teaching Assistant Award.
Yangchao Luo, assistant professor of nutritional sciences, was awarded the Donald M. Kinsman Award for Excellence in Teaching.
The Excellence in Engagement Award went to Rosa Raudales, associate professor of horticulture and greenhouse extension specialist.
Vegetable specialist and assistant extension educator Shuresh Ghimire and plant diagnostician Abby Beissinger received the David and Nancy Bull Extension Innovation Award.
“The most effective extension programs are built upon the best available science,” Associate Dean for Outreach Michael O’Neil says. “That science is then translated into practice through instructional workshops and other extension activities. End users and practitioners then implement that new knowledge to improve sustainability, health, and economic development.”
Taif Sabah Al-Sarraj (CAHNR ‘09) was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award.
The award ceremony also honored several members of Connecticut 4-H clubs for their contributions to the organization. Stanton Equipment Inc. Received the 4-H Meritorious Service Award. Margaret Groht received the 4-H Leadership award. Jennifer Davis received the 4-H Alumni Award.
Rhonda Brownbill, didactic program director and lecturer, won the UCAHNRA Excellence in Teaching Award.
Winnie Lunt, a budget analyst, was honored with the UCAHNR Outstanding Staff Award.
The 2021 winners were:
Ock Chun, professor in the Department of Nutritional Services was honored with the Excellence in Research Award.
Jingyi Xue, a fifth year Ph.D. in the Department of Nutritional Sciences, won the CAHNR Graduate Student Research and Creativity Award.
The Donald M. Kinsman Award for Excellence in Teaching was awarded to professor Jeann McCaffery in the Department of Allied Health Sciences.
Ankit Singh, a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Natural Resources & the Environment received the Graduate Student Teaching Award.
The Excellence in Engagement/Outreach Award was shared by Mary Concklin, Juliana Barrett, and Bruce Hyde, faculty in UConn Extension.
Laura Cisneros (CAHNR ‘14), and extension faculty members Nicole Freidenfields and Amy D. Cabaniss received the CSE Grant for Innovative Programming in Extension for their development of the UConn Natural Resources Conservation Academy (NRCA).
Michael Puglisi, professor in the Department of Nutritional Sciences and UConn Extension was honored with the Arland R. Meade Extension Communications Award.
Department of Nutritional Sciences alumna and lecturer Molika Chea (CAHNR ‘06, ‘09, ‘17) received the UCAHNRA Excellence in Teaching Award.
Ashley Sandy (CAHNR ‘09, ‘19) alumna from the Department of Natural Resources & the Environment received the UCAHNRA Outstanding Staff Award.
Patricia Anthony (CAHNR ‘80), alumna of the Department of Nutritional Sciences was honored with the UCAHNRA Distinguished Alumni Award.
Bob Lyle received the Meritorious Service Award; Elaine Brodeur received the Alumni Award; and Harlan Hyde Jr. Received the Leadership Award.
The ceremony concluded with Cameron Faustman receiving the Charles and Augustus Storrs Award, the College’s highest honor.
“I am a stanch supporter of the land grant system,” Faustman says. “The land grant philosophy is very much about accessibility to higher education, and I think there is no greater benefit that can accrue to a citizen of our state as a result.”
