University of Wisconsin - Extension

MADISON, Wis.—Oct. 2, 2009—University of Wisconsin Colleges and University of Wisconsin-Extension Chancellor David Wilson recently honored people and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to the UW-Extension, the UW Colleges, and the quality of life for Wisconsin residents during the past year. Statewide and community partners and UW-Extension and UW Colleges employees accepted their awards Thursday at the Chancellor's Award Banquet at the Lowell Center in Madison.

"The University of Wisconsin Colleges and the University of Wisconsin-Extension are welcoming gateways to the knowledge and resources of the University of Wisconsin," Chancellor Wilson said. "Education, whether it is in a classroom, in a farmer's field or in front of a computer, is key to a robust economy and to the health and well-being of Wisconsin's children, youth and adults."

"The Chancellor's Awards recognize the pivotal undergraduate education and university extension work being done here in Wisconsin," Wilson added.

The 2009 UW Colleges and UW-Extension Chancellor's Awards recipients are:

Wisconsin Idea Award

The Shawano County Rural Health Initiative has received the prestigious UW Colleges and UW-Extension Wisconsin Idea Award for successfully improving and sustaining the health and safety of rural communities across Shawano County.

Friend and Advocate Award Darlo Wentz, executive secretary, Richland County Campus Foundation, is a recipient of a UW Colleges and UW-Extension Friend and Advocate Award for tirelessly working to ensure that University of Wisconsin-Richland students from diverse backgrounds can afford higher education.

The Wisconsin Association for Home and Community Education, Inc. has also received a Friend and Advocate Award for partnering with the UW-Extension Cooperative Extension and Wisconsin Public Television to bring early literacy to preschoolers through Wisconsin Bookworms®.

Award for Excellence in Collaboration Wisconsin Public Radio and the Wisconsin Institute for Public Policy and Service are recipients of a Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Collaboration for working together to create an understanding and appreciation of the Wisconsin Hmong community through the "Bridging the Shores: The Hmong-American Experience" audio documentary and Web site. Award for Excellence in Civic Engagement

The Award for Excellence in Civic Engagement recognizes outstanding performance by an individual, program or unit that has advanced UW Colleges’ or UW-Extension's commitment to civic engagement and/or service learning. The recipients of this award are:

* The Center for Community and Economic Development, Cooperative Extension, UW-Extension

* Ann Herda-Rapp, associate professor, sociology, UW-Marathon County

Career Award

Two employees were honored with a Chancellor's Career Award for outstanding and significant program, administrative or support contributions to UW-Extension for more than a decade:

* Kathryn Clark, assistant dean, School of Continuing Education, UW-Milwaukee

(UW-Extension's Division of Continuing Education, Outreach and E-Learning supports continuing-education programs on all 26 University of Wisconsin campuses.)

* Patricia Rychter, family living educator, Portage County, Cooperative Extension, UW-Extension

Award for Outstanding Achievement

The following UW Colleges and UW-Extension employees were recognized for their outstanding performance during the past year:

* Mark Krueger, director, Child and Youth Work Learning Center/professor, youth work, School of Continuing Education, UW-Milwaukee

* Patti Nagai, horticulture educator, Racine County, Cooperative Extension, UW-Extension

* Mary Novak, family living educator/department head, Kewaunee County, Cooperative Extension, UW-Extension

* Laura Rader, bursar, UW Colleges

* V. Alan White, professor, philosophy, UW-Manitowoc

Each year UW Colleges and UW-Extension serve approximately 1.5 million Wisconsin residents with both credit and noncredit programs delivered through the 26 University of Wisconsin campuses, all 72 county offices, and the statewide networks of Wisconsin Public Radio and Wisconsin Public Television. For more information, visit http://www.uwex.uwc.edu.

High-resolution photos of awards recipients with UW Colleges and UW-Extension Chancellor David Wilson will be available shortly after the Oct. 1 Chancellor’s Awards ceremony by contacting Peg Davis, peg.davis@uwex.uwc.edu, (608) 262-3253.