Volunteers are the heart of UConn Extension Master Gardener Program, UConn CLIR program, and our UConn 4-H program. We were honored to recognize a few of them for their contributions at an event on June 16, 2022. In total, our volunteers donated 156,597 hours (the equivalent of 6,524 days) to our programs in 2021. Thank you all for being a vital part of our Extension work! More information about our volunteer programs is available on our website. The following individuals were recognized for their contributions.
2022 UConn Master Gardener Acorn to Oak Award
Marlene Mayes
Marlene Mayes has been a constant at the Foodshare Garden at Auerfarm for the last two decades. She and the garden both began their Master Gardener relationship in 2004 when then-intern Marlene was one of the initial volunteers who dug, planted and nurtured the first rows of vegetables in a former hayfield at the Bloomfield farm. From those humble beginnings Marlene dreamed, encouraged, cajoled, taught and inspired literally hundreds of volunteers – both Master Gardeners and others – to help build the 50+ bed garden that exists today.
Throughout the years, Marlene has introduced countless would-be gardeners to the skills and satisfaction of growing healthy food, both for themselves and for those in need. The garden has yielded over one ton of food annually for Foodshare in several recent years, and volunteers from all walks of life have discovered the pleasures and the satisfaction of providing for those in need in our communities.
This year, as the garden undergoes a major renovation and upgrade, it is only fitting to honor the person who has been the constant, the rock, the teacher and the inspiration with the Extension Master Gardener Acorn to Oak Award.
2022 UConn Master Gardener Project Pollinator Award
Katherine Kosiba
Look carefully at almost any public garden project in the Colchester area and you will find that Katherine Kosiba was there at the beginning. A Master Gardener since 2007, Katherine has shared her passion for gardening and the environment with anyone and everyone who has shown an interest. Both as president of the Colchester Club and as a Colchester resident, her enthusiasm and inclusive attitude is on display throughout the area. Town parks, senior centers public road medians and the library are all beautified and ecologically healthier sites with diverse gardens and plantings spearheaded by Katherine.
Master Gardeners interns in the Haddam office are also the beneficiaries of Katherine’s energy and generosity as she guides many of them through their first outreach projects, demonstrating not only the nitty-gritty gardening details, but also the organizational and planning skills that are crucial to a successful endeavor. Additionally, she has provided many a nervous Master Gardener with a welcoming venue for their first public talk!
For her tireless efforts developing so many projects and moving from one to the next, and the next, we are delighted to present Katherine Kosiba with the Extension Master Gardener Project Pollinator Award.
2022 CLIR (Center for Learning in Retirement) Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer Award
Compton Rees
Compton passed away on March 14 shortly after being told of his recognition for his longtime service to CLIR. Compton is a charter member of CLIR joining immediately after his retirement as a UConn English professor. Over almost 30 years as a member of CLIR, he has presented many classes on Shakespeare’s works and served for years as a member of the CLIR Executive Council including as vice-president several times.
Howard Raphaelson
Howard has been a CLIR member for 25 years, serving on the CLIR Executive Council as Treasurer for several terms where he worked tirelessly to coordinate CLIR’s bookkeeping with UConn and State of Connecticut accounting practices.
Erika Kares
Erika has been a CLIR member for 24 years with more than a decade of service on the CLIR Executive Council.
2020 UConn 4-H Rising Star Award
Stephanie Bicknell
As a 4-H member Stephanie participated in many of the local, state and regional activities which support the 4-H dairy project. She became a volunteer shortly after aging out as a member and has taken on major leadership with her club “Herds ‘R Us” and serves as the organizational leader. She also continues to work with the Middlesex & New Haven 4-H Fair and serves as a Fair Program Advisor – one of the key volunteers working with the 4-H Fair Association and the Extension 4-H Staff. She supports all of the tenets of the 4-H program and epitomizes what the experience in the 4-H program provides for a young person.
Stephen Gustafson
Steve helped create and is the leader of the Paca Pals 4-H club. The Paca Pals are an alpaca club. Steve found a place for the youth to learn and grow in the Tolland Agricultural Center (TAC) 4-H Children’s Garden. The garden was established in 2002 and has been maintained by the 4-H club program for many years. A neighbor of the TAC property is the Creative Living Community of Connecticut (CLCC) greenhouse and vocational program. The work of CLCC is to create opportunities for people with and without disabilities to work and learn together. Steve has been instrumental in fostering a partnership between the 4-H club and CLCC. Working with CLCC the 4-H club members learn vocational skills and working with diverse populations. Steve is able to weave science, healthy living and civic engagement into all aspects of the 4- H program through his dedication and hard work.
Megan Hatt
Megan has been a leader of the Happy Hoofbeats 4-H club since 2015. She is passionate about 4-H and horses. She is a positive influence on both the county horse program as well as the public speaking program. Megan is always ready to put teams together and arrange practice for the state horse contests and has served as the coach for 4-H teams participating in the Eastern National 4-H Horse Roundup. She is very involved in the New London County 4-H Fair and has helped to create a Horse Exhibition at the fair which includes clinics and games and leadership opportunities for the youth involved. She is generous with her own horses, time and equipment and believes that 4-H helped her become a successful adult and wants to help others find these benefits as they grow.
2021 UConn 4-H Rising Star Award
Margaret Hall
Peg Hall has been an incredibly active, supportive and positive presence in Litchfield County 4-H since she established the Diggity Dogs 4-H Club 8 years ago. She has also helped to establish and is serving as a co-leader for a new club, the Grow Getters 4-H club. This new club, the first horticulture based club in Litchfield County drew over 20 new members to its first meeting. They exist because of Peg’s hard work and determination to help a local garden center owner who is new to 4-H get this club established. Peg also serves as a Litchfield County 4-H Fair Association director. Her involvement includes helping to plan and implement the fair as well as cleaning up the fairgrounds. Peg has also been instrumental in the success of the Operation Community Impact dairy distribution program which provides milk to over 1400 food insecure familes in Litchfield County.
Lauren Manuck
Lauren is an alum of the Hartford County 4-H Program. She is currently serving as a club leader of the 4-H Clovers. She has also jumped into action on the county level as well serving as a Hartford County 4-H Advisory Committee member and as a 4-H Fair advisor since 2013. Within Advisory, Lauren eagerly steps up and takes the lead on projects, ensuring that youth thougout UConn 4-H have numerous opportunities to participate in activities beyond the club level. She has been instrumental in the success of the Nutrition and Food Show, Hartford County Teen and Volunteer Banquet and Awards Night to name a few. She was a recipient of the 2020 Winding Brook Community Service Award for her efforts in assisting with the Operation Community Impact milk and ice cream distribution in Hartford County. She continues to see opportunities to provide nutrition education and work with youth.
2020 UConn 4-H Hall of Fame Award
Colleen Augur
Colleen is the organizational leader of one of New Haven County’s largest and most active 4-H clubs. Colleen works with 4-5 registered 4-H volunteers conducting 4-H meetings and teaching the youth how to care and manage their animals which are primarily dairy and beef. The member’s involvement does not stop at the club level. Yearly, they have 100 percent participation in the 4-H fair ad campaign, showing at the 4-H fair and other county activities. Her teen members become managers, superintendents and officers in the 4-H fair on a regular basis. Colleen often provides project animals from her own herd for members without animals of their own, helping the members transport their project animals to and from the fair. Colleen shares her love of farming, agriculture and 4-H with youth and the general public. She is a great example of what youth can learn and achieve with hard work and responsibility.
Stephen and Nancy Hayes
Some people choose to join 4-H, other, such as the Hayes family, are born into it. Stephen and Nancy Hayes have made a lifelong commitment to 4-H. Both are guiding forces for the Granby 4-H club and have been instrumental in many other aspects of the Hartford County 4-H Program. Nancy has served the goat program in Hartford County and UConn 4-H extensively. For 15 years Nancy has been instrumental in the very successful UConn 4-H Goat Day. In 2017 a robotics team was formed as part of Granby 4-H. Stephen became involved as a mentor to members, sharing his programming knowledge. Shortly after that Nancy became involved. Both Stephen and Nancy spend hundreds of hours meeting several times a week with the youth members. They are both skilled in empowering the youth to make decisions, allowing them to safely ask questions without hesitation, make mistakes, master their skills, then celebrate the successes as a team and individuals.
2021 UConn 4-H Hall of Fame Award
Wendy Kennedy
For over 35 years Wendy has been an active part of the success of the Litchfield County 4-H Program. She grew up in Litchfield County 4-H and has been the co-leader of the Busy Farmers 4-H Dairy Club for over 20 years. As a club leader Wendy makes sure her members hold regular meetings, participate in county and state-wide activities and that members are learning something while having fun. She has served as a director on the county 4-H Fair Association for many years. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Litchfield County 4-H foundation and has held many leadership positions on the foundation board. She has volunteered to chaperon many county and state-wide 4-H trips and was also involved in the Operation Community Impact dairy distribution project providing over 1400 food insecure families with dairy products. Wendy embodies the true spirit of 4-H in everything that she does.
Patricia Miele Bianchi
Pat grew up in a home where 4-H was a significant component of daily life and she was an active and enthusiastic 4-Her. She served as a club leader for 18 years and helped foster an interest in 4-H in many youth including her own children. Pat served as a Hartford County 4-H Camp Trustee holding numerous officer positions and participating on many committees. In addition to her work with 4-H camp, Pat is involved as a Director within the Hartford County 4-H Fair Association. Pat’s county-wide contributions include judging for the Nutrition and Food show, the Fashion Review as well as for the County and State Public Speaking Contests. Her experience with Toastmasters has contributed to the learning of public speaking contestants. On a broader level, Pat was active in the College’s Strategic Visioning process. She uses her first-hand experiences as a 4-H’er and volunteer to champion the positive impact that 4-H has on the lives of young people.
2020 4-H Salute to Excellence – Volunteer of the Year Regional Winner
Stephen Gustafson
Steve helped create and is the leader of the Paca Pals 4-H club. The Paca Pals are an alpaca club. Steve found a place for the youth to learn and grow in the Tolland Agricultural Center (TAC) 4-H Children’s Garden. The garden was established in 2002 and has been maintained by the 4-H club program for many years. A neighbor of the TAC property is the Creative Living Community of Connecticut (CLCC) greenhouse and vocational program. The work of CLCC is to create opportunities for people with and without disabilities to work and learn together. Steve has been instrumental in fostering a partnership between the 4-H club and CLCC. Working with CLCC the 4-H club members learn vocational skills and working with diverse populations. Steve is able to weave science, healthy living and civic engagement into all aspects of the 4- H program through his dedication and hard work.
2021 4-H Salute to Excellence – Lifetime Volunteer Regional Winner
June Zoppa
June is a positive and integral part of the 4-H community in Hartford County. She is the only volunteer who serves or has served simultaneously on the Hartford County 4-H Advisory Board, Hartford County 4-H Fair Association and the Hartford County 4-H Camp, Inc. Board of Trustees along with being a club leader. Within her 4-H club, June works patiently with club members as they learn to master sewing projects. Many judges have rewarded the projects submitted by June’s club with ribbons, special honors, and awards. In addition, a major component of June’s 4-H experience is built upon community service and leadership development. June’s involvement as Fair Advisor includes helping the Fundraising Committee plan and execute an ambitious fundraising drive. She supports the youth in assessing decisions required to promote, design and print the premium book, roll out the sponsorship campaign and additional fundraisers. Her work ethic and compassion for youth has been demonstrated since her initial days in 4-H and has been evident in the relationships she has formed with members, parent, volunteers and mentees.
2021 4-H Salute to Excellence – Volunteer of Year Regional Winner
Rachael Manzer
Rachael Manzer exemplifies science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in 4-H. She understands the importance and need for STEM and Agricultural Literacy, and she has increased opportunities for STEM learning by establishing the only 4-H Vex Robotics program in New England. This robotics program has its own “Cinderella” story – big dreams, few resources and the amazing efforts of many to make it a success. Out of approximately 12,500 teams across the world, about 500 earn a spot to compete in the World Championship. At VEX World Championship, the largest robot competition in the world, teams from around the world compete. Rachael’s robotics program acheieved this honor three times. Rachael is also a very accomplished educator, astronaut and STEM teacher. She uses these experiences, knowledge, skills and networks to enhance the experiences and opportunities for her 4-H club members.
2022 – 4-H Salute to Excellence – Volunteer of the Year State Winner
Margaret Hall
Peg Hall has been an incredibly active, supportive and positive presence in Litchfield County 4-H since she established the Diggity Dogs 4-H Club 8 years ago. She has also helped to establish and is serving as a co-leader for a new club, the Grow Getters 4-H club. This new club, the first horticulture based club in Litchfield County drew over 20 new members to its first meeting. They exist because of Peg’s hard work and determination to help a local garden center owner who is new to 4-H get this club established. Peg also serves as a Litchfield County 4-H Fair Association director. Her involvement includes helping to plan and implement the fair as well as cleaning up the fairgrounds. Peg has also been instrumental in the success of the Operation Community Impact dairy distribution program which provides milk to over 1400 food insecure familes in Litchfield County.
2022 – 4-H Salute to Excellence – Lifetime Volunteer Regional Winner
Carol Ann LeBlanc
Carol’s 52 year 4-H volunteer career began in 1970 when she wanted to expand upon her early 4-H experiences. She has established three 4-H clubs, including Snoopy’s Pals 4-H Club, serving youth from Connecticut and Massachusetts and she served in numerous other county, state and regional roles. Members of Carol’s club have earned showmanship championships, AKC certifications, record book awards, leadership medals and county fair fundraising awards. Club members have served in county Fair Association roles and as delegates for various award trips. With Carol’s careful guidance and commitment to positive youth development, club members and mentees demonstrate the traits of independence, confidence, leadership and perseverance. Carol’s leadership on the New England 4-H Dog Committee, and her pioneering partnership with the Eastern States Exposition (The Big E), has ensured a three-day, two night 4-H dog program during The Big E. Carol has been a tireless 4-H volunteer who leads by example. Her compassion for youth has been demonstrated since her initial days in 4-H.