May 2014

Lyon Receives Honorary Degree

Honorary Recognition Nominations Open

AWA News

FISC Seeks New Director

DeLuca Complex Dedication

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Students Design Gardens on Capitol Square

The Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA) held a competition for CALS landscape architecture students to design two of the circle floral gardens located on the corners of the Capitol Square. The winners were selected at the State Capitol and Executive Residence Board meeting on April 28.

Robert Holicek and Arianna Netsky's design (pictured above), "Polka--The Wisconsin State Dance," will represent the "rich Czech-Polish and German heritage found throughout the state" with a floral design that reflects the traditional outfits worn by the dancers.

"Early 1900s Heirloom Flower Garden," submitted by Kristi Sherfinski, includes both spring and summer plants. The axis of the design will shift over the course of the season.

CALS Madness

It's no secret that the Badger Men's Basketball team made it to this year's Final Four in the NCAA tournament, but we often don't hear about the student side of the "student athlete."

You may not know that several members of the 2013-14 starting line-up are CALS majors: Ben Brust (#1), Traevon Jackson (#12), and Frank Kaminsky (#44). Zach Bohannon (#34) is a CALS alumnus pursuing his graduate degree from the Wisconsin School of Business.

The New York Times wrote a story about UW-Madison student athletes studying during the NCAA tournament. We are proud of their achievements on the court and their dedication to their studies.

Cool Science Image Contest Picks a CALS Winner

Mike Geiger, a graduate student in horticulture, submitted one of 10 winning photos in the 2014 campus-wide Cool Science Image Contest. Geiger's photo (left) is an image of a bumblebee and Borago officinalis, also known as "borage" or "starflower."

The flowers, leaves and seed oils of borage are used for both culinary and medicinal purposes. When fresh, the flowers and leaves have a strong cucumber-like flavor. Gardeners will often grow borage because its bright flowers attract bees who help pollinate the rest of the garden.

Information on the annual contest and all finalists can be found here.

Friend of CALS Receives Honorary Degree

Tom Lyon, a longtime friend of CALS, will receive an honorary degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison on Monday, June 16. Lyon served on the Board of Regents of the UW System from 1985 to 1992, acting as president from 1990-92. He also served on the CALS Board of Visitors and the UW-Extension Board of Visitors.

In addition to his service to the UW System, Lyon is a devoted public servant, an advocate for and leader in the cooperative movement, and is dedicated to education, agriculture and community. More information on Lyon and other honorary degree recipients can be found here.

CALS and the Department of Dairy Science are hosting a reception for Lyon on Friday, May 16 at the Wisconsin Energy Institute in Madison.

Nominate Alums for Highest Honors: Deadline May 23

Nominations are open for the 2014 CALS Honorary Recognition Award, Distinguished Service Award and Distinguished Alumni Award.

Information for each award and a listing of past honorees is available online (including those honored at least year's ceremony, posing with Dean Kate VandenBosch, photo left). Nominations are due May 23. As you consider possible nominees, think about those individuals who have demonstrated leadership and been an inspiration to others in agriculture, natural resources and/or the life sciences.

Nomination forms can be found here. Contact alumni@cals.wisc.edu for additional information.

Women in Ag News

AWA members bundle up to serve food
at this year's Breakfast on the Farm.

The Association of Women in Agriculture began in 1973 as the Ag Women's Cooperative, an organization that would improve communication among women in agriculture and aid them in achieving their goals.

The AWA owns a house that 25 students call home each year--and this year the organization is excited to pay off the mortgage.

On Sunday, April 27, the group held its annual Breakfast on the Farm fundraiser. To see more photos from the event, visit the AWA Facebook page.

FISC Seeks New Director

The Farm and Industry Short Course program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison seeks a new director to oversee the program. FISC is a 16-week, credit-based academic program designed to prepare students for careers in agriculture. The program is housed at CALS and has been offered each winter since 1885. The curriculum covers crops, dairy, meat animals, soils, farm equipment, finance, management and marketing as well as residential life programming in the program's two dormitories. Information on FISC is available at fisc.cals.wisc.edu. Click here for the full job posting.

The deadline for preferred consideration is May 31.

Speaking of FISC, don't forget to register for the FISC Alumni Celebration on Saturday, June 7 in Madison!

Hector F. DeLuca Biochemical Sciences Complex Dedication

Dean Kate VandenBosch, Professor Hector DeLuca and Chancellor Becky Blank at the dedication event.

On Thursday, April 24, hundreds of faculty and staff gathered to celebrate Hector F. DeLuca as the Biochemical Sciences Building Complex was named in his honor.

Attendees included former colleagues and several members of the DeLuca family. After enjoying a pig roast--a biochemistry department tradition--Dean Kate VandenBosch, Chancellor Becky Blank and WARF Managing Director Carl Gulbrandsen delivered remarks about DeLuca's accomplishments before the man of the hour took to the microphone to express his gratitude.