Congratulations to Charlie French, this year's recipient of the Maynard and Audrey Heckel Extension Educator Fellowship Award for his Community Development Internship Program, which engages faculty advisors and student interns to provide direct outreach to communities. Charlie receives a $1,000 award to "support/enhance the continued work of the chosen fellow within UNH Cooperative Extension" as designated by the Heckels. During the May 16 State Extension Conference, Charlie will highlight the program for fellow staff.

To date, nine UNH teaching and research faculty from five different departments have helped to structure the program and guide students through the applied internship experience. Perhaps more important, 19 student interns provided over 30 New Hampshire communities with direct assistance and educational outreach on a range of topics with the support of their faculty advisors.

Of the 19 students, nine have since secured jobs in community development-related fields after completing their degree program (subsequent jobs acquired by past interns include three town and regional planners, one land trust specialist, one conservation advocate, and one Extension Associate). Seven others are still enrolled at UNH and are pursuing degrees in fields such as Natural Resources, Community Development and Community Leadership.

Eleven of these interns helped coordinate and implement Community Profiles in over a dozen towns. These interns also provided technical assistance and educational outreach to community action committees subsequent to Community Profiles. In fact, faculty members in two departments now require students to participate in Community Profiles as part of their course requirement.

Congratulations, Charlie!