Please join me in congratulating the following staff for their years of service to UNH Cooperative Extension and to our Presidential Award of Excellence winner, Karen Bennett.

They were formally recognized Friday during the UNH 2009 Staff Recognition Program, hosted by UNH President Mark Huddleston and the UNH Council Chairs. This year, 209 Operating Staff, PAT and Extension Educator staff were recognized for their years of service and outstanding contributions to the University. Their combined years of service equal 3,625 years.

Recognized for 10 years of service:
Sharon Blake, Administrative Assistant, Dean & Director’s Office

Peg Boyles, Staff Writer/Editor

Annette Cram, Administrative Assistant, Carroll County Office

Maryann Kasprzak, Program Associate, 4-H Youth Development

Gail Kennedy, Extension Educator, Family & Consumer Resources

Joanne Knowlton, Educational Program Coordinator, Nutrition Connections

David Leonard, Educational Program Coordinator, Nutrition Connections

Lynn Roy, Administrative Assistant, Merrimack County Office

Terri Schoppmeyer, Educational Program Coordinator, Nutrition Connections

Wendy Scribner, Extension Educator, Forest Resources

15 Years:
Robert Craycraft, Educational Program Coordinator, Lay Lakes Monitoring Program

Jean Hussey, Administrative Assistant, Rockingham County Office

Cheryl Smith, Extension Professor/Specialist, Plant Health

20 Years:

Diana Fiorey, Administrative Assistant, Cheshire County Office

Ann Hamilton, Extension Educator, Family & Consumer Resources

Andrea Sawyer, Extension Program Associate, 4-H Youth Development

Steven Turaj, Extension Educator, Agricultural Resources

Barbara Wright, Staff Development & Instructional Design Coordinator

Holly Young, Educational Marketing & Information Coordinator

25 Years:

Charlene Baxter, Program Leader, Family & Consumer Resources

Linda Gosselin, Administrative Assistant, Strafford County Office

Suzann Knight, Extension Professor/Specialist, Family Resource Management

30 Years:

Alan Eaton, Extension Professor/Specialist, Entomology

Stanley Swier, Extension Professor/Specialist, Entomology

Presidential Award of Excellence Recipient Karen Bennett
Karen Bennett, Extension Professor/Specialist, Forest Resources, is the 2009 Extension Educator Presidential Award of Excellence recipient. She received her award during the annual UNH recognition program May 8.

Only five awards are bestowed annually, one of which is reserved for staff classified as Extension Educators. This honor is awarded to staff members in recognition of outstanding performance and distinguished service to the University of New Hampshire.

Karen has been helping landowners, communities, natural resource professionals and others care for New Hampshire’s forests for 29 years. Last year brought significant challenges, and Karen led Extension’s efforts to citizens and communities impacted by the tornado and ice storm. She ably communicated between our staff on the ground and government officials. Through Karen's exceptional leadership and with the support and confidence of her adept colleagues, UNH Cooperative Extension responded quickly and decisively to citizens' needs.

In nominating her for this award, it was noted that “Karen has dedicated the last 30 years of her life to the University of New Hampshire and its land grant mission to provide education, research and outreach to the residents of the state. All those who enjoy, work, and recreate in New Hampshire’s forested landscape have benefited from her dedication.”