1890 Universities Celebrate 125 Years With Wellness Walks

1890 Universities Celebrate 125 Years With Wellness Walks  – Here is one example of celebrations going on all across the country in honor of the 125 anniversary of the signing of the 2nd Morrill Act, which created 1890 universities. At the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES), hundreds attended the 1890 Day (April 23rd) Wellness Walk and posed for the “1890 photo” as they waited for the pre-walk program in the university gym. The keynote speaker for the program was Catherine Woteki, USDA Chief Scientist and Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics. The 1.89 mile wellness walk was led by the UMES pep band and the university athletes. Students, staff, faculty, citizens from the tri-county area and area youth all participated in the programming. Proceeds from the walk will go to the 1890 Justin Morrill Scholarship Fund. For more information or to make a contribution, see www.1890universities.org. 

USDA Climate Hubs National Update – The USDA Climate Hubs Strategic Plan was recently published and can be found on the Hubs website along with a highlight of the Hubs accomplishments to date http://climatehubs.oce.usda.gov/content/climate-hubs-update-april-2015. Cooperative Extension and Experiment Stations have been working closely with the USDA Regional Climate Hubs in alignment with the Memorandum of Understanding signed in the fall of 2014. 

Extension Award Nominations Due 6.1.15 – ECOP and USDA-NIFA announces the 2015 nomination process for the national Excellence in Extension and Diversity awards. The due date for nominations is June 1st at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time. Nominations, submitted online, must be completed by this date and time. Regions are subject to announcing earlier deadlines for their purposes. CLICK HERE for contact information by Region. For details and to access the online nomination forms go to http://www.aplu.org/CESAwards. Questions can be directed to Sandy Ruble, ECOP Staff Associate sandy.ruble@extension.org.  

Elbert Dickey

Terry Meisenbach

eXtension Names Interim Director – The eXtension Foundation Board of Directors chaired by Dennis Calvin, Pennsylvania State University, has named Terry Meisenbach, eXtension Communications and Marketing Director, as Interim Director, replacing Elbert Dickey. Dickey served as interim director from January 2014 through April 2015 providing oversight for the transition to the NEW eXtension. Please join ECOP in thanking Dickey for his national leadership during a pivotal transition period for eXtension. Meisenbach will assume leadership until a permanent eXtension chief executive office is identified. The Board continues the selection process with interviews of three finalists 5.13.15 in Chicago. 

Legacy Award honorees Nosa Akol, New York 4-H and
Texas 4-H alumnus Javier Palomarez, President and CEO, United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

National 4-H Council 6th Annual Legacy Awards – National 4-H Council exceeded its fundraising goal for this year's event, where Cooperative Extension's 4-H positive youth development program took center stage at the Newseum in Washington, D.C. on April 23. Extension leadership contributed more than $8,000 to support the event with the southern region raising the most money. Hundreds of supporters were on hand to honor the recipient of the 2015 Youth in Action Award, 17-year old Nosa Akol from Broome County, NY, who was recognized for her achievements with Cornell University Cooperative Extension's 4-H programs. Texas Agrilife Extension 4-H alumnus Javier Palomarez, president and CEO, United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, received the Distinguished Alumni Medallion. Other highlights included an announcement by University of Georgia Extension 4-H alumna and singer-songwriter Jennifer Nettles who will serve as the 4-H celebrity spokesperson in the year ahead. Mara Schiavocampo, ABC News correspondent, emceed the evening festivities. To see more photos, click here: http://www.4-h.org/get-involved/sponsor/4-h-legacy-awards-gala/.