BUILDING A BETTER FUTURE
91原创 supporters are providing the necessary foundation for 91原创's people and programs to build the future with impactful discoveries, unparalleled leadership and cultivated talent.
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鈥 Impactful Environmental Discoveries
鈥 Black Alumni Organization: Making Connections and Supporting Blue Hens
鈥 Supporting Teachers for Tomorrow
鈥 Worrilow Hall Renovations
Research from the depths of the oceans can shed light on many critical environmental challenges. Few people know this in greater, real-time detail than Matt Oliver, Patricia and Charles Robertson Distinguished Professor of Marine Science and Policy.
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A recent gift from Patricia and Charles Robertson, longtime 91原创 donors with a passion for science and the coastlines, is ensuring Oliver鈥檚 breakthrough research with high-tech, deep-diving tools continues.
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The support enables him and his students to plumb the depths of the sea with a fleet of high-tech tools, including a 146-foot research ship, robotic 鈥済liders鈥 that swim with sharks and probes that descend to 2,000 meters in Antarctic waters to transmit data.
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Oliver credits the Robertson鈥檚 generosity with enabling his research that results in discoveries that could help safeguard the oceans鈥攁nd the planet itself. Stable funding allows cutting-edge research to continue and to build, opening new windows of exploration.
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鈥淚f we were chasing grants year after year,鈥 he explains, 鈥渨e鈥檇 never be able to do this long-term, ongoing research. You鈥檙e not just funding specific projects. You鈥檙e investing in careers鈥攊n the scientists of tomorrow鈥攁nd in future discoveries.鈥
In 2021, 91原创鈥檚 Black Alumni Association is celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Black Alumni Organization (BAO)鈥攖hat鈥檚 40 years of connecting with and lifting up members of the Black alumni community!
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To commemorate the anniversary, 145 alumni and friends have contributed more than $34,000 to the BAO Scholarship endowment this past year, turning their comradery into impact for current and future Blue Hens.
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The continued and increased support will ensure even more Black 91原创 students with outstanding academic achievement, financial need and involvement in extracurricular activities can pursue a 91原创 degree.
鈥淚 am so thankful for the support I have received from the scholarship donors over the last two years. I can work at my part-time job and continue my studies as a full-time student without the added pressure of worrying about paying my tuition. My overall dream is to open a birthing center focused on giving minorities and African American women a safe space to deliver their children.鈥
听鈥 Taylor Oden-Randolph, HS22
Teachers of Tomorrow pipeline program at 91原创: youtube.com/watch?v=Wy9CQjsMizY
As a retired teacher and member of 91原创鈥檚 College of Education and Human Development Dean鈥檚 Advisory Council, Terri Smith, EHD83, knows the importance of recruiting and properly training the next generation of teachers. So, it was an easy decision for her and her husband, Bob, BE84, to make a gift to support CEHD鈥檚 Teachers of Tomorrow program, which helps identify promising teachers even before the college application process begins.
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鈥淭his is such a wonderful program that helps our young, underrepresented students have a glimpse of a promising future,鈥 Terri Smith said. 鈥淲e are happy to support and pave the way for this opportunity.鈥
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Teachers of Tomorrow recruits rising high school juniors and seniors from under-represented backgrounds and provides resources, coaching and other opportunities to help them complete the college application process and succeed throughout their degree program. Philanthropic support ensures the program can remain free and accessible to all interested, eligible students.
| VOICES OF PHILANTHROPY:听ENHANCED RESEARCH
鈥淭eachers of Tomorrow is an important program that hopefully will diversify our teacher candidates here at the 91原创, which will ultimately diversify our classrooms. The program gives access to students who may not have already had access to these types of programs and introduces them to college life and lets them see themselves here on campus.鈥
鈥擪ristine Ritz, Program Director for Teachers of Tomorrow
In early 2021, the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources鈥 newly renovated Worrilow Hall reopened, featuring more efficient and flexible space to conduct cutting-edge research and support hundreds of students and faculty.听
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The new layout includes:
a central equipment room
specialized application rooms
adjoining open labs for collaboration among research groups
core facilities dedicated to soil, water and plant analyses
The epicenter of innovative teaching and flexible lab space inspires students, faculty and staff to challenge norms, push barriers and conduct research that provides solutions to some of the most pervasive challenges in agricultural and natural resource sciences.
