Purdue News
Purdue News
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June 4, 2004 Agronomy department honored with Hansen AwardWEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue University's Department of Agronomy has been awarded the 2004 Arthur G. Hansen Recognition Award for its relationship with its retirees. The award, sponsored by the Purdue University Retirees Association and the Office of the President, was presented May 26 at the annual retirement banquet in Purdue Memorial Union ballrooms. The Department of Agronomy in the School of Agriculture received a trophy to be displayed in the department and will be listed on a plaque in the corridor of the union. The award also includes $2,500, funded by TIAA-CREF, that can be used to help strengthen the department's ties to its retirees. Agronomy is the second winner of the award. The initial winner, in 2003, was the Cooperative Extension Service. The award is named for former Purdue President Arthur Hansen, Purdue's eighth president, who established the retirees' association in 1976. The award is given annually to a Purdue school, department, office or division that cultivates and maintains meaningful relationships with its retirees. Some activities that foster the continuing involvement of retirees include inviting them to help with student organizations, encouraging them to assist with alumni contacts, inviting their help with organizing archival materials, including them in e-mail distributions with general departmental information, inviting them to attend social events and ensuring they receive notices of temporary opportunities for paid employment. "Purdue retirees have given a great part of themselves to Purdue and many are still doing so, helping to enhance the university with their talents, time and gifts," says Roy Johnson, retired from student services and president of the Purdue University Retirees Association. "We encourage retirees to continue to be part of the university, and we applaud those departments who so greatly appreciate the contributions and richness that retirees bring to Purdue by helping them remain involved." The Department of Agronomy was nominated by retired professors James Ahlrichs, Marion Baumgardner, O.W. Luetkemeier and James Wilcox, and Gwendolyn Daniel, widow of the late professor William Daniel. The department, its nominators say, "has been known for years for its familial character and for being one of the best departments in which to work and from which to be a retiree." In addition, nominators wrote, "Under these leaders, major emphasis has been on recruitment and hiring well-qualified faculty and staff for the agronomy team. In the inviting and challenging work environment, the department has a remarkable record of longevity of faculty and staff tenure and continuing engagement with its retirees." Specific evidence of agronomy's efforts to include retirees include: • Departmental newsletters that are sent to retirees on a regular basis. • Retirees are included in the departmental e-mail distribution list as a means of informing them of special seminars or other activities. • Retirees are invited to an annual luncheon where they can discuss their careers and research, and they can learn about current developments and plans for the department. • Retirees are included in consideration for departmental awards. • Retirees are invited to the two annual departmental social events. More information about the Hansen Award, including its purpose, eligibility and a nomination form, is available at the Purdue University Retirees Association Web site. Ag Communications: (765) 494-8396; Beth Forbes, (765) 494-2722forbes@purdue.edu
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