What’s Happening in the Department of Animal Science?	Students cooking chicken for the annual ANSC Poultry BBQ
	Ms. Rachel Leone, a senior undergraduate student in the Department of Animal Science, was awarded the Eastern States Exposition. Undergraduate Scholarship Award 2008-2009. Rachel was recognized for her involvement in agriculture and her academic achievement. She has been on the Dean's list all but one semester. She has been a very active member in both the Block and Bridle Club and the Dairy Club since her freshman year and was a member of the UConn's Intercollegiate Dairy Judging team. The team competed at the Eastern States Exposition, the All American Dairy Show in Harrisburg, PA and at the World Dairy Expo in Madison, WI. Despite all the time she spends with club activities, she has worked at the Kellogg Dairy Center since her freshmen year. As well as at the Dairy Bar during the summers. She participated recently in an internship at the Central CT Cooperative feed mill in Manchester, CT. We want to congratulate Rachel on a job well done!
Congratulations to Dr. Robert Milvae who was nominated and presented with three teaching awards this past year. Visit his web page for a description of his awards.
	Kristen Govoni, UConn Animal Science Graduate '98 & '03, has been hired as an assistant professor. Her research will focus on the regulation of the growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor axis during growth and development with an emphasis on bone metabolism.
Ms. Jackie Patry is the UConn Dairy Bar manager. She majored in Nutritional Sciences and received her BS degree (2004). She also is currently working on her MS degree in the department.
	UConn’s Block and Bridle Club will host NESA in February, 2009. Dr. Tom Hoagland is already making preparations for the Quiz Bowl and lodging.

The UConn Women’s Polo Team has again won the title of National Intercollegiate Champions. This is UConn’s 4th consecutive national title.

The Equestrian Team sent 2 students and 1 alumni to the Nationals that were held in Los Angeles, CA.

The computer lab, located in the basement, just got upgraded with 16 new computers.

The UConn Dairy Bar added two new flavors to their menu; coconut ice cream, and peach ice cream. Bill Sciturro, is currently responsible for making our ice cream until we are approved to hire a permanent employee. The Dairy Bar is now making its own cheese called Juustalepia (a Finnish cheese). It’s a big hit and they just created a version with Jalapenos which is delicious. You actually heat it up and eat it. Visit www.canr.uconn.edu/ansci/dairybar/dbar.htm to view their menu and hours of operation. ANSC students can now purchase lunch items at the Dairy Bar as well.

The ANSC Equine Club is a new club providing a level ground for all equine enthusiasts to come together and educate one another. Their mission is to unite all equine enthusiasts regardless of discipline; to have fun; and to further their education and knowledge of the horse industry through extracurricular activities. They are a Facebook group listed under "Equine Club". They will plan organized events such as talks and demonstrations and will also host Equine related movie nights. Facebook is the best resource for information on the club’s planned events.

There is now an active dressage Team, too. There are currently eight members on the show teaam, and 15 total in the club. The team competes in Intercollegiate Dressage Association in Region B, which includes UMass, UVM, Post University, Mount Holyoke, Norwich University and the University of Guelph. This year we have expanded our team and are ow hosting home shows at UConn. Their goal is to continue to spread our love for the sport throughtout the campus and among our horse freinds.

May Commencement was quite different this year for students graduating from the Department of Animal Science in the College of Agriculture & Natural Resources. Each School/College at UConn planned, organized and implemented every detail of its own commencement ceremony this year. The College of Agriculture was assigned the Gampel Pavillion to hold our ceremony. Because we planned our own commencement this year, we were able to include four UConn Drill Team members on UConn horses to lead the students to the Gampel Pavilion from the Field House. UConn police shut down the stretch of road from the field house all the way to the Gampel Pavillion. Once the road was shut down, the four horses and riders got into position in the middle of the road just behind three College of Ag students who carried the banners for UConn, Ratcliffe Hicks and the College of Ag. Then 280 College of Ag soon-to-be graduates marched out of the field house and into the road and they were led by the horses. It was quite a sight and received quite a bit of attention. The horse and riders lined up at the Gampel and all the seniors marched by them.

The best part of planning our own College of Agriculture ceremony was that there was plenty of time so that students’ names could be read out loud as graduates picked up their diploma covers. The entire ceremony took less than 90 minutes from start to finish.

There was no limit this year to the number of commencement guest tickets students could pick up. Another new addition to our ceremony included the national anthem sung by two students (one from ANSC). They did a beautiful job. Over 1500 students and family members said they would attend our outdoor reception under big tents near the WB Young Bldg. UConn catering catered the affair, however, Dr. Rich Mancini, assistant professor still made homemade UConn bratwurst to serve everyone. That is quite a tradition now and it was nice the College could continue it.