Aumni E-News

Alumni E-News is a Centennial project aimed at keeping alumni up-to-date with news from the university including important announcements, student and alumni achievements, athletic news and upcoming events. You will still receive your alumni magazine, the Agricola News, by mail, free-of-charge if you wish. In this monthly, E-newsletter you'll find brief news items and for most, a link to our alumni website for more detailed information.

Valley Area Alumni Meeting

Famous Valley corn-on-the-cob was on the menu for about 60 NSAC alumni who gathered in the Valley August 18th, 2005 to celebrate summer and the onset of Fall at Noggins Corner Farm. Hosted by Patricia Bishop, Class of 1999 and her father Andrew, Class of 1973, the group was greeted by President Philip Hicks and Executive Director of Development Jim Goit. Alumni and incoming Valley freshmen were updated on the happenings of the university while having a chance to visit with former classmates and friends. A good time was had by all.

If you are interested in helping to host an alumni gathering in your area, please contact the Alumni Office at alumni@nsac.ca or (902) 893-7247

Homecoming Weekend 2005

Plans are well underway for Centennial Homecoming Weekend October 14th and 15th, 2005 and we've got some exciting events planned for all alumni and in particular our honour year classes ending in 0 and 5.

A highlight of the weekend will be a Maritime Night, Saturday, October 15th, featuring a Nova Scotia Wine and Dine followed by an outstanding musical performance by Beòlach, one of Cape Breton's most exciting new young bands. The group performs an energetic mix of Cape Breton, Scottish and Irish tunes featuring piano, pipes, whistles, guitar and two fiddles.

During the Nova Scotia Wine and Dine, you will learn about award-winning wines available right here in Nova Scotia. What wine best complements fish, pork or seafood? Sample award-winning wines paired with the best Taste of Nova Scotia products the province has to offer.

An hilarious Yuk Yuks performance Friday October 14th in Alumni Theatre offers a comedy performance that never fail to generate laughter and this two man show promises to deliver.

NSAC is also pleased to hold its first official Blue and Gold Awards luncheon as part of Homecoming 2005, Centennial edition. This luncheon will honour the many accomplishments of our alumni membership. Awards will be presented to deserving individuals including: Alumni Volunteer of the Year Award, the Young Alumnus Achievement Award and our Distinguished Alumnus Award. The program will also include the presentation of Class Shield awards as well as 60-year pins to members of the Class of 1945. For a complete copy of the schedule and to reserve your tickets please visit:nsac.ca/alumni/homecoming.asp

NSAC Offers Assistance to Students Affected by Katrina

Five students displaced by Hurricane Katrina will get a break on their residence and tuition fees at the Nova Scotia Agricultural College (NSAC) this year.

"We felt it was important to share our expertise and our facilities in an effort to help these students continue their studies and minimize the disruption to their academic lives," said Philip Hicks, president of NSAC. "We have the capacity to help students studying in the field of life sciences and will work with them to make the transition as smooth as possible." View the full article

Upcoming Seminar

Food is the New Sex

By Dr. Jerome H. Barkow, Professor, Department of Sociology and Social Anthropology, Dalhousie University

Wednesday, September 28th, 2005 Noon to 1:00 p.m. Room 209, Cox Institute

Online Newsletters

The summer edition of the NSAC Agricola News and the 2004-2005 Donor Report is now available online at the following link:

Agricola News: nsac.ca/alumni/agricola_news.asp

Donor Report: nsac.ca/development/foundation/reports/default.asp

NSAC Athlete places 3rd at International Meet

Mario Bourque , a third year BSc student-athlete at NSAC, has recently returned from a STIHL sponsored International Collegiate Timbersport Competition held in Lake Charles, Louisiana . As it happened, Mario competed on Friday and Saturday (August 26-27) and flew out Sunday , just ahead of Katrina!! We can be thankful for so much!

Mario won the Canadian Intercollegiate Lumberjacking Association (CILA) title in February at the last of four competitions; UNB in October, Sir Sandford Fleming in November, Macdonald College in January and NSAC in February. Competitors were selected by each team and they competed in the same events (as a separate competition) at each of the four sites with points accumulating based on their finish. Mario was in first place coming into the NSAC competition and secured the title with another set of winning points.

The international competition at Lake Charles had four competitors from US colleges and two from CILA - Mario and Pierre-Paul Lacroix from Macdonald College. Mario finished 2nd in Single Buck, 3rd in Stock Saw, 5th in Underhand Chop for an overall 3rd place finish in the field of 6. Congratulations to Mario for such a great showing in a strong field and intense heat!

Photo Caption: Mario Bourque and David Jack, Regional Sales Manager STIHL Canada

Student Athletes win National Bronze in Landscape Design

In April , 2005 two NSAC student-athletes Adrien Van Dyk (varsity basketball) and Pam Bailey (varsity woodsmen) competed in the 7th Annual Landscape Nova Scotia Skills Competition in the Landscaping section. The competition involved implementing a design that had already been created. Judges marked on the interpretation of the design plan, quality of work, time management, safety practices, overall appearance, attention to detail and overall visual appeal. With a provincial gold medal, a spot was earned on the Nova Scotia team, to compete in the National Competition later in the spring.

The 11th Annual Canadian Nursery Landscape Association National Skills Competition was held on June 4th and 5th at the Northlands Agricom in Edmonton, Alberta. The competition was similar to the provincial competition, only on a larger scale. An intricate design was given to each team of competitors that was considerably more elaborate than the provincial design and the teams were given two days to complete the project. Adrien and Pam won a bronze medal (Ontario gold and Alberta silver) at the National competition. NSAC's student-athletes and landscape specialists were two of 40 representing NS in the National Skills Competition.

Adrien and Pam also worked on the NSAC Amphitheatre - one of the universities Centennial projects. Their class researched, designed and constructed the theatre as part of a class requirement. It is a project that will be an "outdoor centrepiece" for the next 100 years.