Three high honors have come Waymon Hickman’s way in the past year, and UT Chancellor of Agriculture Larry Arrington says they couldn’t be more fitting. Hickman, a former UT trustee and 1952 agricultural education graduate of the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, is being celebrated for significantly advancing higher education in Tennessee. His endowment has funded 650 scholarships for students at the Institute of Agriculture, and his support has created learning opportunities in citizenship and leadership training for thousands of Tennessee youth engaged in 4-H. Hickman’s honors include the National Agricultural Alumni and Development Association’s 2013 Outstanding Philanthropist Award, the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education’s District III 2013-14 Volunteer of the Year Award, and the inaugural UTIA Meritorious Service Award, presented at last fall’s Ag Day celebration. Hickman also supports the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences at UT Martin.
Commodities for Communities
A new program for advancing the Institute of Agriculture has passed the $1 million mark in pledges. Commodities for Communities allows growers to transfer ownership of their grain or other agricultural products to the UT Foundation for the benefit of the Institute’s extension, research and education programs. Matt Fennel (Martin ’98) was the first participant in the program. Funds from the sale of 150 bushels of his wheat will benefit the Dyer County Extension Endowment for Agriculture.
A Kid’s Best Friend
Through a letter-writing campaign, College of Veterinary Medicine students raised about $5,000 for their local chapter of the Josh and Friends organization. The money paid for 150 stuffed-animal versions of the golden retriever Josh and a book about Josh’s trip to the vet for surgery. The students delivered the goodies to patients at the East Tennessee Children’s Hospital in Knoxville. The program promotes healing through the human-animal bond.
