Laramie, Wyo (RELEASE from UW Extension) June 6, 2022 —
At its annual spring conference in Laramie, the University of Wyoming Extension congratulated the following 2021 award recipients for their dedication and service.
Goshen County educator receives UW Extension’s highest honor
Goshen County 4-H educator Megan Brittingham earned the Jim Debree Excellence in Extension Award—the Extension’s highest honor—for her outstanding performance, leadership and professionalism.
In addition to leading traditional 4-H programming, such as project workshops and judging practice, Brittingham has also expanded non-traditional programs in her county. Local students look forward to her classroom programs, including hatching chicks, designed to present STEM lessons in a fun and interactive way.
As one nominator noted, “Megan strives to ensure all those around her grow as individuals, serve others and embrace the possibilities of expanding knowledge.” She is engaged, forward-thinking and “always puts her emphasis on education and 4-H members.”
Brittingham joined the UW Extension in 2010. She has previously received the Extension’s Newer Employee Recognition Award and Creative Excellence Award.
Newer Extension employee recognized for leadership in youth programming
Joddee Jacobson, Natrona County 4-H youth development educator, received the UW Extension’s Newer Employee Award. This honor recognizes excellent performance in employees with no more than six years in the UW Extension.
Jacobson brings a passion for learning and teaching to the Extension team. During the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, her dedication and ability to think outside the box ensured that 4-H participants didn’t have to miss out on the annual county fair. It may have looked a little different than other years, but thanks to Jacobson, the show went on—and was a great success.
Nominators agreed that she “has a way of bringing out the best in people and ensuring that they are successful. She takes ‘team player’ to the next level.”
In addition to her role as an extension educator, Jacobson is a Wyoming representative in the Western Extension Leadership Development program.
Online convention team shines during the pandemic
Faced with a global pandemic, the Agriculture and Horticulture Online Convention 2021 Coordination team—Scott Cotton, David Keto, Kristi Hansen, John Hewlett and Jennifer Thompson—leapt into action, designing a multi-day web-based conference. For their efforts, the team earned the Creative Excellence Recognition Award.
In an impressive show of creative collaboration, the convention team facilitated real-time roundtable discussions, Q&A sessions via Zoom and access to recorded presentations. The new conference model increased engagement and accessibility across the state while successfully capturing a wide variety of extension programming.
UW Extension Director Kelly Crane commended the awardees for finding “new ways to deliver educational programs and reach new audiences.”
The conference sessions, organized by topic, are available on the UW Extension YouTube channel at bit.ly/uwyo-extension-playlists.
About the University of Wyoming Extension
Since 1914, the University of Wyoming Extension has provided lifelong learning opportunities to Wyoming citizens across the state. With roots in agricultural education, the UW Extension supports rural communities facing contemporary challenges and changes. The UW Extension brings the University’s resources to each of the state’s 23 counties and the Wind River Indian Reservation. To learn more about the UW Extension, call (307) 766-5124 or visit www.uwyo.edu/uwe.
