Alumni E-News

Alumni E-News is aimed at keeping alumni and friends of NSAC 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.

In this monthly, E-newsletter you'll find brief news items and for many, a link to our alumni website for more detailed information.

Don't forget to visit the NSAC Alumni Guestbook at http://nsac.ca/alumni/guestbook and please keep your address up-to-date at http://nsac.ca/alumni/update/

NSAC News and Events

Stephanie Rogers on Maternity Leave

Congratulations to Stephanie and Craig Rogers on the birth of their daughter in the early hours of Jan. 15th.  Stephanie will be on maternity leave until January 2009.

The process to replace her with a term appointment is moving forward but it could be a few weeks before someone is in place. In the meantime, please forward all Alumni requests, news story ideas and other things that might have gone to Stephanie to Jim Goit jgoit@nsac.ca or 893-7950. Joanne Jordan will continue to deal with class reunions, newsletters etc.

A reminder to classes planning an reunion or other event for this year- The Development Office is available to help. Contact Alumni@nsac.ca or call Joanne at 902-893-6721.



Agri-Golf Classic - July 25, 2008

The 12th Annual Agri-Golf Classic is being held on July 25 at Glasgow Hills Resort and Gold Club, Hunter River, PEI.

The event is open to 30 teams of five members – four of whom must have an association with agriculture – agri-food, NSAC, government dept, NSAC alumni, agri-business etc. Glasgow Hills is a very popular course and we are anticipating that the 30 team spots will fill up quickly. The registration form will be on-line (nsac.ca/athletics/golf) by Feb.1st.

We look forward to hosting our 12th Classic on the Island and hope to see you there!

Woodsman Pub - February 9th

Band: Merimac
Tickets: $10.00/advance
Alumni can reserve tickets by e-mailing Patricia Jeffcock at jeffcopj@nsac.ca

Tickets must be paid and picked up by 5 p.m. Saturday, February 9th. One hundred tickets are reserved for Alumni, first come first serve, once gone you can purchase tickets at the Students' Union Office, Thursday, February 7th; Friday, February 8th and all day at the competition, February 9th.

For additional information contact SU@nsac.ca

NSAC’s International Business Program Partnership

NSAC is seeking a select group of students to take part in a new approach to post-secondary learning. NSAC is partnering with Dronten University of Applied Science in The Netherlands to offer part of Dronten's Bachelor of Administration (Honours) in International Food Business.

This new approach to post-secondary learning copies the model typically seen in Europe. Students will be asked to learn the necessary theories, concepts, skills and practices of the program outside of class time with the support of instructors and peers. Class time wil then be spent working through case studies, assimilating and applying those theories and practices.

Students will also have the opportunity to gain valuable international experience during the four year program. All students will begin with a two-week orientation in Iceland, a country that has 80 per cent of its economy wrapped up in the specialized food industry. North American students will then return to NSAC for the first year of study while European students attend Dronten Universtiy. In the second year, students from both continents will study at NSAC, the third year will be spent at Dronten University and the fourth will allow students to choose which university they would like to attend. In addition, all students will complete two three-month work terms, on in North America and one in Europe.

Research

Rhubarb: More Than a Delicious Pie Filling

By Mason MacDonald, Science Journalism Intern

Rhubarb petioles make a tart (but delicious) pie filling or jam. However, a large portion of a rhubarb plant must remain unused, as the leaves contain higher concentrations of poisonous oxalic acid. Unfortunately the unused rhubarb leaves also contain a bounty of natural antioxidants, compounds proven to help inhibit the production of free radicals often linked to cancer and aging. Valuable antioxidants such as auronols, carpusins, maesopsins, anthraquinones, and phenolics are being discarded everyday, but that may come to a stop if former Nova Scotia Agricultural College (NSAC) student Andrea Munroe has her way. More...

NSAC Faculty appointed to National Food Science Review Panel

The Science and Innovation Strategy of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) was launched in May 2006 to place a greater emphasis on scientific excellence in its activities in Canada. AAFC has identified seven science priorities for agriculture and agri-food research following nation-wide consultations on science and innovation with representatives from communities, industry, provincial and territorial governments, universities and research institutes and other stakeholders. Four national Peer Review Panels have been established to undertake the peer review process of the proposals submitted under these priorities: Animal Science, Environment and Ecology, Food Science and Plant Science.

Dr. Vasantha Rupasinghe, assistant professor and tree fruit bio-product research chair at NSAC, has been invited to serve as a member on the National Food Science Peer Review Panel.

Congratulations Vasantha!

Building Research Capacity in Atlantic Canada : Researchers have to think big!

To build research capacity in Atlantic Canada, researchers have to think big! This is one of many key messages that came out of the workshop on Building Research Capacity in Atlantic Canada organized by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and the Research Grants office at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia on Nov. 30 and Dec.1. More..

NSAC Grad Wins Award

Jerry MacInnis (class of 1993) was recently honoured with the Landscape Nova Scotia Award of Excellence. Given out this past November, the award honours quality of work, creativity and use of materials. Specifically, MacInnis’ “hardscaping” work - work done with interlocking concrete pavers and segmented retaining walls.

“It was quite an intricate and interesting job,” says MacInnis. “The customers felt they had a unique house and garden and they wanted a patio that no one else would have.”

MacInnis, owner and operator of MacInnis Landscape Design and Construction Services, was contracted by the Ueffings to design and create a patio that was not only unique, but also durable since each year the garden is opened to the public. “We have 1,000 to 1,500 people come through every year,” Joe Ueffing says.

When asked about his thoughts on MacInnis receiving an award he says, “I thought he really deserved it. Jerry was very easy to work with, very accepting. He did a terrific job. No cutting corners; he went all the way.”

Congratulations Jerry!

Athletics

2008 CCAA Women’s Basketball National Championship

The Langille Athletic Centre will be the host site for the 2008 CCAA Women’s Basketball Championship Mar.14-16.

This will be the 12th National Championship hosted by NSAC Athletics and a volunteer Host Committee. There will be eight teams competing for the title, with six from outside the Atlantic Colleges Athletic Association (ACAA). The five conferences represented will be the British Columbia Colleges Athletic Association (BCCAA), the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC), the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA), the Quebec Student Sport Federation (FQSE), and the ACAA. In addition to the five conference champions, there will be two wildcard teams selected by the CCAA and a host team. NSAC has the first right of refusal for the host spot and will be declaring their intentions in February.

An exciting component of the Championship is the EastLink Broadcast of the bronze and gold medal games will be on live at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Atlantic Standard Time on Mar.16.

Varsity Results

The second half of the athletic season has started with pre-season basketball action at the Atlantic Coast Classic and the first league games on the Jan 12-13 weekend. The Atlantic Coast Classic had teams from Quebec, Maine and the ACAA. Both men's and women's teams played three excellent games without a win, but it was a great entry into the ACAA league play for the second semester.

The first league action saw the basketball teams lose to Mt. A at home and the women's volleyball split with the Universite Ste. Anne, losing on Saturday and winning an exciting match 3-2 on Sunday.

Woodsmen are back in action preparing for their next meet at McGill – Mcdonald College on Jan. 25th.  At this point, both men's and women's A teams are in contention for CILA Championships.
Rugby teams are preparing for Indoor 7's and the equestrian team will be competing later in the semester at home and in Halifax.

For full NSAC results, check ACAA and NSAC sites at  acaa.ca and nsac.ca/athletics

Communications

Poll Results

Last months poll "I would be more apt to attend NSAC Homecoming activities if they were held in:" found that 44 per cent wanted a summer homecoming, while 40 per cent would rather have it in the fall.