Angie Pommerening
Pommerening Receives True Grit Award at 2002 Ag-Arama
Angie Pommerening, of Oakdale, Minnesota, was the recipient of the 2002 True Grit Award at the 27th Annual Ag-Arama, held recently at UMC. Pommerening is a senior majoring in agricultural education at UMC and has completed an associate degree in dairy science at UMC as well. Her parents are Bob Pommerening of Hastings and Joanne Pommerening of Oakdale.
Lyle Westrom, UMC associate professor of agricultural education and dairy science, says, "Angie Pommerening is a most deserving recipient of the True Grit Award. She doesn’t view obstacles as stumbling blocks, but rather challenges to overcome. That attitude will serve her well in life! Angie entered UMC with youthful enthusiasm and the wisdom acquired from several years of post high school work experience. She has continued to display the spirit of the True Grit Award by performing well academically, being active in several campus organizations, and working her way through college with student employment.”
In addition to her studies in agriculture, Pommerening is active in UMC’s Dairy Club and has served as its vice president. She has been active in planning Ag-Arama for the past three years and has served as vice president of the event’s planning committee. Pommerening has served as a student representative on the UMC Curriculum Committee, on the Student Conduct Committee, and on Campus Climate Committees. She also helped establish the UMC Student Alumni Association and works for the UMC Academic Assistance Center as a tutor.
The True Grit Award is the most coveted of all awards presented at UMC’s Ag-Arama. The award is presented annually to the student who best demonstrates the active spirit of Todd Opsahl, a UMC student in 1973-74. Most students and faculty around Opsahl did not know that he was suffering from terminal leukemia, a disease that took his life shortly after he left college. Despite this condition, Opsahl was extremely active in campus activities, especially in the agriculture division where he studied animal science. In remembrance, the True Grit Award is presented to a current student who has demonstrated a spirit of active, enthusiastic participation and leadership and who encourages others to participate in agriculture-related activities.
Ag-Arama is the annual winter competitive and fun event focusing on agriculture and natural resources. It features contests in agronomy, animal science showmanship, horticulture, mechanized agriculture, and natural resources. The event allows UMC students to showcase their knowledge and skills in their individual interest areas and gives them a chance interact with each other, with faculty members, and with UMC alumni through the various contests. Nearly 400 people attended this year’s events.
For more information about the events visit the UMC Ag-Arama website: webhome.crk.umn.edu/clubs/agarama/. .Posted 02/11/2002
Contact: Andrew Svec,
218-281-8435