CFANS Adapts: Students and donors — a personal connection

#CFANSAdapts and celebrates with virtual meetings

It was a 10-person lunch meeting without a table, plates, or even food — but thanks to the excellent company, the event was nourishing, satisfying and deeply meaningful for everyone involved. 

Every year, Lew and Joan Lambert enjoy meeting with the CFANS graduate student recipients of the Jean W. and Mary S. Lambert Agronomy and Plant Genetics Fellowship. These Fellows are full-time graduate students conducting important soybean research, a subject close to the Lambert family’s hearts. Lew’s father, the late Jean Lambert, was a highly regarded University of Minnesota professor and soybean breeder for decades; he developed new varieties that made Minnesota a leading soybean state and was fondly and reverently referred to as “Mr. Soybean.” 

Typically, the Lamberts would be in person for this gathering, which gives them the opportunity to connect with the students whose educational dreams and goals they are supporting. This spring, social distancing may have prevented them from physically clinking their coffee cups or water glasses in a congratulatory toast, but it certainly didn’t stop them from celebrating. 

To the delight of everyone involved, Susan Scofield, a development officer in CFANS, organized a Zoom meeting to bring two generations of Lamberts together with CFANS Agronomy and Plant Genetics Department Head Gary Muehlbauer and four of the Fellows. Lew and Joan participated from Florida, their son Rob Lambert and his wife Megan from Minnesota, and Muehlbauer and the four Fellows — Austin Dobbels, Ryan Merry, Daniel Monnens and Cleiton Antonio Wartha — each at their own home locations. 

During the virtual meeting, each student gave a brief thesis presentation, illustrating how the investments the Lamberts have made in them are truly advancing science to drive a sustainable future. Lew Lambert, in turn, shared stories about his parents, Jean and Mary, walking to campus to check on the crops in years past.   

“We are so impressed with all of the students,” said Joan Lambert after the meeting. “They are doing exactly what we’d hoped — the things Jean wanted to make a difference in the world.” 

For the students, it was meaningful to meet their donors and have the chance to say thank you in person.

 “I have had the wonderful opportunity of meeting with the Lamberts for lunch in past years, and while this year’s unique circumstances prevented meeting once again in person it was nonetheless rewarding,” said Merry. “What a fantastic thing it is to meet the people behind such a great legacy and that have done so much for our program!  Every interaction I learn something new about the Lambert family, and that was not lost over a video chat in the least.” 

Hayes-Phillips Award virtual visit
In addition to the Lambert lunch, Scofield arranged a seven-person Zoom visit including Ron and Judy Phillips and Austin Dobbels. Dobbels recently received the prestigious H.K. Hayes and Ronald L. Phillips Award, known as the Hayes-Phillips Award, which recognizes outstanding graduate students in the Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics for their excellence in teaching, research and leadership service. Ron Phillips and the late H.K Hayes both served the department for more than 40 years. 

During the visit, Dobbels’ shared his PhD research on implementing high throughput phenotyping of important soybean traits using unmanned aircraft systems, or drones. Department Head Gary Muehlbauer, Professor Rex Bernardo, and Dobbels’ advisor, Associate Professor Aaron Lorenz, participated as well. 

“I had a wonderful time meeting with Ron and Judy Phillips on Zoom,” said Dobbels. “With COVID-19 forcing events to cancel, I was bummed when I found out I would not be able to thank Ron and Judy in person for their support to our department and this award. With Zoom, however, I was able to share with them my graduate school experience and engage in fun conversations. It was very meaningful for me to have the opportunity to say thank you 'face-to-face' even if that meant via online video chat.”

Creative connecting
While virtual meetings have started to feel more familiar to many people than they may have even a month or so ago, they haven’t been a typical means for donors to connect with the students they’re supporting. But, CFANS is always innovating. While it’s certainly special to interact directly in person, these recent CFANS virtual gatherings have demonstrated that strong connections can be made, smiles can be shared and successes can be celebrated together across the miles.

“Making that personal connection is enriching for both donors and students in so many ways,” said Scofield. “It’s a joy for students to meet and thank the people who are helping bring their academic and career dreams to life, and it’s a joy for donors to be part of the stories the students are creating, and see how their investment in them is shaping the future.” 

A virtual success, indeed.