This month the Ontario Agricultural College (OAC) welcomed eight new members to the Order of OAC, an honour recognizing donations to the college of more than $100,000 each.

“All of these individuals have shown great leadership and commitment to OAC – our research, service and our exceptional students. I am honoured to welcome them into the prestigious Order of OAC,” said college dean Robert Gordon.

The 2013 inductees:

Don Pestell, a 1962 graduate of the Ridgetown Campus, has donated to a new student service and alumni centre at his alma mater.

Edward Kendall, BSA ’63, is supporting an upgrade of the Johnston Hall boardroom that will include a video conferencing system.

Jane Webster, B.Sc. ’71, made a gift to support the Webster Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Environmental Sciences in honour of the late Earle J.D. Webster.

John Summers, BSA ’53, created the Schnellers and Summers Scholarship in honor of his father and father-in-law. The Scholarship is a travel award of $2,000 for OAC graduate students.
Norman McCollum, ADA ’66, established the Norman McCollum Dairy Scholarship in recognition of his friendship with the family who built Glenhome Jerseys, and his desire benefit students planning a career in the dairy industry.

William “Bill” Harrison, BSA ’62, is supporting Phase II construction of the Bio-products Discovery and Development Centre project.

Philip Gosling and Susan Gosling are long-time supporters of the University; their most recent gift will add a unique cryopreservation facility to the Gosling Research Institute for Plant Preservation (GRIPP), which they established in 2011/12.

“Each donor has a deep connection to the college,” says Paul Klosler, senior development manager for OAC, who worked with the donor to allocate their gifts to an OAC priority project.

The Order of OAC was established in 1999 by the OAC Alumni Foundation to mark the 125th anniversary of the founding of the college. The order now has 24 inductees.