Insect photo contest winners announced

Shane Conklin, deputy director of Facilities and Campus Planning, won first prize in the inaugural Shutter-Bug Insect Photo Contest sponsored by the Fernald Club, graduate student entomology organization in the Plant, Soil and Insect Sciences Department.

A five-judge panel chose Conklin’s photo of a damselfly from among more than 200 photos submitted by faculty, staff and students. Conklin received $100 and his photo will be permanently displayed in Fernald Hall.

Conklin, who took up nature photography as a hobby a few years ago, said the winning shot was taken at the Amethyst Brook conservation area in Amherst. “I find nature photography personally rewarding and it’s a thrill when others enjoy the photos,” he said.

The $50 second place award went to Michelle Labbe, a graduate student in Wildlife and Fisheries Conservation. Sean Werle, a departmental assistant in Biology, received third prize and $25. The prizes were awarded June 19.

Judges for the competition were Entomology graduate student Jeremy Andersen, president of the Fernald Club; Sandra Gillespie, Entomology graduate student and Fernald Club treasurer; Anna Soper, Entomology graduate student; Stephen Rich, associate professor of Entomology and head of Plant, Soil and Insect Sciences; and Nancy E. Fernald of Hadley, great-great-granddaughter of Massachusetts Agricultural College professor Charles H. Fernald, for whom Fernald Hall is named.

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July 2, 2009.