Scholarships
Education is an important aspect in the mission and vision of MN PIE. In our commitment to education, two scholarships have been set up through the University of Minnesota. The goal of the scholarships is to honor distinguished members of the vegetation management industry by providing endowment scholarships in their name to the University of Minnesota. These scholarships provide annual funds for students in the University's Department of Forest Resources.
In 2012, MN PIE and the Weidenfeller family established the Theodore Allan Weidenfeller Forest Resources Scholarship (Fund #8799) to provide payments to undergraduate students in the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences at the U of M.
Ted was born in 1928 in Akron, IA and graduated from the University of South Dakota in 1952 with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture and agronomy and subsequently began his career with DuPont. After ten years working in the Illinois division of DuPont and partnering with the railroads to develop a strategy for the vegetation concerns, he transferred to Minnesota where his duties were expanded to include roadside, utilities and forestry. He quickly earned the respect of the industry.
With Integrated Pest Management (IPM) as a goal, Ted and a business associate started their own company, Androc Products, Inc., which grew to be an icon in the industry. For over 50 years, Ted was dedicated to providing innovative, customized, cost effective and environmentally sensitive solutions for each customer’s site treatment needs. Ted mentored his peers and educated the general public about the economic and environmental benefits of the use of herbicides as a vital vegetation management tool.
Ted was highly respected by his peers and viewed as a pioneer in the industry due to his attention to detail, focus on scientific and factual information, and personal innovation. His devotion to these core principals, coupled with his friendly demeanor and ability to communicate with audiences of all levels, helped him to advance a positive image of industrial vegetation management.
In 2016, the James L. and Louanne S. Brooks Fund (Fund #21272) was established. It provides financial support to undergraduate students in their junior or senior year who are A.) enrolled in the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences. B.) working toward a degree in Forest and Natural Resource Management. C.) who have strong professional promise, including demonstrated strong written and spoken communication skills. D.) preference will be given for students with an emphasis on hardwood management.
The fund, established to recognize students interested in applied work in the field of natural resource management, honors the careers of James L. Brooks and Louanne S. Brooks, who, from the mid-1970’s to 2015, worked on establishing, maintaining, protecting and using forests and prairies in the Lake States in a sustainable manner for their inherent value and for recreational and commercial purposes.
James was a Forestry graduate from West Virginia University and worked for the MN Department of Natural Resources from 1977 to 2006, as a private forestry consultant from 2006 – 2014. In his roles as Manager of the Insect and Disease program, Assistant and Acting State Forester, Regional Forest Supervisor, and private consultant, he garnered state funds for Dutch Elm Disease control, over saw the revamping of the state Forest Management Act in the 1980’s, and promoted sustainable hardwood forestry in Southeastern, MN.
Louanne, with a BS degree in Wildlife Management, University of MN, worked at Potlatch (1977-1982) and Dow AgroSciences (1982-2015). Her work with herbicides promoted the establishment of forests and prairies on public and private lands, controlled invasive and noxious plants, and supported rights-of-way management for transportation and the delivery of electric power.
Both James and Louanne understood the importance of collaborating with and inspiring others through developing and communicating new techniques and information to achieve a shared vision.
Thanks to generous donations, both scholarships are fully funded and will exist in perpetuity.
