Scholarship Fund Carries on
UConn Foundation newsletter Momentum, Fall 2006 issue
The tragic death of a UConn alumnus in the line of duty has been turned into strong, ongoing support for students in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources through a named scholarship endowment.
On November 20, 1998, Conservation Officer James V. Spignesi, Jr. ’75 was shot and killed while investigating illegal deer hunting in Scotland, Conn. A graduate of CANR, he had worked at the Department of Environmental Protection for more than 20 years as a wildlife biologist, and had been an officer since 1990. He was posthumously awarded the Officer of the Year award in 1999 from the Conservation Law Enforcement Chiefs Association.
Shortly after his death, an endowment fund was created at UConn in his memory to provide scholarships for students interested in careers in wildlife conservation or conservation law enforcement. To support the UConn fund and several other high school scholarships, his family and his fellow DEP officers—many of whom are also UConn alumni—have raised more than $180,000 since 1999. An annual sportsmen’s banquet in Spignesi’s honor is held each spring, and raises approximately $25,000 from ticket sales, raffles and auctions.
Captain Richard P. Lewis ’81, a 24-year DEP veteran and Spignesi’s sergeant at the time of his death, says the outpouring of support is in line with how Spignesi lived his life.
“Jimmy was a very giving person, and expected nothing in return. We hope that we are giving in the same way he would have.”
Spignesi’s brother, Dr. Thomas E. Spignesi ’83, believes the scholarship is one way to keep his memory alive.
“Jim was devoted to wildlife, so by supporting a scholarship in that area, we’re carrying on what he believed in. He’d really happy if he had learned of this. And the community response has been wonderful.”
Brian Hiller MS ’06 is a Ph.D. student and the 2006 Spignesi scholarship recipient. His current research is focused on the effects of the metal cadmium on American woodcock, a shorebird that lives in forests and has been declining for nearly 40 years.
“The scholarship has allowed me to conduct research this spring, something I really would have financially struggled with otherwise,” he says. “I’ve worked closely with many DEP staff and they speak so highly of Officer Spignesi. It’s an honor to have my name associated with his.”
Those interested in contributing to the James V. Spignesi, Jr. Memorial Endowment Fund should contact Amy Chesmer, director of development for the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, at 860.486.1763.
