​When Alexandra Banks arrived at Miner Institute in May 2018 to participate in the Summer Experience in Farm Management program, she planned to ultimately go to vet school. Now, though, she is a few months into her year-long dairy internship and says she has realized how much she likes working with calves. “I’ve found that I really enjoy working with calves, so much so that it’s caused me to change my mind about what I want to do after leaving here,” Alexandra said. “I was originally thinking I’d like to go to vet school, but after being here and working with cows on a daily basis, I think I want to stay working on a farm, specifically with calves/heifers and potentially become a calf manager or heifer herdsman.”
Alexandra studied animal science at the University of Maine and graduated just before arriving at Miner for the Summer Experience program.  She is the 2019 Stephen S. Flanagan, Frances B. Flanagan, and Stephen F. Flanagan Scholarship recipient at Miner Institute. The scholarship fund was established in 2016 after a $1.3 million donation to Miner Institute from the late Stephen Flanagan of Plattsburgh. The scholarship was named after Mr. Flanagan and his parents. The scholarship funds up to two students annually who are pursuing careers in dairy science.
Alexandra said that she really enjoys being at Miner and has “learned a lot and is enjoying the work and the people here.” She said that over the past few months, she has “decided my new dream job is to work with calves.” 

For the third year in a row, we packed the auditorium of the Joseph C. Burke Education and Research Center with around 140 people and local comedy group Completely Stranded had the crowd approaching tears with their laughs.  Most importantly, though, we raised $1,028 for the United Way of the Adirondack Region.  This event has truly become one of our favorite events of the year, bringing the community out to enjoy comedy and support the dozens of great agencies that the United Way partners with. Combined with the $3,116 in employee contributions and money raised at the auction held at our Christmas party, Miner Institute's total 2019 contribution is $4,144.  We are also planning to take part in this year's United Way Day of Caring on April 13 with some cleanup at the Riverside Cemetery in Chazy in a collaboration with The Alice T. Miner Museum.