From left: M. Rottler, ElRay Roper (Syngenta); Vern Toblan (Pi Chi Omega); Deni Naumann (Copesan); Russ Ives; Bill Clark

During its recent conference in Orlando, FL, Copesan – a Wisconsin based pest management company – held a raffle to benefit two prgrams which contribute to the future of the pest management industry.

In total, attendees at the conference raised $5,390. Copesan matched this amount, bringing the total to $10,780 to be equally divided between the Pi Chi Omega Scholarship Foundation and the NPMA Pest Management Foundation. Pi Chi Omega will also receive $350 raised by auctioning the “Arthropod of the Hour”, a clock with preserved insect specimens on each hour of the face. The clock was donated by Gerry Wegner, Technical Director and Staff Entomologist of ProGuard Commercial Pest Solutions of Columbus, OH.

Pi Chi Omega, a pest management industry fraternity, provides scholarships to entomology students. Today, several $1,000 scholarships are given each year to entomology students at universities across the country and around the world. The National Pest Management Association (NPMA) Foundation, which has been in existence for more than 30 years, provides grants for the research, development and refinement of pest management tools and techniques.

“Copesan is proud to support both the Pi Chi Omega scholarship fund and the NPMA Foundation for research” said Deni Naumann, President. “Raising a record amount of money created a lot of excitement among our Partners and staff attending this event.”

The raffle, sponsored by Syngenta (www.syngenta.com), awarded prizes as follows:

  • Grand Prize-$1,000 Home Depot Gift Card-Michelle Paulin, Copesan
  • First Runner-Up-$500 Travel Voucher-Patti Hurlman, JP McHale Pest Management
  • Second Runner-Up-$100 Walmart Gift Card, $100 Starbucks Gift card, $100 Target Gift Card-Rick Steinau, Ace Exterminating Company
  • Third Runner-Up-$100 Pizza Hut Gift Card, $100 Home Depot Gift Card-Frank Cossentino, Copesan