04/22/2026
Another congratulations goes out to Patricia Miele Bianchi and Samantha Spain for being named National Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer and Volunteer of the Year Awards respectively!
Pat Miele Bianchi has significantly contributed to the 4-H community in Connecticut for 49 years. Her current roles include serving as a National 4-H Conference Chaperone, Hartford County 4-H Fair Association Advisor and a Hartford County 4-H Camp Board Trustee. Previously, she was a club leader, a Hartford County 4-H Fair Association Director and member of the Hartford County 4-H Advisory Committee. Patricia's willingness to take on various tasks makes her a role model for 4-H youth and the community, showcasing her commitment to the 4-H program. She leverages her experiences as a 4-H member and volunteer to highlight the positive influence of 4-H on young people's lives, always striving to "Make the Best Better."
Samantha Spain has been an incredibly active, supportive, and positive presence in Hartford County 4-H since joining as a leader 9 years ago with Athena’s Warriors 4-H Robotics Club. In an average year, there are 25+ members in her robotics club. Sam organizes over 40 4-H meetings annually with an additional 12 special meetings and 10 competitions/field trips. Sam attends numerous build sessions throughout the year; sometimes they occur seven days a week. In addition to the 500 hours she clocks leading the 4-H Team each year, she allocates countless hours to coordinating and traveling to FIRST regional and district competitions. Sam is a strong advocate of 4-H amongst the FIRST robotics community and regularly promotes 4-H to others.
Thank you to these incredible volunteers for their service to UConn 4-H!
