The Enterprise Data Center rarely seeks the spotlight. 

“If our customers don’t know we’re here, we’re doing our job,” says data center manager Myke Welch. 

Yet the center has achieved something anyone would envy: In the past three years, it’s cut its energy consumption in half and watched monthly electricity costs plummet from an estimated $6,000 to less than $3,000.

The University of New Hampshire Foundation has announced a $1 million gift to the Sustainability Institute that establishes The Thomas W. Haas Professorship in Sustainable Food Systems. The gift from the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation was generated from a donor-advised fund established by Durham philanthropist Tom Haas. 

The Haas announcement comes on the heels of recent news that Jo Lamprey made a lead gift to the Sustainability Institute establishing the Josephine A. Lamprey Fellowship in Climate and Sustainability.  

A record turnout for the 4^th annual gingerbread house contest that benefits the cancer support program On Belay drew 94 teams and raised more than $3,000 for the local nonprofit.

On Belay provides unique adventure-based programs that build community among young people who have or have had a family member with cancer.   

Sure, caribou disappeared from NH about 150 years ago, but this one’s made of steel. Created by artist Wendy Klemperer, the caribou will be on exhibit through May of 2014. Currently outside the Johnson Theatre, in August of next year it will move to Mills Courtyard on the other side of the arts center where it will remain for a year as the second sculpture exhibition in the courtyard.

This fall, the combined efforts of the UNH Unplugged student energy challenge and faculty and staff power-down during the Thanksgiving break saved UNH more than $15,000 in energy costs. “Enough power was saved to power 19 homes for a year,” says campus energy manager Matt O’Keefe.

The winter holiday break gives UNH faculty and staff another opportunity to save money and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by powering down – turning off computers, lights, photocopiers, printers and lab equipment -- before leaving for the break.

In August 2010, the University of New Hampshire and the private law school formerly known as the Franklin Pierce Law Center entered an affiliation agreement and the UNH School of Law was announced. From the beginning, the affiliation aimed to build upon the respective strengths of both institutions. That has been accomplished by, among other initiatives, the creation of two dual degree programs between the law school and the university.  

UNH’s 23^rd annual Martin Luther King, Jr. spiritual celebration, "Are You Making Your Mark?”,  will take place Jan. 27-Feb. 5, 2013. For a complete schedule go to http://unh.edu/inclusive/mlk/. All events are free and open to the public.

President Mark Huddleston attended the December meeting of the PAT Council, thanking councilors for their service and answering questions posed by representatives on behalf of their constituents. The council also elected new officers, with chair Judy Quist and vice chair Steve Myers both agreeing to serve a second term.  Returning councilor Stormy Gleason is the new secretary.  

In 2011, Wildcat Santa helped make the holidays a little brighter for 55 children in the UNH community. Requests for assistance are expected to be as high as last year, when more than 40 families sought donations.   

Wildcat Santa collects toys, games, arts and crafts, books and sporting equipment and distributes them to those in need. Movie passes are also welcome. Cash contributions, and money raised through raffle tickets, are used to buy gift certificates for older children.