A Niagara College graduate’s leadership in technology stood out among nominees from across Ontario as the winner of a prestigious 2011 Premier’s Award.
Jerry Howell, a Computer Engineering Technology graduate of Niagara College (1988), was one of six Premier’s Awards winners announced at an annual Colleges Ontario conference held in Toronto on Nov. 28. He is the fourth winner ever to be named from Niagara College since the awards were launched in 1992.
His win in the Technology category recognizes his work that not only turned Howell’s Family Pumpkin Farm into an agri-tourism business, drawing thousands of visitors every year for his animatronics shows, but brings the state-of-the-art electronics and animatronics shows he creates to farm-based attractions around the world through his company Chick-n-mation.
“We’re incredibly proud that Jerry’s outstanding accomplishments are being recognized through this prestigious honour,” said Dr. Steve Hudson, acting president of Niagara College. “Through his leadership and innovation, he is a shining example of the contributions college graduates make in all parts of our society.”
Every year, six Premier’s Awards are presented in six categories -Business, Community Services, Creative Arts and Design, Heath Sciences, Technology and Recent Graduate – to honour the important social and economic contributions Ontario college grads make in the province and throughout the world.
“I was shocked. When they announced the other winners with their world-wide contributions and then they picked me, it was very humbling,” said Howell. “I have been building crazy things since I was a kid. After going to Niagara College for Computer Engineering Technology, I used my knowledge to build bigger, crazy things.”
About Jerry Howell
Howell grew up on the family farm and was always interested in electronics and computers, which led him to Niagara College’s Computer Engineering Technology program. While a student at the college, Howell paid his tuition by selling pumpkins from the family farm. After graduation, he returned to the farm and used his knowledge to start building singing, talking and moving puppets. His animated animals feature pneumatic, computerized controls to sync music to the puppets’ music. His animal band puppet show uses 124 control channels to synchronize the program and various animals singing, talking and moving. Nessy, a robotic pumpkin monster, and Rex, a giant pumpkin eating dinosaur, are just two of the moving creations whose exteriors are made of pumpkins. His popular Singing Chickens sing, move and tell jokes synchronized to music. All prototypes use digital technology.
Howell’s work has been widely recognized. He was nominated for a Niagara Entrepreneur of the Year in International Trade Category (2010) and has won several awards including the Corporate Recognition Award from the Brain Injury Association of Niagara (2010), the Regional Winner of the Premier’s Award for Agrifood Innovation Excellence (2009), first place in the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (2006), the Thorold Business of the Month Award (2006), second place in the IAAPA Trade Show Award (2004), and the Niagara Entrepreneur of the Year Award Youth Category (2005).
He is also known for giving back to the community as sponsor of the Brain Injury Association of Niagara’s annual Head for the Hills race event. Held at his farm, the event raises money and awareness of those affected by an acquired brain Injury.
Niagara College and the Premier’s Awards
In addition to Howell, Niagara College’s nominees for the 2011 Premier’s Award included: Jennifer Blakely (Business), of Jennifer Blakely Photography, Sips & Suds and Alphabet Photography; Cal Coons (Creative Arts & Design), writer and producer of The Listener and several other Canadian television shows; John Osczypko (Community Services), executive director of Gateway Residential and Community Support Services; Danny Kerr (Health Sciences) paramedic and volunteer for Global Medic and dedicated fundraiser for the Heart and Stroke Foundation; and David Pratt (Recent Graduate), head grower at Sundrop Farms.
Previous Premier’s Awards winners from Niagara College are:
● Jordan Harris (graduate of NC’s Winery & Viticulture Technician program, 2004) who won the Premier’s Award in the Recent Graduate category in 2008;
● Heather Kilty (graduate of NC’s Social Welfare Worker program, 1969), who won the Premier’s Award in the Health Sciences category in 2003; and
● Carol Alaimo (graduate of NC’s Journalism-Print program, 1984), who won the Premier’s Award in the Creative Arts & Design category in 1995.
