Because Sheridan Cares

Sheridan Miller's gift to UC Davis for honey bee research was both generous and thoughtful.

The 11-year-old Bay Area resident raised $733 for the Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility through the sale of jars of honey, candles, baked goods and a self-penned booklet on the plight of honey bees.

The fifth grader and her family (father Craig, mother Annika and sister Annelie, 8) traveled from their home in Marin County to present the check to Lynn Kimsey, professor and chair of the Department of Entomology and director of the Bohart Museum of Entomology. Bee breeder-geneticist Susan Cobey guided the group on a tour of the Laidlaw facility and apiary.

“It’s very thoughtful and generous of a little girl to think of the plight of the honey bees and to raise funds for research,” Kimsey said. "We are overwhelmed.”

Said Cooperative Extension Apiculturist Eric Mussen, a member of the UC Davis Department of Entomology since 1976:  “I really appreciate the fact that so many members of the general public have become concerned about the plight of honey bees. I am particularly impressed by individuals such as Sheridan who have devoted so much time and effort in really trying to improve the health and longevity of the honey bees.”

In writing her booklet, Sheridan gleaned information from the UC Davis Department of Entomology Web site and the Haagen-Dazs Web site.

"Honey bees pollinate delicious fruits, vegetables and even nuts," Sheridan wrote. "If they were to disappear, our food source would consist of wheat, rice and corn."

Sheridan's dedication deeply illustrates what one person can do to help save the bees.

Sheridan cannot imagine a world without bees. Neither can we.