Senator Patrick Leahy was talking about Mariafranca Morselli in the Senate on this day in 1998. He asked that his remarks be included in the Congressional Record.

Morselli had moved to Vermont with her family in the 1960s, becoming a pioneer in the maple industry.

Working in maple research at UVM, she focused on improving maple quality and efficiency. Morselli received numerous awards, many of which had never before been awarded to a woman, and she was the first woman inducted into the American Maple Museum Hall of Fame.

Upon her retirement, UVM established the Mariafranca Morselli Leadership Award.

Historic image courtesy UVM Special Collections at Bailey Howe Library. Maple can image is a Vermont Book Of Days photo.