The New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE) is pleased to announce the 2019 recipients of its annual New England Higher Education Excellence Awards.
Click on any photo in the galleries below to see a larger version of it.
Vermont Excellence Award
Martha O’Connor (posthumously)
Former Chair, Vermont State College Board of Trustees
New England Excellence Award
The Governor’s Institutes of Vermont
The dual presentation ceremony was held on September 26, 2019 at the Woodstock Inn in Woodstock, Vt.
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- Vermont Lt. Governor David Zuckerman welcomes the gathered board members and guests to his state.
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- Vermont Lt. Governor David Zuckerman welcomes the gathered board members and guests to his state.
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- Kate O’Connor, Kerry Amidon and Kevin O’Connor accept the Vermont award for their late mother, Martha O’Connor, accompanied by NEBHE delegate and Community College of Vermont President Joyce M. Judy.
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- From left: Thomas, Zuckerman, O’Connor, Amidon, O’Connor and Judy.
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- From left: Thomas, Governor’s Institutes of Vermont Executive Director Karen Taylor Mitchell, Vermont student Dana Castro, Vermont student Trace Barnhart, Northern Vermont University Assistant Professor Isaac Eddy, Norwich University Dean of Students Martha Mathis, University of Vermont student Alden Ducharme, Zuckerman and NEBHE delegate and Vermont State Colleges Chancellor Jeb Spaulding.
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- From left: Castro, Taylor Mitchell, Barnhart, Eddy, Mathis and Ducharme.
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- The Governor’s Institutes of Vermont recipients address the assembled dinner guests.
Maine Excellence Award
Wendy L. Ault
Executive Director, MELMAC Education Foundation
The presentation ceremony was held on June 20, 2019 at the Maine State House.
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- From left: NEBHE President & CEO Michael K. Thomas, NEBHE delegate The Hon. Joan M. Nass, Maine state Sen. and NEBHE delegate Rebecca Millett, MELMAC Education Foundation Executive Director and 2019 Maine Excellence Award recipient Wendy L. Ault, Maine Department of Education Commissioner Pender Makin and NEBHE delegate James C.Q. Weggler.
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- From left: Thomas, Makin, Ault, Former NEBHE delegate Wanda L. Lincoln and Weggler.
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- Ault accepts her award.
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- U.S. Senator Susan Collins’ staff assistant Charles Mahaleris poses with Ault.
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- From left: Thomas, Nass, Millett, Ault and Makin share a light moment after the ceremony.
Connecticut Higher Education Excellence Award
The Hartford Promise
The presentation ceremony was held on June 18, 2019 at the Connecticut State Capitol.
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- Hartford Promise president Richard Sugarman accepts the 2019 Connecticut Excellence Award. From left: NEBHE President & CEO Michael K. Thomas, Connecticut state Rep. Matt Ritter, Sugarman, Goodwin College president and NEBHE Connecticut delegate Mark Scheinberg.
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- Rep. Ritter introduces Sugarman as Scheinberg looks on.
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- Sugarman addresses the audience.
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- From left: Connecticut state and NEBHE delegate Rep. Gregg Haddad, Sugarman, and Connecticut state Rep. Edwin Vargas.
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- From left: Hartford Promise Nearlies program director Leslie Silvers, Hartford Promise Director of College Partnerships Melissa Paul, Hartford Promise’s Yahaira Escribaro, Sugarman, Hartford Promise Development & Grant Coordinator Linda Merlin, and Hartford Promise’s Mike Powell.
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- From left: University of Hartford President Emeritus Walter Harrison, Connecticut State Colleges & Universities (CSCU) President Mark Ojakian, Haddad, Sugarman, Scheinberg, Connecticut Conference of Independent Colleges President and NEBHE delegate Jennifer Widness, and Trinity College Vice President of Enrollment and Student Success and NEBHE delegate Angel B. Pérez.
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- From left: Ritter, Harrison, and Hartford promise Co-Chair Robert E. Patricelli.
New Hampshire Excellence Award
The UNIQUE College Investing Plan (NH)
Fidelity Investments
The presentation ceremony was held on May 15, 2019 at the New Hampshire State House.
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- From left: University System of New Hampshire Chancellor Todd J. Leach, Fidelity Investments Vice President of Public Affairs Joe Murray, NEBHE President & CEO Michael K. Thomas, and State Senator Lou D’Alessandro listen to Governor Chris Sununu as he reads the award proclamation.
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- From left: Community College System of New Hampshire Chancellor Emeritus and Southern New Hampshire University President Emeritus Richard A. Gustafson, College Tuition Savings Advisory Commission Chair and Former N.H. Division of Higher Education Director Edward R. MacKay, Thomas and former NEBHE board member The Hon. Jack Balcom at the ceremony.
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- Legislators, education leaders and guests gather with the governor in the Executive Council Chamber as the Excellence Award is accepted.
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- From left: Thomas with two former New Hampshire state representatives, former NEBHE board member The Hon. Stella Scamman and The Hon. W. Douglas Scamman.
Rhode Island Excellence Award
The Rhode Island Promise Scholarship
The presentation ceremony was held on May 14, 2019 at the Rhode Island State House.
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- Rhode Island Gov. Gina M. Raimondo congratulates R.I. Commissioner of Postsecondary Education Brenda Dann-Messier on her retirement at the award ceremony. From left: R.I. House Committee on Health, Education and Welfare Chair Rep. Joseph M. McNamara, R.I. Sen. Hanna M. Gallo, R.I. Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio, Community College of Rhode Island President Meghan Hughes, Raimondo, Dann-Messier, and NEBHE President and CEO Michael K. Thomas.
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- Four student recipients of the Rhode Island Promise Scholarship, from Community College of Rhode Island, attended the ceremony. From left: Brian Imana, Davila Jackley, Cristina LaPaglia and Andrew Lee.
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- From left: McNamara, Hughes, Gallo (at podium), Thomas, Dann-Messier.
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- From left: McNamara, Gallo, Ruggerio, Hughes, Lee, Jackley, Raimondo, LaPaglia, Imana.
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- From left: McNamara, Hughes, Thomas.
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- Dann-Messier accepts her retirement citation from Thomas. Also pictured: Hughes (left) and Raimondo (right).
Massachusetts Excellence Award
Judith Block McLaughlin
Senior Lecturer on Education & Educational Chair, Harvard University Seminar for New Presidents
The presentation ceremony was held on Tuesday, April 30, 2019 at the Massachusetts State House.
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- Judith McLaughlin addresses the audience after accepting the Massachusetts Excellence Award.
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- From left: Lasell College President Michael B. Alexander, McLaughlin and NEBHE President & CEO Michael K. Thomas.
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- Harvard University President Lawrence S. Bacow speaks to the gathering.
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- McLaughlin and Bacow.
Since 2003, NEBHE has presented Excellence Awards to individuals and organizations, for exemplifying, through their work, excellence in promoting sound education practices and policies, efficient sharing of education resources, and leadership to strengthen the relationship between higher education and the economic well-being of New England.
For the list of previous Excellence Award winners, click here.