The New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE) honored Champlain College President David F Finney, Vermont State Rep. Martha P. Heath and the Quantum Leap program at Bennington College at its 2010 New England Higher Education Excellence Awards earlier this month.
Each year, NEBHE presents Regional Excellence Awards to individuals and organizations that have shown exceptional leadership on behalf of higher education and the advancement of educational opportunity. The organization also presents State Merit Awards to honor the innovative work of organizations, institutions or individuals in each New England state. The awards were presented March 5 at The New England Higher Education Excellence Awards dinner at Boston’s Longwharf Marriott Hotel.
David F. Finney, president of Champlain College received the Robert J. McKenna Award for program achievement. The award is named for the former Rhode Island state senator and Newport mayor. Under Finney’s leadership, Champlain College has committed to keeping the Vermont economy robust, establishing the Bring Your Own Business (BYOBiz) program to attract entrepreneurs in 2006 as well creating the New Americans Scholarship program to reach Vermont refugee students and the Vermont First Scholarship program to serve first-generation college-goers.
Rep. Martha P. Heath, chair of the Vermont House Appropriations committee, and former University of Vermont trustee received the David C. Knapp award for trusteeship, named for the former University of Massachusetts president. As chair of the Vermont House Appropriations Committee, Heath has advocated for the value of higher education and consistently supported efforts to increase educational awareness and aspirations beyond high school.
The Quantum Leap program at Bennington College, led by directors Daniel Michaelson and Susan Sgorbati, received the Vermont State Merit Award. The Quantum Leap program helps children who seem least likely to succeed—who often come from chaotic home lives, extreme poverty and traumatic histories—to return to school and discover a love for learning.
NEBHE President and CEO, Michael K. Thomas commented, “President Finney and Rep. Heath are truly distinguished leaders, their work on behalf of Vermont’s students, its economy and the region is exemplary. The Quantum Leap program’s innovative approach to turning around the future of young Vermonters has become a respected model for schools across the state, and the nation. NEBHE is proud to honor these winners.”
Additional information about NEBHE’s New England Higher Education Excellence Awards is available online at http://www.nebhe.org/excellence2010
Champlain College President David F. Finney, left, is joined by University of Vermont President Daniel Fogel as he receives the Robert J. McKenna Award for program achievement from New England Board of Higher Education President Michael K. Thomas at the annual New England Higher Education Excellence Awards held March 5 in Boston. (Photo courtesy of NEBHE)
Champlain College
A private, residential college founded in 1878, Champlain College in Burlington, Vermont, has a long tradition of educating professionals for leadership roles by providing a high-quality, career-oriented education. Champlain’s distinctive educational approach embodies the notion that true learning only occurs when information and experience come together to create knowledge. Champlain was named a “Top-Up-and-Coming School” by U.S. News & World Report’s America’s Best Colleges 2010. To learn more about Champlain College, www.champlain.edu.
New England Board of Higher Education
NEBHE is a nonprofit, congressionally authorized agency whose mission is to promote greater educational opportunities and services for the residents of New England. NEBHE programs are principally focused on the relationship between New England higher education and regional economic development.
Source: Champlain College. 3.16.2010