UNH Today

When UNH celebrates its 150^th anniversary and the generations whose lives it helped transform, it’s a great chance for Granite Staters everywhere to applaud their flagship public university.

Last week, some 700 of the state’s most influential business, political and opinion leaders did just that, when UNH was honored with the New Hampshire Advantage Award at the Business and Industry Association’s 103^rd annual dinner.

The honor recognizes a business, organization or project that enhances New Hampshire’s special character and quality of life in meaningful ways. UNH President Mark W. Huddleston accepted the award, which was sponsored this year by Fidelity Investments in Merrimack, New Hampshire, a global leader in financial management one of the largest employers of UNH student interns.

“UNH trains exceptional talent to support New Hampshire employers and promotes the state’s outstanding quality of life through Cooperative Extension, cultural outreach, NCAA athletics and economic development,” said Lisa Goulemas, chief operating officer for Fidelity’s fixed income division. She added that UNH contributes more than $1.5 billion each year to the state’s economy, including nearly $650 million through its impact on the state’s skilled workforce.

Huddleston noted that UNH’s success depends on strong partnerships between businesses, elected leaders and the university, including UNH faculty researchers, outreach experts and students who graduate into great careers in the state.

“We are all connected in New Hampshire. And everyone benefits when our state’s flagship public university is strong,” Huddleston said. “And we are strong: Our enrollments are up. Our research activity is robust. Private giving is at an all-time high, and we just kicked off the public phase to our $275 million campaign, Celebrate 150: The Campaign for UNH, which will be the largest in UNH history.”