DURHAM, N.H. -- The University of New Hampshire Alumni Association held its annual Alumni Achievement Awards Ceremony on Friday, October 8—the first time ever that the event has been held during Homecoming Weekend. 

At a dinner in celebration of the occasion, UNH President Huddleston welcomed the seven award recipients, along with their families, friends and fellow alumni, acknowledging that UNH is thankful for the opportunity to recognize dedicated alumni—individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the UNH community, the state or the nation.

The 2010 UNH Alumni Association award recipients are Frederick C.  Dey '84, John S. Gianforte '85 and H. Edmund Bergeron, Jr. '70 for the Alumni Meritorious Service Award; John H. Lawson '49, '52G and Fred Kfoury, Jr. '64 for the Profile of Service Award; Kathleen M. Kidder '95G for the Award of Excellence for Outstanding Achievement; and Frederick H. Olsen '97 for the Young Alumnus  Achievement Award.

The awards were presented by Alumni Association student scholarship recipients Shea M. Callahan '11, Miranda J. Francoeur '14, Stacey T. Hoang '12, Paige L. Legassie '11, and Richard W. Peyser '11. "Bringing student and alumni leaders together is a special way to commemorate this occasion," says Steve Donovan, associate vice president of advancement and executive director of the Alumni Association, "and holding the awards ceremony as part of Homecoming Weekend made it that much more special to all involved."

Alumni Meritorious Service Award
The Alumni Meritorious Service Award (AMSA) is given to an alumnus/a of the university who renders meritorious service to the University or its alumni organizations through faithful and continued effort in maintaining class or other alumni organizations, through active participation in alumni or university affairs, and/or by assisting and expanding the usefulness, influence and prestige of the university.

Profile of Service Award
The Profile of Service Award is given to an individual who may or may not be an alumnus/a, for outstanding performance on behalf of the Alumni Association or the university. Selection is based on any of the following: service in the organization of alumni chapters, service in UNH Fund activity, work by university employees over and above assigned duties and which is beneficial to the University, and/or promotional activities on behalf of the university and/or the Alumni Association.

Award of Excellence for Outstanding Achievement
The Award of Excellence for Outstanding Achievement was established in 2005 to honor a University of New Hampshire graduate for significant accomplishments in business or professional life or for public service to their community, state or nation. At any given time there may be one recipient, a team or partnership recipient or an associated group recipient.

Young Alumnus/Alumna Achievement Award
The Young Alumnus/Alumna Achievement Award is presented to an alumnus or alumna less than 40 years of age who is actively engaged in the Alumni Association and/or the University, has demonstrated business or professional success and is involved in community service.

To nominate a 2011 recipient for our Alumni Association Awards, please visit www.alumni.unh.edu in January 2011. 

The mission of the UNH Alumni Association is to advocate for the University of New Hampshire and its alumni, and promote the University's historic land-grant mission of teaching, research and public service. Through its programs and services, the Alumni Association develops a spirit of loyalty to the University, engaging and serving alumni, student, parents, faculty and staff, and the public.

The University of New Hampshire, founded in 1866, is a world-class public research university with the feel of a New England liberal arts college. A land, sea, and space-grant university, UNH is the state's flagship public institution, enrolling more than 12,200 undergraduate and 2,200 graduate students.

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