DURHAM, N.H. -- The University of New Hampshire Alumni Association held its annual Alumni Achievement Awards Ceremony Friday, October 28, 2011, during Homecoming Weekend. 

At a dinner in celebration of the occasion, UNH President Mark Huddleston welcomed the eight award recipients, along with their families, friends and fellow alumni, noting 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 2011 recipients of the Alumni Meritorious Service Award are Craig Abbott '70 of Darien, Conn.; Marianne Gross Gaspary '79 of Wilmette, Ill.; Bill Jackson '75 of Stratham, N.H.; and Brad Thompson '68 of Gilford, N.H. The Profile of Service Award recipients are Paul Bamford '75 of Stratham, N.H., and J. Gregg Sanborn '66, '77G of North Hampton, N.H. The Award of Excellence for Outstanding Achievement goes to Nancy Kinner '80G, '83G of Lee, N.H. The Young Alumnus Achievement Award went to Tito Jackson '99 of Roxbury, Mass.

The awards were presented by Alumni Association student scholarship recipients Samantha Wheeler '12, Joseph Aresenault '13G, Molly Driscoll '13, Kurt Eddins '12, Michael Houle '13, Stacey Hoang '12 and Meghan Thornton '14. "Bringing student and alumni leaders together is a special way to commemorate this occasion," said Steve Donovan, associate vice president of advancement and executive director of the Alumni Association.

The Alumni Meritorious Service Award 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.

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.

The Award of Excellence for Outstanding Achievement was established in 2005 to honor a UNH 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.

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.

The mission of the UNH Alumni Association is to advocate for UNH 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 12,200 undergraduate and 2,200 graduate students.

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