New England College Receives Three Campus Compact for New Hampshire Presidents’ Awards
Professor Ed Royer, student Lauren Oliver, and SAU 34 Hillsboro-Deering School District have been recognized for their service to the College.
Campus Compact for New Hampshire (CCNH) has announced its 2024 Presidents’ Award recipients and has recognized three members of the New England College (NEC) community. CCNH’s annual Presidents’ Awards recognize college community members who serve as catalysts for positive change and serve communities throughout New Hampshire. Each year, presidents of CCNH’s member colleges and universities nominate community members, and CCNH chooses award recipients, across three categories, who make outstanding contributions to education and opportunity in New Hampshire.
Presidents’ Leadership Award: Lauren Oliver
Lauren double majors in Criminal Justice and Psychology and holds multiple leadership roles on campus: president of the Criminal Justice Club, Peer Tutor, Peer Leader, and member of Psi Chi and Alpha Chi honors societies. Lauren has made outstanding contributions to community service and civic engagement by leading NEC’s successful holiday toy drive to benefit Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth (CHaD). A collaboration between the CHaD team and Concord Police Department, this event filled a police cruiser with thousands of dollars’ worth of toys and books and more than $2,500 in cash donations to benefit more than 100 CHaD patients and their families over the 2023–2024 holiday season. As an engaged student leader, Lauren has helped countless new students integrate into the NEC community and get connected to valuable campus resources. She is an advocate for other student leaders and pushes people to do their best and get involved in their own ways. Lauren strives to put community service and civic engagement into her daily life for the betterment of New England College and our community at large, both on and off campus.
Good Steward Award: Ed Royer
Ed serves as Assistant Professor of Sport and Recreation Management, advisor to the Sport and Recreation Management (SRM) club, and Director of Player Development for NEC’s men’s soccer team. He was instrumental in starting the SRM club, and under his guidance, the club won Student Club of the Year. Ed coordinated volunteer events where club members helped facilitate youth soccer tournaments at Foxborough Stadium. He is a Board Member for The Dreams Heard Foundation, a New Hampshire-based non-profit that provides opportunities for deaf and hard-of-hearing children to actively participate in sports and the creative arts. Ed took a leadership role in assisting the charity United Through Football and worked with the Center for New Americans in Manchester to provide access and opportunity for challenged youth to participate and develop in soccer. Ed has given many volunteer hours creating sports and soccer opportunities for underrepresented youth audiences in New England who have greatly benefited from his time. On campus, Ed has organized campus-wide wiffleball and kickball tournaments, trivia night, and a Halloween maze for students through his Event Management course. He also supports the veteran community by volunteering at the veteran’s resource center and mentoring a veteran NEC Shark Tank competitor. In every endeavor, Ed embodies the spirit of service, leadership, and passion for sports that enriches the lives of countless individuals across New England.
Community Partner Award: SAU 34 Hillsboro-Deering School District
Since partnering in 2020, SAU 34 has played a pivotal role in NEC’s teacher licensure degree program by elevating educational initiatives for NEC students. Each semester, SAU 34 goes above and beyond to facilitate and ensure optimal student placement for various components of the licensure program, including fieldwork practicum courses, methods courses, culminating student-teaching experiences, and paid internships. The immersive learning environments provided by the district have significantly enriched the academic journey of NEC’s pre-service educators, offering invaluable experiences that are unparalleled in their impact. Over four years, the SAU 34 collaboration has resulted in an impressive 30,000 collective field-placement hours for NEC students. This remarkable statistic is a testament to the depth and breadth of their commitment to fostering excellence in education and preparing the next generation of teachers. Notably, the inclusion of Washington Elementary School, under the SAU 34 umbrella, through a Project Pericles grant has further expanded the horizons for NEC students. This unique rural school setting has offered additional fieldwork opportunities, enhancing the overall educational experience for aspiring educators. In addition to providing exceptional support from cooperating teachers and collaboration across grades K–12, SAU 34 has consistently facilitated necessary criminal record checks and State of New Hampshire Department of Education training at no cost to NEC students. Their commitment to ensuring NEC students are well-prepared for their future roles as educators is exemplary.
“New England College is a special place, and a big part of what makes this community so special is our people,” said Dr. Wayne F. Lesperance Jr., President of New England College. “Every day, our faculty, staff, students, and community partners give of themselves to make the NEC experience life-changing for our students and the greater community. I could not be prouder to call these changemakers my colleagues and friends.”
CCNH celebrated all 2024 Presidents’ Award recipients at a ceremony on April 9.
About Campus Compact for New Hampshire
Founded in 1997, Campus Compact for New Hampshire (CCNH) is a statewide consortium of college and university presidents and private-sector partners who are united in their commitment to the civic purposes of higher education. As part of a national coalition of college and university leaders, CCNH serves as a catalyst to integrate community service and civic responsibility throughout academic and student life. CCNH is part of the national Campus Compact organization, which encompasses more than 1,000 college and university presidents representing some 6 million students.
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