MCLA President Is 2011 Hayden Award Winner
 |
Grant has been president of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams for 10 years.
The Hayden Award was established in May 1968 to honor the memory of Francis H. Hayden, a two-term president of the Northern Berkshire Chamber who made significant contributions to the community as president and through his involvement with several other organizations.
"Under Dr. Mary K. Grant's leadership, a culture of civic engagement, community service, and volunteerism has flourished at MCLA, and serves as a vitally important resource to the community," according to a statement from the Nominating Committee. "The values of public purpose and engagement are shared and supported by faculty, staff, and students across the campus, and modeled in action through their service projects and volunteers activities."
Candidates for the award are judged on the basis of volunteer efforts rather than any measure of success in the field in which they normally are employed or the accomplishments or successes by an individual's membership in one organization. The award is given annually to a person who has volunteered time, made personal sacrifices, and shown leadership resulting in significant contributions to the economic, social and cultural improvements in North Berkshire.
Over the years, Grant has made significant contributions to her community, which have included service to educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, and economic development initiatives.
She has championed responsibility and commitment to community, helping MCLA to strengthen its civic engagement as a direct result. Under her leadership, the college partners with the city of North Adams for major days of service, including a citywide spring cleanup day and a fall day of service that includes crosswalk painting and work with human services agencies.
The college has also been the major supporter of the Downstreet Arts events, through its establishment of MCLA Gallery 51 and the Berkshire Cultural Resource Center. Grant has forged partnerships with local schools and with Berkshire Community College and Williams College; helped establish off-campus classrooms for greater access to higher education and been a strong proponent of the Berkshire Compact, which includes bringing middle and elementary students to college campuses, and the STEM Pipeline.
Under her tenure, the college has seen physical and academic growth, including breaking ground for the much anticipated $36 million science center.
"It is not a stretch to say that virtually every citizen of North Berkshire has or will benefit from the extraordinary leadership, vision and energy of President Mary Grant and the change she has brought and will continue to bring to MCLA," said Alan L. Marden, chairman of the Francis H. Hayden Award Committee and a North Adams city councilor. "The Hayden Award is usually given for voluntary efforts, but over the course of its 42-year tenure, the committee occasionally has been presented with a nominee whose professional endeavors have been so extraordinary that the award committee has been compelled to select that person. Such is the case this year with President Grant who 24/7 is making 'significant contribution to the economic, social and cultural improvement' of the region."
The Hayden Award has been presented annually since 1969, with the very first recipient of being the late Donald Thurston; last year's winners were Daniel E. Bosley, former state representative, and John Barrett III, longtime North Adams mayor.
The Berkshire Chamber of Commerce will present this and the Quinn Award at the annual meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 21, at 7:30 a.m., at the Crowne Plaza. Tickets are $30 each and are available at www.berkshirechamber.com or by calling 413-499-4000, Ext. 10.
Tags: Award, Berkshire Chamber of Commerce,
