Honored for his work with wounded veterans
President James
Wright has been chosen a "New Englander of the Year" for 2007 by the New England Council. Wright will
share this year's honor with Congressman Barney Frank, D-Mass., and Peter
Meade, executive vice president of corporate affairs at Blue Cross Blue Shield
of Massachusetts. The awards will be presented at the Council's annual dinner
on Oct. 1 in Boston.
President James Wright (Photo by Joseph Mehling '69)
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Formed in 1925, the New England Council is an alliance of large and small
companies, educational institutions, and nonprofit and other agencies. It is
the nation's oldest regional business organization, dedicated to promoting
economic development and a high quality of life in the six-state region.
Each year the Council selects individuals to receive the New Englander of
the Year award based on their commitment and contributions in their fields of
work and leadership and impact on the region's quality of life and economy.
"We are pleased to honor these outstanding recipients," says Council
President James T. Brett. "From business and higher education to public
service, these honorees are some of the most influential champions of the
region whose contributions are making dynamic changes in its landscape."
Two years ago, Wright began a series of visits to U.S. military medical
facilities in Washington, D.C., where he met Marines and other U.S. military
personnel who had been wounded in the course of service in Iraq and
Afghanistan. He encouraged them to continue their educations, and he
subsequently led the creation and funding of an educational counseling program
for wounded U.S. veterans that is now being offered through the American Council on
Education (ACE). This May, The New York Times presented a feature
on this work, and ABC World News with Charles Gibson featured Wright as its Person of the
Week.
"I am grateful to the New England Council for this recognition, and I am
honored to join such distinguished company," Wright says. "It is my privilege
to serve at Dartmouth where service and responsibility are part of the core
values, and it has been inspiring to work with wounded veterans marked by
courage and sacrifice and filled with promise."
Each time Wright visits the hospitals, he goes from bed to bed and speaks
with veterans about their experiences and their longer-term aspirations,
including education.
He was particularly concerned that many had questions about specific schools
or programs and that they would lose access to college counseling resources
once discharged from military service. Realizing they would need more
educational counseling than any individual alone could provide, he contacted
David Ward, president of ACE, the largest U.S. higher education association,
who agreed to have his organization develop a program to meet these needs.
Wright, working with James Selbe, director of military programs for ACE, has
been instrumental in raising funds for this effort.
Earlier this year, three full-time education counselors began working at
Walter Reed, the National Naval Hospital, and Brooke Army Medical Center. In
the first week of the program, more than 50 veterans had asked for appointments
with these counselors.
"I am always moved by the service members' stories and inspired by their
courage and sacrifice," says Wright. "As a result of the ACE program, these
young men and women who served so unselfishly and bravely will now be better
served themselves. I wish we could do more. We can do no less."
By ROLAND ADAMS
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