A Life Run Well: The Story Behind the Jenness Marden Scholarship

Amy Bourgault ran the Boston Marathon three times and volunteered for 16 years with the Concord Rock ’N Race. During her career she rose to serve as chief of staff for two New Hampshire Senate presidents. She ran her own political consulting firm and served as executive director of The Foundation for NH Community Colleges from 2006 to 2014, where she worked alongside the board of directors and college presidents to champion affordable, accessible higher education in the Granite State. 



Sadly, Amy passed away in March 2021 at the age of 55, after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease — a battle she fought with remarkable courage and without complaint.

In her honor, an anonymous donor who was a close friend and colleague of Amy's, established The Jenness Marden Scholarship that provides need-based financial assistance to Granite State students who are veterans of the US military or the children or grandchildren of veterans, helping them access the kind of education Amy spent years working to make possible.

GBCC Launches New Criminal Justice Leadership Program

Great Bay Community College (GBCC) students can now earn a certificate in Criminal Justice Leadership, a new offering at the college’s Pease Tradeport campus. The certificate equips current and aspiring criminal justice professionals with the critical thinking skills and competencies necessary to succeed in leadership roles within law enforcement agencies.

The program arrives as demand for law enforcement leadership grows: employment for first-line supervisors of police and detectives in New Hampshire is projected to grow 8% from 2022 to 2032 — more than double the roughly 3% growth rate projected nationally for the same occupation over a comparable 10-year period — according to New Hampshire Employment Security’s Economic and Labor Market Information Bureau.

“Criminal justice leadership demands more than experience,” said Eric Kulberg, department chair and professor of GBCC’s criminal justice program. “It demands the ability to think critically, lead ethically and adapt to an ever-changing landscape. This certificate gives working professionals and aspiring leaders a structured pathway to develop those skills while applying them directly to the real-world challenges they face.”

NH Army National Guard Opens Recruitment Office at NHTI

The New Hampshire Army National Guard has opened a new recruitment office on the campus of NHTI—Concord’s Community College. The office marks the first full-time National Guard presence at a NH community college.

“This partnership is about our students,” said NHTI president, Patrick Tompkins. “By working with the National Guard, we can provide our campus unbeatable access to all the opportunities that this avenue of military service has to offer.”



The National Guard office on NHTI’s campus will be centrally located in Little Hall —the same building that hosts a bustling cafeteria, 24/7 Campus Safety department, and the college’s engineering labs.

LRCC Named Best of the 603 Silver Winner

Lakes Region Community College (LRCC) has been named a Silver Winner in the Best of the 603 Awards in the College/University category. The award was presented by Manchester Radio Group during a ceremony held on September 10.

“Being named a Silver Winner in the Best of the 603 is a meaningful recognition, from people across the state, of the extraordinary work our faculty and staff do every day on behalf of students and our community,” said Patrick Cate, President of LRCC. “While LRCC is honored to receive this recognition, we also see it as a reflection of the broader promise of New Hampshire’s community colleges to create opportunity, strengthen communities, and change lives.”