Colby-Sawyer College has selected the Lake Sunapee Protective Association (LSPA) as the recipient of the 2022 Community Award in recognition of the critical role it plays in preserving and enhancing the region’s lakes and watersheds, as well as its decades-long partnership with the college.

The Community Award, formerly known as the Town Award, is presented annually to an area resident or organization that has demonstrated extraordinary involvement in, and made noteworthy contributions to, Colby-Sawyer. Since its founding in 1898, the LSPA — the state’s oldest environmental organization — has advocated for the Lake Sunapee Region’s lakes and watersheds at the local, state and federal levels, while also engaging with the local community through educational and research opportunities.

“The Lake Sunapee Protective Association has been an integral part of the Lake Sunapee Region for nearly 125 years,” Colby-Sawyer President Susan D. Stuebner said. “Their environmental work in protecting our watersheds is impressive and necessary. The college has also enjoyed a long-standing partnership with the LSPA, from testing water samples at our lab on campus to hosting interns to including Colby-Sawyer representation on its board.”

The LSPA’s partnership with Colby-Sawyer dates back to its first student internship in the 1980s, followed soon after by the establishment of the LSPA Water Quality Laboratory on campus. The laboratory — now located in the Curtis L. Ivey Science Center — is managed by Teriko MacConnell, a Colby-Sawyer staff member who works cooperatively among both organizations.

The LSPA Water Quality Laboratory is where 100% of the association’s water samples are analyzed. Even the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services has benefited from the partnership between Colby-Sawyer and the LSPA, as 25% of water samples collected as part of this year’s Volunteer Lake Assessment Program — encompassing 27 lakes — were analyzed at the college.

“LSPA is honored to be named the recipient of Colby Sawyer’s 2022 Community Award,” LSPA Executive Director Elizabeth Harper said. “Through our partnership with Colby-Sawyer, we have expanded our water quality lab to become a highly regarded satellite laboratory providing quality data to the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services Limnology Center. This partnership brings together students, volunteers and scientists who work collaboratively to gather the data needed to make important management decisions for dozens of lakes in our region.”

Stuebner presented the 2022 Community Award to Harper and members of LSPA leadership during a ceremony and reception at the President’s House on Wednesday evening.