NEWBURYPORT — The Newburyport Education Foundation is accepting nominations for the annual Ed Award. The award, created in 2004, is given annually to an individual or organization in the community whose leadership, acts and support have raised the level of excellence in the Newburyport Public Schools.

The purpose of the award is to honor recipients and raise awareness for the importance of community involvement in the Newburyport Public Schools.

The 2004 inaugural award honored Ed Molin, a supporter of the Newburyport Public Schools through many projects and donations that contributed significantly to the quality of the city's public schools. The award for Excellence in Education is awarded annually and is called the Ed Award: Ed for education, Ed for Edward Molin.

The 2008 Ed Award went to the Newburyport High School Alumni Association. The Alumni Association has raised thousands of dollars to further the education of NHS graduates.

In addition to their scholarships, they also host an annual Teachers Tea and keep alumni connected through their newsletter. Janet Sheehan, the Alumni Association president accepted the award and recognized those current and past members of the board and active members of the association for their contributions.

Anyone in the Newburyport community can submit a nomination by sending a letter to the Newburyport Education Foundation Executive Committee at PO Box 1002, Newburyport, MA, 01950, or via e-mail to EdAward@newburyportef.org.

The letter should include a detailed list of activities, programs and efforts made by the individual or organization that enhanced Newburyport Public Schools. Ccurrent educators and administrators are excluded from consideratio.

Deadline for nominations is Aug. 1, 2009, and the winner will be announced at the NEF Annual Meeting to be held this fall.

Past winners of the Ed Award:

Edward Molin (2004)

Founding board member of the NEF and longtime school supporter, Molin served as mayor and School Committee member and was a reliable source of philanthropy and fundraising to fill needs in the schools. Molin established the Molin Awards for teachers, underwrote personalized books for first-graders and did much more.

Michael Strem and Robert McLellan (2005)

Founding members and past presidents of the Newburyport Education Business Coalition, Strem and McLellan responded to the Grace Commission's call for business leaders to step up and work with the schools to ensure that students were prepared for the workplace. The NEBC was the first 501(c)3 founded in Newburyport with a mission of enhancing education.

Trustees of the Institution for Savings (2006)

Board members were honored for unanimously approving an expenditure of $500,000 that allowed for the renovation of the Middle School Science labs in 2006. They also pledged $100,000 over ten years to bring motivational science speakers into the schools and to provide maintenance funds for the science labs.

George Cashman and all school volunteers (2007)

Founding board member of the NEF and tireless volunteer, Cashnan was honored posthumously for his leadership in philanthropy for education and for demonstrating the power of volunteerism in changing the world.

The NHS Alumni Association (2008)

Rare among public high schools, the Alumni Association has raised thousands of dollars to further the education of NHS graduates. In addition to their scholarships, they also host an annual Teachers Tea and keep alumni connected through their newsletter.