Tierney receives leadership award

U.S. Rep. John F. Tierney is the recipient of the Gov. Walter R. Peterson Award for Leadership, given by the New England Board of Higher Education.The New England Higher Education Excellence Awards were launched in 2003 to recognize individuals and institutions that have made substantive contributions to improving higher education opportunities for New England students.Former recipients include the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy in 2003 and New Hampshire Gov. Jeanne Shaheen in 2004.”I am humbled by the receipt of this award. I have always believed that access to a quality, affordable education is a right, not a privilege and I thank the New England Board of Higher Education for recognizing and honoring my work on this issue,” said Tierney, a Salem Democrat.In his seventh term representing the 6th District, Tierney has been a member of the House Education and Labor Committee since first elected. He has advocated keeping college affordable, including efforts to expand Pell grants and other forms of federal financial aid. He has also championed high-quality programs for students with intellectual disabilities, alternative paths to the teaching profession, loan forgiveness for borrowers who pursue public service professions and strong maintenance-of-effort provisions that require states to maintain state funding levels for K-12 and public higher education.”Congressman Tierney’s work in Washington has made a college education more accessible and more affordable for students in the commonwealth of Massachusetts and across the nation. We’re truly fortunate to have such a committed advocate,” said NEBHE President Michael K. Thomas.Salem State College President Pat Meservey said Tierney, an alumnus, “has consistently championed higher education as an inalienable right of all Americans and remains one of its most steadfast supporters. Because of his work, our region, our state and, indeed, the nation can look forward to quality higher education that is increasingly more affordable and accessible.”