The Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut has named the New England Science & Sailing Foundation its Nonprofit of the Year, an award recognizing the organization’s education-related services and physical presence in eastern Connecticut.

The award was given at the chamber’s annual meeting on March 27.

As part of the award presentation, NESS received a formal commendation from the state's General Assembly endorsed by regional senators and members of the House of Representatives and signed by the president and secretary of state.

When recognizing NESS, the Chamber highlighted the impact of the nonprofit's unique curriculum, the positive impact NESS has on students and NESS's recent accreditation by the New England Association of Schools & Colleges as a school partner program.

"We are honored to receive this award from the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut. We have come such a long way since our modest start in 2002 teaching 14 kids in dilapidated Optis (small dinghies),” NESS President and CEO Spike Lobdell said. “The NESS model of school partnerships is becoming even more critical to serve the educational needs of our students."