You'll often hear us talk about 'fit' and 'character,' and that Dartmouth students are poised to become outstanding citizens and leaders in the world beyond Hanover. We have lots of examples of alumni who have gone on to do just that. Recently Abbey D'Agostino '14 and Jeffrey Immelt '78 were honored by the New England Council for their contributions to their field of work and their impact on the region's quality of life. The New England Council is the country's oldest regional business organization and was formed to promote economic growth and a high quality of life in the region.

You'll remember that Abbey won the hearts of spectators around the world when she helped a fellow runner to finish the woman's 5,000-meter race during the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio. Here on the blog we highlighted her efforts and the recognition she received, including a shout out from President Obama. A native of Topsfield, MA, about two hours south-east of campus, Abbey's extraordinary display of sportsmanship in front of an international audience helped to make her uniquely qualified for the New Englander of the Year Award.

We recently told you that Jeff believes the knowledge he gained as a Dartmouth undergraduate is more useful in his day-to-day work than his MBA. Since leaving Dartmouth and becoming the ninth chairman of GE in 2001, Immelt has thrice been named one of the World’s Best CEOs by Barron’s. Under his leadership, GE has been named America’s Most Admired Company by Fortune magazine and one of the World’s Most Respected Companies by Barron’s and the Financial Times. Jeff also serves as chair of President Obama’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness and is a member of The American Academy of Arts & Sciences. Through all of these areas in his life, Jeff has made an impact on the New England community, and we can't be happier that he's been recognized as a New Englander of the Year.

Congratulations, you two, we couldn't be prouder!