Click here to download high resolution images of the awards ceremony
Photos by Karl Stone
Left to right: Governor Lynch, Jay Gilbert, Gail Batstone, Amy Landers

Tilton NH - On Tuesday, May 5, 2009, The Lakes Region Association (LRA) was proud to award the 'Ron Meade on the Track to Tourism' scholarship to Jay Gilbert of Berlin NH during the awards luncheon at the 33rd Governor's Conference on Tourism held in Waterville Valley, New Hampshire. The scholarship was established in 2008 in honor of Ronald Meade, a devoted and long standing President and Board of Director of the Lakes Region Association. The scholarship, to be presented annually at the Governor's Conference on Tourism, is awarded to individuals who reside in the State of New Hampshire pursuing a career in tourism and/or hospitality and are enrolled or accepted at an institution of higher education.

Governor Lynch; Gail Batstone, General Manager of the Inns at Mill Falls, LRA Director, and President of the LRA Scholarship Fund; and Amy Landers, Executive Director of LRA presented the scholarship award to Jay Gilbert, a senior at Berlin High School.

Gilbert plans to attend UMASS, Amherst, MA for Food Science and Technology. During Jay's high school experience he has played soccer, basketball, baseball and first baritone in the band.  He has been on the Student Government, National Honor Society, Berlin Master Plan Committee, Suicide Prevention Trainer and on the Prom Committee.

Jay has also received several awards including NHIAA and NHADA Male Athletic Academic Award, English Book Award, NAMI Suicide Prevention Peer Trainer Award, Keith F. Parent Sportsmanship Award, Best Defensive Player Award, and NHBCO Academic Honor Roll Member.

Gilbert's essay responses indicated he has a keen interest in "green" techniques for storing, processing and preparing foods as they apply to the food manufacturing industry including the use of solar power or other innovative energy supplies. Gilbert also expressed an interest in assisting these companies improve their efficiency and ultimately their bottom line to increase the probability of keeping their business in New Hampshire. The development of new local product lines was another avid interest.

"Gilbert's intuitive essay responses and impressive achievements made a very favorable impact on the scholarship committee as a student that carried not only achievement, but vision and drive," said Amy Landers, Executive Director of LRA. "He is the embodiment of the spirit we wish to culture with the 'Ron Meade on the Track to Tourism' scholarship fund."

Established in 1936, the Lakes Region Association's mission is to promote the Lakes Region of New Hampshire as a year-round destination to bring more visitors to the area and economically benefit our member's businesses. The Association is a non-profit organization focusing solely on Tourism Marketing & Promotion. To assist our region's guests and member businesses to connect, the association develops and distributes nearly 1 million publications including 300,000 Where to! Lakes Region of New Hampshire, a comprehensive guide to the area, 600,000 Lakes Region Map and Guide and 50,000 Holiday Brochures.

The Lakes Region Association also maintains several supporting websites including ones for group travelers, travel writers, Yuletide Magic holiday travel, and historical walking tours in addition to their primary tourism information site www.LakesRegion.org for up to the minute happenings, property and entertainment listings, vacation travel incentives, photo tours and so much more. For information on obtaining your copy of our Map & Guidebook or making the Lakes Region Association your marketing arm to effectively reach local, domestic and international markets, contact our expert staff at 603-286-8008.