First Amendment Awards and Event

At our annual First Amendment Award Event, we honor New Hampshire individuals or groups that stand out in their defense of or use of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. 

2025 Nominations Are Closed.

Thanks to everyone who submitted a nomination.

Event details coming soon!

Each year, a distinguished group of judges reviews First Amendment nominees submitted by the public to choose the recipient. This year’s judges are Harrison Thorp, editor at “The Rochester Voice” and 2024 winner of the First Amendment Award; retired N.H. Supreme Court Justice Richard Galway; Attorney Gregory Sullivan of Malloy & Sullivan, LPC, who is a Loeb School Board of Trustees member; Gilles Bissonnette, previous First Amendment recipient and Legal Director of the ACLU-NH; and NHPR Senior Reporter Annmarie Timmins.

Questions? Contact loebschool@loebschool.org

Past First Amendment Award Honorees

The First Amendment Award from the Nackey S. Loeb School of Communications honors New Hampshire individuals or groups who stand out in their defense of or their use of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. 

2024 The Rochester Voice

2024 Arlene Quaratiello

2023 Laurie Ortolano

2022 Gilles Bissonnette

2021 Tara Gunnigle and Jon Pearson

2020 Marianne Salcetti, PhD

2019 Dr. William ‘Ed’ Kois 

2018 Robert Azzi

2017 Right to Know NH and David Saad

2016 Donna Green and David Pearl

2015 John Connors

2014 James Foley

2013  The Nashua Telegraph

2012 David Lang and Professional Fire Fighters of NH

2011 The Portsmouth Herald and Howard Altschiller

2010 Gail Pierson Cromwell

2009 William Chapman, Esq.

2008 Mary Lukas DeWinkeleer

2007 David Scott

2006 Laconia Citizen and John Howe

2005 Daniel Hughes

2004 Thomas Kearney

2003 Philip McLaughlin, Esq.

Past Quill and Ink Recipients

The Quill and Ink Award from the Nackey S. Loeb School of Communications is reserved to honor significant contributions to the education of Granite Staters about the First Amendment. 

2024 The Clock at Plymouth State University

2022 New Hampshire Public Radio

2019 David Tirrell-Wysocki

2017 Gregory V. Sullivan, Esq.

2016 Claire Ebel and ACLU NH

2015 Judge James Carroll

2012 Debi Clark Valentine

2009 Robert Foster

2008 Mike Pride

The Loeb Eagle

A black sculpture of an eagle with its wings spread, held in a person's hand against a brick wall background.

Nackey Loeb communicated through her art as well as her pen and was an accomplished painter and sculptor. She created the original eagle, and it greeted guests at the front door of her home. Her daughters Nackey Scagliotti and the late Edith Tomasko commissioned a replica as a fitting remembrance of their mom and her patriotism.

First Amendment Award recipients receive an eagle sculpture based Mrs. Loeb’s original piece and a $1,500 award.

First Amendment Award Eagle Sculpture