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The Deborah Morton Awards
The Deborah Morton Awards are presented each year by the trustees of the University of New England to outstanding women who have achieved high distinction in their careers and public service, or whose leadership in civic, cultural, or social causes has been exceptional.
The Deborah Morton Award was first presented at the 130th anniversary convocation of Westbrook College in 1961. It was the first annual award in Maine to honor women's achievement.
It was named in memory of Deborah Morton of Round Pond, Maine, valedictorian of the 1879 class of the Westbrook Seminary — the forerunner of Westbrook College, which merged with the University of New England in 1996.
Morton was a teacher, dean, linguist, historian, and prominent Portland civic leader whose service to Westbrook College spanned more than 60 years. Since 1961, more than 180 distinguished women have been honored with the award.
The society also actively fundraises to support the Deborah Morton Endowed Scholarship, awarded annually to two women students who are Maine residents entering their undergraduate freshman year and planning on majoring in a healthcare field. The intention is for the scholarship to follow the two students throughout their four years at UNE.
View Photos from the 2023 Awards Ceremony
![President Herbert stands with the 61st Annual Deborah Morton Society recipients, Melissa Smith, Kathie Leonard, and Cynthia Milliken Taylor, along with other organizers of the event](/sites/default/files/styles/gallery/public/2023-07/deb_morton-2023-gallery-1_0.jpg?h=40306aa6&itok=VJY6Fp2u)
![Melissa Smith speaks to the crowd from the podium](/sites/default/files/styles/gallery/public/2023-07/deb_morton-2023-gallery-8_0.jpg?h=40306aa6&itok=zAxMqTo5)
![U N E President James Herbert speaks at the Deborah Morton Society Awards](/sites/default/files/styles/gallery/public/2023-07/deb_morton-2023-gallery-5_0.jpg?h=40306aa6&itok=RTGAYd5U)
![Kathie Leonard speaks at the 2023 Deborah Morton Society Awards](/sites/default/files/styles/gallery/public/2023-07/deb_morton-2023-gallery-6_0.jpg?h=40306aa6&itok=QdcAMmbx)
![President Herbert and Cynthia Milliken Taylor smile at the camera](/sites/default/files/styles/gallery/public/2023-07/deb_morton-2023-gallery-4_0.jpg?h=40306aa6&itok=-ka4Yoax)
![The front row at the Deborah Morton Society Awards](/sites/default/files/styles/gallery/public/2023-07/deb_morton-2023-gallery-9_0.jpg?h=40306aa6&itok=Om0F4h-3)
![President Herbert and Melissa Smith smile at the camera](/sites/default/files/styles/gallery/public/2023-07/deb_morton-2023-gallery-3_0.jpg?h=40306aa6&itok=va4uUgBV)
![Cynthia Milliken Taylor speaks to the crowd](/sites/default/files/styles/gallery/public/2023-07/deb_morton-2023-gallery-7_0.jpg?h=40306aa6&itok=ZXYelgPI)
![President Herbert and Kathie Leonard smile at the camera](/sites/default/files/styles/gallery/public/2023-07/deb_morton-2023-gallery-2_0.jpg?h=40306aa6&itok=RajDQxKM)