Ken Burns, Sen. Shaheen among New England Council honorees
The New England Ensign, one of several flags historically associated with New England.
Edited and excerpted from a New England Council report.
BOSTON
The New England Council, the nation’s oldest regional business association, has announced three recipients of its prestigious “New Englanders of the Year” awards, as well as two recipients of its “Legacy Award.” The awards will be presented at the council’s 2026 Annual Celebration on Oct. 29 at the Encore Boston Harbor, in Everett, Mass.
The New Englander of the Year Award—first presented in 1964—honors natives or residents of the New England region for their contributions to economic growth and quality of life in the region. Past recipients include members of Congress, U.S. Cabinet secretaries, CEOs of some of the region’s most well-known and respected organizations, prominent journalists, and a variety of other cultural and philanthropic leaders.
The 2026 New Englanders of the Year are:
Eliza Dushku Palandjian, mental-health counselor, advocate and philanthropist.
Pamela D. Everhart, senior vice president, head of regional public affairs and impact at
Fidelity Investments.Angus King, U.S. senator from Maine
The council also announced two recipients of its Legacy Award. The Legacy Award was established last year as the council celebrated its centennial, and recognizes past New Englanders of the Year for their ongoing legacy of excellence and contributions to the region. The inaugural Legacy Award was presented to Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Doris Kearns Goodwin.
The 2026 Legacy Award recipients are:
Ken Burns, Emmy-award-winning documentary filmmaker
Jeanne Shaheen, U.S. senator from New Hampshire