MMA Wins NEMA Award for Web Design

Jascin N. Leonardo Finger • August 7, 2014

MMA is pleased to announce that it has won second place in the New England Museum Association’s Annual Publications Awards for its new website. The project manager was then Education Director Whitney Morris and the Outside Designer was Mary Novissimo, of Novation Media.


According to NEMA, the “Awards Program . . . recognizes excellence in design, production, and effective communication in all aspects of museum publishing. Entries are judged by a panel experienced in publication, design, marketing and communications. Awards are given to those entries which most effectively present their message to the intended audience.


This year, there were 168 publications from 57 museums entered in 20 different categories. The judges were incredibly impressed with the high quality of design from this year’s entries. Competition winners will be recognized and exhibited at the 96th Annual NEMA Conference in Boston/Cambridge, Massachusetts November 19-21, 2014.”

MMA is excited and grateful to be honored with this award. Countless hours went into the new design with many meetings and discussions with staff, ably led by Whitney Morris who distilled all of the departmental information, conducted research into successful websites, and brought her own experiences at MMA and with other organizations to the table to create a beautiful and dynamic website that represents well the MMA and all that it has to offer. Mary Novissimo was the key to translating all of this information and making it come to life as the MMA’s new website. MMA is grateful to both of them and all of the staff for their hard work, as well as NEMA for this award. Thank you!

Recent Posts

Keep Calm and Bird On: October 2026

October 1, 2026
“If you don’t look, you don’t see. You have to go and look.” -Edith Andrews

Celebrating Maria’s Discovery of a Comet – October 1, 1847

By Jascin N. Leonardo Finger • October 1, 2026
10mo 1, 1847. {October 1, 1847} This evening at half past ten Maria discovered a telescopic comet five degrees above Polaris. Persuaded that no nebulae could occupy that position unnoticed it scarcely needed the evidence of motion to give it the character of a comet. From the journals of William Mitchell, father of Maria. One hundred and seventy-nine years later! JNLF

Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association to Host Annual Aquarium Release Day Saturday, October 10

September 30, 2026
The Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association (MMA) announces that its annual Aquarium Release Day will take place on Saturday, October 10, 2026 from 10am - 12pm at the MMA Aquarium at 32 Washington Street. A sensory-friendly half hour will be offered from 9:30 – 10am. Join MMA staff to help the staff release this season’s Aquarium inhabitants back into the ocean. This community event is FREE to the public and a great opportunity to learn and celebrate the marine life that lives in the waters of Nantucket Island. The MMA Aquarium is dedicated to educating the public on the importance of biodiversity in our unique marine ecosystems found here on Nantucket. Each summer, the MMA Aquarium Manager, Chelsea Petrik, as well as her team of dedicated college interns and volunteers, explore the shores of Nantucket to find and document an assortment of over 7,500 individual marine animals, most of which are recorded and released. They snorkel, seine, and beachcomb to collect over 300 different marine animals. The animals are studied and cared for at the Aquarium so that the MMA can help people to learn more about these important marine organisms. Roughly seventy different species are featured at the Aquarium throughout the season. Local fishermen also provide the Aquarium with species they come across in their nets and at the end of their lines. Pre-registration is encouraged. Register at the link below: https://112458a.blackbaudhosting.com/112458a/2025-Aquarium-Release-Day-10Oct2026 The Maria Mitchell Association is a private non-profit organization. Founded in 1902, the MMA works to preserve the legacy of Nantucket native astronomer, naturalist, librarian, and educator, Maria Mitchell. The Maria Mitchell Association operates two observatories, a natural science museum, an aquarium, a research center, and preserves the historic birthplace of Maria Mitchell. A wide variety of science and history-related programming is offered throughout the year for people of all ages. ###
Show More