LEWISTON – The Knigihts of Columbus held its annual state convention recently at the Samoset in Rockland. Many councils attended the convention, banquet and awards ceremony. Council 106 Warden Leo Baillargeon and Grand Knight Jean Couturier received awards for the Lewiston group.

Awards received were the Supreme Council Award in the church category for the blessing of the altar at Saints Peter and Paul Church in Lewiston. More than 40 honor guards attended the event along with about 20 priests from around the state.

The council also received an award for caroling at Christmas at St. Marguerite d’Youville Pavilion, with Santa Claus giving out more than 300 stuffed animals to the patients.

In the youth category the council received an award for sponsoring a benefit event for Amanda Baillargeon. She was in a head-on collision while in college and spent three and a half months in hospitals and a rehabilitation center. Amanda underwent four surgeries in the first two days after her accident. The dance raised $10,000 to help defray her medical expenses.