LEWISTON – Lewiston municipal employees participated in Junior Achievement’s Groundhog Job Shadow Day on Feb. 2 by hosting 15 sixth- and eighth-grade students from Montello Elementary and St. Peter’s and Sacred Heart School.

Shadow Day is a project of Junior Achievement of Maine, an organization dedicated to educating young people about business, economics and free enterprise. Administrative Director Debbie Taylor touted Lewiston’s involvement for the third year in a row, stating, “Once again City of Lewiston employees have outdone themselves! Thank you! Fantastic!”

Tom Broussard, president of Maine Junior Achievement, echoed her sentiments, “We extend congratulations on all that occurred in Lewiston. These programs are not only fun but extremely educational, and we see the effects on the kids months and even years later. Events like Lewiston’s set them on the path to thinking much more about what they are going to do for work and what the world of work will be like when they get there.”

Employees and students gathered in the Lewiston City Council Chambers at 9 a.m. for a welcome by Mayor Lionel C. Guay Jr. and a government overview from City Administrator Jim Bennett.

The rest of the morning, the students observed the duties of their respective workplace host, and at noon a Powerpoint presentation highlighting the morning’s activities was shown to all participants.

“We’re pleased that the city of Lewiston has the opportunity to assist young people in gaining insight as to the work world, in particular the knowledge and skills that are necessary to attain career goals,” said City Administrator Jim Bennett.

Participating students were Matt Butler, Taylor Frazer, Alex Parker, Alex Carver, Sarah Turner, Gary Marston, Tim Wesinger, Abby Blaisdell, Anthony Nacri, Kelsey Kramarz, Sierra Strout, Cameron Marcotte, Richard Paradis, Brooks Noddin and Erynne Landry.

Teachers accompanying them were Barbara Adriance of Montello and Lori Rioux of St. Peter’s/Sacred Heart.

Participating employees were City Administrator Jim Bennett, Chief of Police Bill Welch, Deputy Police Chief Mike Bussiere, Police Lt. Mike McGonagle, Public Works Director Paul Boudreau, Public Works Mechanics Supervisor John Wakeman, Deputy Finance Director Heather Hunter, Solid Waste Superintendent Rob Stalford, Community Relations Coordinator Dottie Perham-Whittier, Code Enforcement Officer/Sanitarian Kim Austin, Recreation Parks Foreman Marc Lavalliere, Recreation Maintenance Worker Ted Poliquin and Fire Battalion Chief George Merrill.