RUMFORD – David Driscoll told the 300 or so students and family members gathered Wednesday night that receiving a vocational educational was good insurance for the future.
“In this global economy and the off-shoring of American jobs, the kinds of jobs you are preparing for can’t be off-shored,” the Region 9 director said.
Students who were honored or awarded with scholarships have been studying subjects such as building and metal trades, forestry, certified nursing assistant and courses leading to several other occupations.
Driscoll also told them to be the best they could be.
“If you are offered training, take it, don’t pass it up. There’s a lot of satisfaction from doing something the best you can,” he said.
Wednesday night was the annual awards celebration for the Region 9 School of Applied Technology where not only were graduating students given scholarships, but juniors were inducted into the National Technical Honor Society.
“We expect you to be leaders,” said Cheryl Ellis, student services coordinator, to the 24 new inductees.
To achieve honor society status, members must maintain at least an 80 average, exhibit leadership skills, and display good technical skills.
Students graduating are from the three sending high schools – Mountain Valley, Dirigo and Telstar – and they have a variety of future plans.
For some, like certified nursing assistant Erica Dyer, who received Hanover’s scholarship, they will go on to a community college or university. Erica plans to attend the University of Southern Maine’s nursing school. Andrew Milligan received a full, two-year scholarship to Central Maine Community College from Maine Machine Products. Besides the scholarship, he will also be employed at the South Paris company during vacations and after school.
Devin Brann, another metal trades student, was named career and technical education student of the year. He received several scholarships and plans to attend Maine Maritime Academy in the fall.
Runners-up for the award, forestry student Rick Sarle, will enter the U.S. Navy in September, cooperative education student Brady Chapman plans to attend the University of Arizona in golf management, and certified nursing assistant student Angela Cormier is set to attend St. Joseph’s School of Nursing.
Two instructors were also honored during the two-hour event.
Diversified occupations teacher Norman Jamison and metal trades instructor Peter Barlow received the outstanding educators of the year award from Washington County Community College.
This was the first time the award was given to two instructors, according to a letter presented by Washington County Community College’s Kent Lyons, who was unable to attend because of illness.
“In the years I have presented this award I can think of no one that ever deserved it more than Peter Barlow and Norman Jamison. I sincerely hope the community, their families, and most of all, their students know how much they have done to make life better for those they teach,” the letter stated.
The two were cited for seeking donations of materials to build classrooms, spending summers completing work, and driving school buses so students could attend extracurricular activities, among other things.
The two will choose one or two students who attend Washington County Community College to receive the $1,000 scholarship that comes with the honor.
Also honored was Arthur Boivin, a former Region 9 board member who provided “an enormous contribution to the school and its plans for the future,” said board Chairman Norman Clanton.
Senior students from Region 9 will go through their sending school graduations on June 9 and June 10.
Comments are no longer available on this story