AUBURN – Susan M. Friend of South Paris was chosen by Oxford Hills Adult Education as the 2006 recipient of Central Maine Community College’s annual “Courage to Grow” award. At a dinner ceremony at the college campus, Friend received a scholarship that will pay for her first course at the college.

Friend was chosen unanimously for the award by the Oxford Hills Adult Education staff as the college-bound student who had come the farthest during her time with the program.

When she entered adult education, recalled Marianne Walton, her guidance counselor, she had been home schooling and out of public school since seventh grade. At first she seemed quite shy.

But, Walton said, in her first semester she received all A’s in her courses and showed a real flair in her art classes. She took a full load of courses each semester in her first year, including the summer semester, and took a double load in her second year in order to be ready for graduation. They included some of the program’s most challenging college prep classes, such as “Critical Reading and Writing,” algebra and biology.

Friend has also performed volunteer service at the Norway Memorial Library under the auspices of the adult education program. She is known by her teachers for her excellent insights during class discussion and her supportiveness to her classmates.

Friend is the daughter of Carol Friend of South Paris and Al Friend of Harrison. She hopes to enter the general studies program at the college in the fall, then transfer to a four-year program, possibly in criminal justice.