AUBURN – The Tech Prep Program at Central Maine Community College has awarded career and technical awards to 25 Maine high school students. The students were selected by their respective schools for their superior academic achievement in technical or vocational programs. One student was selected from each of the 25 regional technical centers in Maine.

The students were honored at a ceremony held recently at the college. Walter Ridlon, director of tech prep, organized the event and served as Master of Ceremonies. Special guest and keynote speaker was Congressman Michael Michaud, who noted that technical education is vitally important to economic success in Maine.

The Lewiston High School Chorale provided entertainment, and students from the Lewiston Tech Center culinary arts program prepared the buffet.

Career and technical education is a planned program of courses and learning experiences that provide exploration of career options, technical skills and knowledge, and preparation for industry-defined work and continuing education at the college level.

Three student awardees had their names drawn to win $1,000 scholarships: Amanda Klajbor from the early childhood occupations program of Capital Area Technical Center, Elaine Jones from the Waldo EMT program, and Ben Chaston from the Mid-Coast precision machine tool program. Jessica Cantara from the early childhood education program of the Biddeford Regional Center of Technology won the Congressman Michaud Scholarship of $1,000.

College President Scott Knapp presented $1,000 scholarships to the eight award recipients who will be attending the college in the fall: Mark Merry, building construction program, Bath Regional Vocational Center; Jonathan Holmes, automotive technology programs I and II, Caribou Regional Technology Center; Cassie Richard, advanced welding and metal fabrication program, Mt. Blue/Foster Regional Applied Technical Center; Cody Dubois, automotive technology program, St. John Valley Technology Center; Jones; Chaston; Heather Simmons, Brunswick Maine Applied Tech; and Megan Whittlesey, automotive technology program, United Technologies Center in Wintersport.

The other award winners are David Rea, diesel equipment technology program, Hancock County Technical Center; Megan Moulton, culinary arts program, Lake Region Vocational Center; Kaitlynn Pike, school of health sciences, Lewiston Regional Technical Center; Sean Nye, computer aided drafting program, Mid-Maine Technical Center; Haider Al-Freihy, health science careers program, Portland Arts and Technology High School; Robb Johnston, business technology, Presque Isle Regional Career and Technical Center; Nicholas Harmon, welding program, St. Croix Regional Technical Center; Jimmy Hutchinson, electronics technology program, Sanford Regional Vocational Center; Tricia-Fae Cossar, health occupations program, Tri-County Technical Center in Dexter; Eric Anderson, building trades program, Westbrook Regional Vocational Center; Jason Beaulieu, auto body repair program, New Limerick Maine Applied Technology; Alison Fox, marketing and retail management program and business education/accounting program of Oxford Hills Technical School; Michaela Vienneau from the Culinary Arts program, Northern Penobscot Region III, East Millinocket.