LEWISTON – Amidst white lights, blue balloons and hand-picked flowers, the 11th Annual Lewiston Shining Stars celebration held Monday evening in the Lewiston City Council Chambers was attended by a “standing room only” crowd in support of the 21 nominated Lewiston youth.

The decorations, though, paled in comparison to the Shining Star nominees according to Lewiston City Councilor Robert Reed who stated, “The Future’s So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades.” Reed, along with Mayor Laurent F. Gilbert Sr., City Council President Thomas P. Peters II, Councilor Nelson Peters and Councilor Tina Bailey, donned sunglasses as the popular song by Timbuk3 played in the background.

Lewiston High School senior Danielle Taylor kicked off the evening with her rendition of the national anthem followed by a welcome by Gilbert. Along with praising the 21 Shining Star nominees, Gilbert thanked community members who took the time to nominate a young person. “It is so important for us to encourage our youth, to serve as their cheerleaders because they are our future. They need to know that we sincerely believe in them, that we’ll never give up on them, and that we value their input and perspectives.”

Special guest for the evening was 2005 Shining Star Nick Bouyea who just completed his freshman year at Central Maine Community College. He reminded the 2008 nominees what a positive thing it is to be recognized by members of the community for positive contributions and extended warm congratulations to the group.

Lewiston’s Community Relations Coordinator Dottie Perham-Whittier then facilitated a PowerPoint presentation highlighting all 21 nominees and announced the “10” 2008 Lewiston Shining Stars. Assisting Perham-Whittier, who served as a 2008 Star judge, with the gift presentations were fellow 2008 judges, Councilor Robert Reed, Nick Knowlton of GSM Group and Maureen Aube of the Chamber.

Along with a Shining Star certificate and Star trophy from the city of Lewiston, the 2008 Shining Stars announced were: Tanner Adams, Athena Andoniades, Dayle Castonguay, Roland Chabot, Katherine Doyle, Maria Rose Labbe, Kristy-Mae Lacombe, Brian J. McKeown, Hossain Naji and Sydnie N. Racine. They also received donated gifts from the Lewiston MAINEiacs, Sam’s Italian, Davinci’s Eatery, Marco’s Restaurant, L.L. Bean and the Lewiston Recreation Department.

The remaining 11 nominees were recognized by individual presentation of an “In Celebration of Who You Are” certificate and a “I am Appreciated” pen/keychain. Those 11 nominees were: Hanan Ahmed, Tiffany Beaulieu, Michael Butler, Holly Lavorgna, Mackenzi Masselli, Zachary Plourd, Cameron Poussard, Hannah Rodrigue, Sarah M. Schlax, Liza Sirois and Alexandra C. White.

For a moment, Reed diverted from the celebratory mood and asked the youth to refrain from underage drinking, especially during the prom & graduation season. He added, “Why do I bring this up at such a happy time – simple. There is nothing I want more than to continue to wear these sunglasses to honor your accomplishments, but at the same time there is nothing worse than having to wear them to hide my sadness and tears.”

The grand prize on-site drawing wrapped up the evening, which included the names of the “10” 2008 Shining Stars. The grand prize was funded for the sixth year in a row by Sisters of Charity Health System and consisted of a laptop with 17-inch screen with wireless laser printer.

Russ Donahue, SOCHS’ director of marketing, pulled the winning Shining Star name resulting in a very excited and shocked Roland Chabot. When asked by Perham-Whittier, “How does that feel?” after the win, he stated, “I don’t even know how to describe it!”