AUBURN — A former fisherman, an unemployed woman, a truck driver and a homeless teen — all of whom overcame obstacles and went to college — stood in the front of a banquet room Friday and were applauded by 300 people.

The four were honored with Student Awards of 2009 during the College for ME-Androscoggin awards luncheon at the Hilton Garden Inn.

Jan Phillips, chairwoman of College for ME-Androscoggin, described the award-winners as “inspiring people you’ve never heard of.” As their stories show, no one succeeds in college without the help of others, Phillips said.

The award recipients illustrate the importance of College for ME’s goal of doubling the number of Androscoggin County residents with degrees and improving lives.

Stephen Bolduc went from truck driver to college teacher. The University of Southern Maine’s Lewiston-Auburn College professor Betty Robinson, who nominated him for the award, shared his story.

Bolduc graduated from Edward Little High School, had a few jobs including driving a truck, got married and had children. He decided life would be easier if he graduated from Central Maine Community College in machine tool, Robinson said.

After working in machine tools, Bolduc suffered an injury. His CMCC mentor recommended he become a machine tool teacher. Bolduc began teaching part time and returned to the University of Southern Maine to become a permanent teacher.

Bolduc works hard for his family and is working hard for his education, getting mostly A’s, Robinson said. “He’s one of the quiet heroes in the challenge this community faces to raise our level of post-secondary education citizens.” 

After becoming homeless, Alicia Webber turned her life around. She is now a Central Maine Community College student, said Mary Fraser of the college. When she first met Webber, “I was left with the impression of a very serious young woman,” Fraser said. She soon understood why.

She learned that Webber was a homeless teen before becoming a resident of New Beginnings in Lewiston. 

In college, Webber blossomed, balancing her studies with her job to support herself. A liberal arts student, she has maintained a 3.3 grade-point average and helps other students in the college’s TriO Student Support program.

Fraser said she also met the less serious side of Webber, “where her quirky sense of humor lies. This side rounds out the whole, and assures me Alicia will continue to grow personally, academically and professionally.”

Norman Newton is a former fisherman who hopes to be a college professor. His parents had an eighth-grade education and didn’t see the value of education, said Paul Kinney of Andover College.

That family attitude hindered Newton’s academic achievement, as did a visual impairment, macular degeneration, that he developed at a young age. Newton quit school in the 11th grade and became a fisherman. He met and married Elsie. In 2005 she began attending Andover College. When he saw how much she enjoyed college, he enrolled in accounting.

“Fear set in,” Kinney said. With his visual impairment, and the fact he could not drive because of it, Newton wondered if he could succeed. He started college in 2005, often walking to class. He excelled, volunteered to become a student tutor, never missed class, made the dean’s list, was honored with the “Tutor of the Year” award and the “Service Award.” He graduated in 2008 with associate’s degrees in accounting and business.

He was such a good mentor that Andover offered him a job in the academic assistance center, Kinney said. Newton is studying for a four-year degree, hopes to pursue his master’s and wants to become a college professor. “Norm is a true scholar,” Kinney said.

Mary Lou Thibodeau went from being poor and unemployed to an outstanding college student, said Erica Watson of CMCC.

Thibodeau pursued a medical assisting degree after working in retail and telemarketing for years. With work slowing, her pay was cut, then she was let go. She went on unemployment and didn’t know what to do.

She enrolled at Central Maine Community College but lacked money and confidence, Watson said. At times she had to literally count every penny and didn’t have enough to get to class or buy food.

But in her first year she achieved a grade-point average of 3.3 and made high honors. In her second year, she became a leader in a student support program and helped others, Watson said.

Thibodeau is one of the countless people in the community who “is working hard to make a difference in their own lives, and the lives of others,” Watson said.

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College for ME-Androscoggin student award winners, from left, are Alicia Webber, Norman Newton, Stephen Bolduc and Mary Lou Thibodeau.