So often I read opinion pieces and letters to the editor of various papers throughout the state listening to people rant and rave about all that is wrong with the world. Recently, I had an opportunity to be a part of one of the things that is not broken and makes me proud to be from Maine.

As the public relations chairman of the Maine Waste Water Control Association, I had the pleasure of coordinating a statewide poster contest for Clean Water Week, which is the first full week in June annually. In 1983, the Maine Legislature made provisions to designate the first full week of June as Maine Clean Water Week.

This year, nearly 300 posters were received from throughout the state, and all three of the winning posters selected were from Angela Haven’s sixth-grade class at Massabesic Middle School in East Waterboro.

I had the opportunity to spend a few hours at a ceremony that was held June 3 at the State House with Gov. Paul LePage as the keynote speaker with the three winning students. Those students make me proud to do the work I do. They were respectful, proud, appreciative, smart, funny and all-around great kids.

The winning students, Sofie Irons, Nick Rocray and Faith Ledger, should be very proud of the work they have done. I know I am.

Matt Timberlake, Livermore