New Dimensions FCU receives award

New Dimensions Federal Credit Union in Waterville, Maine.

New Dimensions Federal Credit Union (NDFCU) has received CUNA’s 2023 Desjardins Youth Financial Education Award! Ryan Poulin, CEO, accepted the award at the Maine Credit Union League’s Annual Convention awards dinner on behalf of the entire team and financial education department for their outstanding work around financial education. CUNA created the Desjardins program to recognize leadership within the credit union movement regarding financial literacy for all ages. Naming these awards after Desjardin emphasizes the movement’s long-time commitment to financial literacy.

New Dimensions is proud of its financial education department’s work headed by Carrielyn Reynolds, Financial Coach, who has led by instructing and crafting age-appropriate lessons to share with students from kindergarten through college levels. Reynold’s passion for financial education shows with every trip to a local school or business. Under her tenure, she has reached more students and school districts than ever before, and the feedback from educators has been overwhelmingly positive. Alongside Carrielyn, Brett Mulligan joined the financial education team and has begun undertaking new projects to educate a broader range of students and community members!

NDFCU commends all their staff for the teachable moments that educated a member on a product or service, provided credit counseling, helped members pay off debt, saved money on loan interest, lowered loan payments, or saved for their financial goals. Ryan Poulin states, “We are in the dream fulfillment business and help our members achieve their dreams. Every day we have multiple opportunities to provide a member, even our youngest members, with the sound advice, products, and tools they need to achieve their financial goals. We are proud of our work as the Desjardins Award is a significant achievement to receive.” New Dimensions FCU is honored and inspired to continue expanding the financial education department to its fullest potential in the years to come.

Kristen Manson promoted at Bar Harbor Bank & Trust

Kristen Manson

Kristen Manson has been promoted to Branch Relationship Manager for the Bar Harbor Bank & Trust location in Waterville. In this role, she leads a team of banking professionals to provide solutions and guidance to help individuals, families, and businesses in Waterville and surrounding towns meet their financial goals.

Kristen began her career in banking in 2018 as a teller at the Pittsfield location of Peoples United Bank, which Bar Harbor Bank & Trust acquired in 2019. She moved to the Waterville branch in 2021 and took on tasks of increasing leadership responsibility, eventually working her way up to her current position as Branch Relationship Manager.

Kristen completed several years of study at the University of Maine Orono and earned her Sales Essentials Certificate from the Center for Financial Training & Education Alliance. She is an active volunteer at Vickery Elementary School.

Kristen, her husband Troy, and their daughter live in Pittsfield.

 

 

Inland Hospital and Purdue Global collaborate on new Simulation Center

Leaders cut the ribbon (left to right): Kathy Corey, chair of Northern Light Health board of directors; Dr. Melissa Burdi, dean/VP of Purdue Global School of Nursing; Dr. Frank Dooley, chancellor of Purdue Global; Kim Lindlof, president of Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce; Tricia Costigan, president of Inland Hospital; and Crystal Olsen, chair of Inland Hospital board of trustees. (contributed photo)

A unique healthcare education collaboration kicked off in Waterville on June 6, 2023 as Northern Light Inland Hospital and Purdue Global officially opened the new Simulation Center for Healthcare Education and Excellence. Inland Hospital staff and board members, Purdue Global staff and students, community educators, local EMS and fire department staff, community leaders, and Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce members joined together for the grand opening of the new simulation center, located on the Inland campus. Tours and demonstrations showed off the center’s capabilities.

The center will provide unique hands-on training for Purdue Global nursing students, Inland Hospital staff, and also give access to EMS and the community’s other first responders.

The simulation center “patients” include high-tech adult, pediatric, labor/delivery mother, and neonatal manikins. They will be used for the Purdue Nursing Program and a variety of Inland Hospital staff courses, such as Advanced Life Support, Pediatric Life Support, and Neonatal Resuscitation. The four training manikins represent an investment of nearly $300,000 by Purdue Global.

“We’re excited to enhance the delivery of healthcare by developing new and innovative methods to educate and train in a simulation center like this with a laser focus on patient safety and the transition to practice,” noted Melissa Burdi, Purdue Global vice president and dean of the Purdue Global School of Nursing.

Inland leaders point out that providing exposure to various medical scenarios through simulation training allows healthcare professionals to practice and get performance feedback in real time. According to Courtney Cook, RN, vice president of Nursing and Patient Care Services at Inland Hospital, “The more exposure that a nurse or any clinical staff member has to any given situation, the more confident and comfortable they become – allowing them to provide the best care possible. The ability to walk through the treatment process, without the high stress of a patient’s life at risk, is invaluable.”

Tricia Costigan, president of Inland Hospital, praised the new collaboration saying, “This is a big win for our community and a true collaboration that benefits the patients and communities that we all proudly serve.”

“Today is an important day,” remarked Dr. Frank Dooley, chancellor of Purdue Global. “Everyone understands the need to educate more nurses to provide care. And that takes imaginative problem solvers to find solutions like the center we dedicated today. Well done.”

Inland Hospital is the fourth simulation center collaboration Purdue Global has across the country.

Community members tour the new Simulation Center and see demonstrations of the high-tech “patient” manikins. (contributed photo)

About Purdue Global

Purdue Global is a public, non-profit institution that offers online Nursing education and many other degree programs. Part of the respected Purdue University system, Purdue Global delivers personalized online education tailored to the unique needs of adults who have work or life experience beyond the classroom, enabling them to develop essential academic and professional skills with the support and flexibility they need to achieve their career goals. For more information visit purdueglobal.edu.

About Northern Light Inland Hospital

Northern Light Inland Hospital is a Waterville community hospital with primary and specialty care physician offices in Waterville, Oakland, Unity, and Madison. We are proud to be part of Northern Light Health, a healthcare delivery system of more than 10,000 employees across Maine. Our mission is to improve the health of the people and communities we serve. Part of that mission is asking “How are You?” to reconnect with people and families so we can find new and innovative ways to make healthcare work for all of Maine. Learn more at northernlighthealth.org/Inland and northernlighthealth.org/Howareyou.

Mid-Maine Chamber announces Ezhaya scholarship winner

Hannah Robinson

Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce announces the 2023 Joseph B. Ezhaya scholarship winner.

Hannah Robinson, of Pittsfield, was selected as the scholarship recipient from a field of applicants.

Hannah is one of the top students in her class at Maine Central Institute (MCI) and was chosen as Salutatorian for the class of 2023. She will present the welcoming speech at graduation.

At the point of graduation time, along with her regular classes, she will have completed four honors, one AP and six college courses. She is a member of the National Honor Society and has received the Maine Principal’s Award as well as multiple Certificates of Merit and other academic awards.

Hannah played on her school’s field hockey, basketball, and softball teams throughout her four years at MCI, serving as captain for all three sports in her senior year. Through her school’s Key Club and National Honor Society, she found many ways to give back to her community. She has also worked at various youth athletic clinics and plans to stay active in community service throughout her college years.

Hannah will attend the University of Maine at Orono in the fall, majoring in Communication Sciences and Disorders. She is entering the field of Speech Language Pathology so she can work with children, a passion she discovered while enrolled in the Early Childhood program at Maine Central Institute’s Technical and Career Center.

PHOTO: Waterville 12U softball team

Front row, from left to right, Neriyah Doble, Lilly Wheeler, Andie Partridge, Dylan Bulmer and Whitney Cutter. Back, Haeley Ratner, Alyson Lake, Jordyn Moore, Ali Peters, Logan Laskey, Maci Peters and Coach Jimmy Peters. (photo By Missy Brown, Central Maine Photography)

PHOTO: Waterville Majors Purple baseball team

First row, from left to right, Warren May, Milo Taylor, Ben Forkey, Oliver LeVan, Alex Pelotte, Brogan Walter, and Mason Pelletier. Back, Coach Craig McInnis, Landon Belisle, Jameson Dow, Maxwell Cornforth, Mitchell Ouellette, Cameron McInnis, Jayden Rancourt, and Coach Shawn Forkey. (photo by Missy Brown, Central Maine Photography)

SNHU announces winter 2023 president’s list

The following central Maine students have achieved president’s list status at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), in Manchester, New Hampshire.  Kristina Canedo, of Skowhegan, Heather Hall, of Canaan, Ashley Parks, of Anson, Jessica Keay, of Albion, Philip Densmore, Carrielee Harvey, and Alyson Cass, all of Waterville, and Matthew Bandyk, of Jefferson.

New Dimensions FCU awards two scholarships to local high school students

Shivon Larsen and Kaiden Kelley accepted their scholarship certificates on Wednesday, April 26, 2023. (contributed photo)

New Dimensions FCU has announced that Shivon Larsen, from Temple Academy, in Waterville, and Kaiden Kelley, from Erskine Academy, in South China, have been selected as New Dimensions FCU’s 2023 Scholarship Program winners who have earned $2,500 each for their first year in college.

New Dim­ensions FCU awards scholarships to deserving high school seniors demonstrating strong character, community involvement, and academic success. This year, both students’ essays showed their character and assessment of financial literacy aligned with our mission and values.

Shivon Larsen will be attending Kennebec Valley Community College (KVCC), in Fairfield, in the fall in General Studies and plans to pursue classes in financial education. Kaiden Kelley will attend Plymouth State University, in New Hampshire, to study Graphic Design.

Ryan Poulin, Chief Executive Officer, states, “Our Scholarship Program is one of the ways we support our community. Often, we hear from students that financial education is an underdeveloped skill they would like to enhance. We do our best to provide them with the necessary tools and resources by adding financial education into their school’s curriculum and offering our Scholarship Program to show the importance of financial success.”

For more information, contact NDFCU at (800) 326-6190 or visit www.newdimensionsfcu.com

Dan Bernier receives scouting highest award

Eagle Scout Benjamin Bernier, left, and his mother Jennifer Bernier, stand on either side of Dan Bernier after he received the District Award of Merit from Luanne Chesley, right, Kennebec Valley District Advancement Chairman. (photo courtesy of Chuck Mahaleris)

by Chuck Mahaleris

Waterville attorney Dan Bernier wears a suit when providing expert advice to clients on matters such as estate planning, probate law, litigation and government relations. But he was wearing his Scout uniform when he received the District Award of Merit on Wednesday, May 10, at the Pleasant Street United Methodist Church, in Waterville.

The District Award of Merit is the highest honor a local Scouting District can bestow upon a volunteer Scouting leader. Kennebec Valley District delivers the Scouting program in Franklin, Kennebec, Lincoln and Knox Counties. Based on the Scouting demographics of the area, Kennebec Valley District was allowed to present two District Awards of Merit this year.

Garth Smith, of Winslow, received one earlier this year but Bernier was not able to attend the district dinner and received his award during the monthly Scouting Leaders’ Roundtable.

Bernier became active in scouting in 2006 when his son, Ben Bernier, joined the program as a Cub Scout in Waterville Pack #436. Dan became Cubmaster of the Pack and then when Ben moved on to the scout troop, Dan joined as well. In Troop #436, Dan Bernier held several positions during the years including Chartered Organization Representative, Committee Chairman and eventually Scoutmaster – a position he still holds. Dan has been active in Kennebec Valley District helping the Bushcraft program at Camp Bomazeen and assisting with efforts to grow the Bomazeen Old Timers which is an entity formed to provide support for Camp Bomazeen.

Dan Bernier was named Scouting’s Unit Leader of the Year in 2015 and has earned the Scoutmaster’s Key.

Kennebec Valley District Advancement Chairman Luanne Chesley, of Vassalboro, made the presentation of the award to Bernier highlighting his work outside of scouting especially with the Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce.

“Dan is without a doubt a deserving individual,” Chesley said. “He is a man who works very hard in the background for the benefit of many scouts. It is a great honor that we honor him tonight.”

Bernier feels that scouting is valuable today because of its strong, outdoor program. “The big thing about scouting is getting kids outside and exposing them to a lot of things in the outdoors that they don’t normally do anymore that they used to do.” Waterville Troop #436 recently visited the sites of the Battle of Lexington and Concord on Patriots’ Day. “We meet on Tuesday night at 7 p.m., at the Methodist church. People who want to join can contact me at dan@bernierlawoffice.com or the office number 877-8969.”

Mid-Maine Chamber names customer service specialist

Deborah Hellman

Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce, located in Waterville, welcomes Deborah Hellman as its new customer service specialist. Deborah has been named to the position, replacing Katelyn Hood, who worked for the chamber just under one year.

Hellman had a 25-year career in the aviation industry, focusing on passenger service and ground handling operations. She most recently was an innkeeper at two different prestigious bed and breakfasts in Portland. In 2022, she relocated to central Maine.

Deborah graduated from Sidney High School, in Sidney, Ohio, and Sinclair Community College, in Dayton, Ohio. She received an associate degree in applied science in aviation administration.

Included in her new duties as customer service specialist will be customer service, human resources, collections, supplies and equipment maintenance, and general administrative duties. She will also participate in many of the chamber’s signature events.

Mid-Maine Chamber President and CEO Kimberly Lindlof said of Hellman: “Debbie joins us as she settles down and moves into a new home in our region. She is a shining example of one who chooses the quality of life that our region has to offer, and we are delighted to have her join our growing team of do-ers. She greets everyone that she meets with a smile on her face and a willingness to assist.”

Hellman resides in Winslow with her four-legged furry son, Ollie.