Austin Ireland graduates from Thomas College with degree in law enforcement

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by Mark Huard

Austin Ireland

Austin Ireland was trying to decide where to attend college when he was a senior at Winslow High School. That year he ended up getting the opportunity to go on some ride-alongs with local police departments and quickly realized that law enforcement was his passion. With the help of his family, Ireland decided to attend Thomas College the following year for its criminal justice program and it was one of the best decisions he’s ever made. “Since the very beginning, Thomas College was a great fit for me and helped me every step of the way to achieve my personal and professional goals. The faculty and friends I made at Thomas made my four years there not just enjoyable and exciting but some of the best years that I know I’ll cherish forever. I’m beyond excited to start a new chapter in my life and begin my career in law enforcement. I am truly thankful I had the opportunity to go to Thomas College.”

Being a law enforcement officer is something that he’s wanted to do and Thomas College has helped him achieve that goal.

Photo by Missy Brown, Central Maine Photography staff

Warden service graduates 10 new game wardens; four central Mainers

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On April 27, the Maine Warden Service graduated ten new game wardens at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy, in Vassalboro. The new wardens completed an extensive 12-week advanced academy specificially for Maine’s game wardens. Critical aspects of game warden work to include search and rescue, recreational vehicle crash investigation, snowmobiling, water survival, physical fitness, Ju-Jitsu, public relations and bureau policies and procedures are among the many topics of training covered.Front row, from left to right, Nick Raymond, of Winslow; Megan Miller, from Pittsfield; Lauren Roddy, of Belgrade; and Kayle Hamilton, of Buxton. Back, Kale Oleary, of Fort Kent; Harry Wiegman, of Leeds; Taylor Valente, of Gray-New Gloucester; Camden Akins, of Winslow: Kyle Franklin, of Durham; and John Carter, of Orrington.

Contributed photo

2nd annual St. Michael School Travis Mills Foundation benefit held

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Above participants in the 2nd annual St. Michael School and Travis Mills Walk-a-thon held on May 3 at the school. Contributed photo

The second annual St. Michael School and Travis Mills Walk-A-Thon was held on May 3, during the school day. It was a fun day for students, faculty, staff, parents and friends.

All proceeds will benefit the Travis Mills Foundation, which sponsors wounded veterans and their families. Contributed photo

The St. Michael School community came together to raise funds to support The Travis Mills Foundation. Students gathered pledges for weeks prior to the walk. Their laps around the school and church property were counted by a number of volunteers. Students, staff, parents, school families and friends all worked together as a community to raise money for The Travis Mills Foundation, and in a fun and healthy way.

Working as a team can mean great things. Students in grades Pre-K and kindergarten walked 10 laps equaling four miles; students in grades one and two walked 15 laps equaling six miles; students in grades three and four walked 20 laps equaling eight miles; and students in grades five through eight walked 25 laps equaling 10 miles.

Students had the entire day to complete their walk but their determination and with enthusiasm and cheers from Travis Mills himself, students had finished by lunch.

“We all need inspiration, hope, and motivation and the students of this school supply me that,” said Mills. “That’s the best part about being Travis Mills…having people behind me, supporting me every step of the way.” Travis explained in a greeting to the school community before the walk began.

“It’s an amazing feeling knowing we’re helping our veterans who served our country. They deserve a place like the Travis Mills Foundation for all they have done for us,” said Kyle Douin, an eighth grader at St. Michael School. “It’s been a feel-good kind of day,” said Madeline Levesque, another eighth grader at the school. “I can’t wait to go home and tell my daddy how much fun today was,” said Bryce Ryan, a kindergarten student at the school. A barbecue lunch was provided to all in attendance. Our school community got to participate and learn the true meaning of giving back to the community. The funds raised from today’s Walk-A-Thon will help sponsor wounded veterans and their families rehab at The Travis Mills Foundation.

Leo Club holds formal induction at Erskine

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Above, Leo Club Officers from left to right. Treasurer Hunter Rushing, Secretary Samantha Heath, Vice President Morgan Emond and President Harrison Mosher.

From left to right, Whitefield Lions Club first-year Director Barry Tibbetts, left, pins Erskine Academy Leo Club President Harrison Mosher.

Surrounded by family and friends, Leo Club members participated in a formal induction ceremony at Erskine Academy, in South China, on May 3. The Leo Club is a new club formed in conjunction with the Whitefield Lions Club and Advisor Roxanne Malley. Thirty two students from Erskine Academy have joined the Leo Club.

Whitefield Lion first-year Director Barry Tibbetts welcomed the Leos saying, “In the coming years you will make a lot of choices defining who you are and what you are about. You have made the choice to join the Leo Club and that shows that you think about someone besides yourself. That speaks volumes about you.”

The Leo Club is a way for students to conduct local civic duties, volunteer in the community and develop leadership skills.

 

 

 

Vassalboro group announces scholarship recipients

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Ally Clark Bonsant, Madison Grass and Kassidy Richards.

Left to right: Ally Clark Bonsant, Madison Grass and Kassidy Richards.

The Vassalboro Business Association has announced three Vassalboro residents have each been awarded $500 scholarships by the association. This scholarship particularly honors community service.

Ally Clark Bonsant, daughter of Kelly Clark and Tim Bonsant, has attended Erskine Academy all four years of her high school career. After graduation, she will be attending the University of Maine with a major in nursing. She enjoys playing basketball and throwing for her track and field team. She has participated with Youth in Government, as well as being the co-president of Erskine’s National Honor Society. She has remained on honor roll every trimester. In her spare time, she enjoys working with watercolor and clay. She has contributed over 230 volunteer hours to her community, in addition to help build a house for a needy family in Costa Rica.

Madison Grass is the daughter of Nicholas and Julee Grass, of Vassalboro. She attends Erskine Academy and has been a dance student and competitive dancer for Stage Presence for Dancers, in Winslow. Maddie will be attending Dean College in the fall as a dance major at the Palladino School of Dance. She has volunteered hundreds of hours over the last two years to the Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter, Stage Presence for Dancers, MaineGeneral Medical Center and Camp Androscoggin.

Kassidy Richards will be graduating from Waterville High School in June of this year. Over the summer she plans to work part time and hopefully pick up some volunteering hours as well. In the fall she will be attending St. Thomas University, in Fredericton, New Brunswick, to work towards a bachelors degree in psychology. She also plans to volunteer at a local animal shelter to keep in contact with pets which really help her relieve stress. She is excited to start this new chapter in her life. Kassidy volunteered her time with special education adults, and helped sponsor a birthday party for a special girl, as well as working in the kitchen at the Muskie Center, in Waterville.

Violette earns academic scholarship

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Delaware Valley University, in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, congratulates the recipients of the University’s top three merit-based Admission scholarships.

Nathan Violette, of Oakland, has been selected for an academic merit scholarship to Delaware Valley University.

Blaisdell inducted Into Beta Gamma Sigma

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Benjamin Blaisdell of Benton, was welcomed into Beta Gamma Sigma National Honor Society on April 13 at the Western New England University chapter’s 13th annual induction ceremony, in Springfield, Massachusetts. Beta Gamma Sigma is a national honor society for business majors at schools accredited by AACSB International, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Students are selected from the top 7 percent of juniors, top 10 percent of seniors and to 20 percent of graduate students. Candidates must have completed two semesters of study at Western New England University. Blaisdell in majoring in marketing.

 

Grace Kilian named to president’s list at Bob Jones University

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Grace Kilian, a senior special education major, of South China, was among approximately 500 Bob Jones University students named to the spring 2017 president’s list, in Greenville, South Carolina.

The president’s list recognizes students who earn a 3.75 or higher grade point average for the semester.

Speech contest winners

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Local students from RSU #12 recently gained the opportunity to demonstrate their public speaking skills and take pride in personal accomplishments. On April 25, the students took part in a speech contest sponsored by Modern Woodmen of America, a fraternal financial services organization. The winners were Tyler Ormonde, first place; Jenna Perkins, second; Moira MacDowell, third. Gold award pins were also given to Chiara Mahoney, Jack Begin, Ashlan Peacock, Addison Peacock, Lily Bray, Jessica Giguere, Alexis Rideout, Damon Wilson and Andrea Richardson. Contritued photo

Vassalboro JMG students at Statehouse

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Students from the Vassalboro Community School were visiting the Statehouse as Pages of the Day on the same day the Senate had given all of JMG a proclamation for their work in community service throughout the state. Front, from left to right, Malaki Baker, Dominic Goodrich and Alexander Hoffman. Back, Mrs. Horan, Mrs. Gram, Cameron LaFavor, Aidan Fleck, Hunter Gunning, Lexi Allen, Jada Pelkey, Mr. Craig Larrabee (JMG president), Kazlynn Davidson, Camille Chabre, Ms. Bvosseau, and Victor Esposito. Contributed photo