Staff Writer
LORING — Nov. 14 was a big night for many who attended An Evening with The North Stars, a banquet and award ceremony. The event, hosted by Jim Gagnon, director of the Loring Job Corps center, and Pat Zenzius, industry council chair, showcased local talent both on stage and off.
Pat Zenzius, Industry Council Chair for the Loring Job Corps, received the Leading Star Award. The award was presented by Jim Gagnon. Zenzius co-hosted “An Evening with the North Stars.”
The banquet was in honor of all the support Loring Job Corps has received from the community.
Four awards were given throughout the evening; Pat Zenzius, Industry Council chair at Loring Job Corps, received the Leading Star Award, as did Connie Sandstrom, Community Relations Counsel chair at Loring. Sandstrom also received the Citizen of the Year award. Jim Gagnon, Loring Job Corps Center Director, received the 2008 Leadership Award, and the Limestone Rotary Club awarded the Paul Harris Fellow to Loring Job Corps.
Entertainment for the event was provided by Loring Job Corps students and area community members. Regan Buck, student from Caribou Middle School performed “Falling In Love With You,” as made famous by Elvis, on the piano; Job Corps Students Yamilette Ortiz, Xiomara Colon-Torres, Kelvin Vargas, and Pedro Santos showcased two dances; Kim Parent, public relations generalist for Cary Medical Center, performed the song “Voice of A Savior;” Job Corps student Samantha Vasquez read two of her poems; Maine Dance Academy students Jillian Flynn and Mariah Williams performed a dance; Carlton Grady showcased his magical abilities and Danielle Lane, Kellie Moody, and Erin Buck entertained the crowd with their singing.
The event was catered by the culinary students at Loring Job Corps as part of their curiculum.
Receiving the Leading Star Award for Connie Sandstrom was Sue Powers, right, and Lori Nelson, not pictured. Sandstrom works at the Aroostook County Action Program and also is the Chair of the Community Relations Counsel at Loring Job Corps Center.
Jim Gagnon, director of the Job Corps Center, was awarded the 2008 leadership award. Gagnon co-hosted the event.
Providing entertainment for “An Evening With the North Stars” were, in no particular order, Regan Buck, Yamilette Ortiz, Xiomara Colon-Torres, Kelvin Vargas, Pedro Santos, Kim Parent, Samantha Vasquez, Erin Buck, Danielle Lane, and Kellie Moody. Not pictured: Carlton Grady, Jillian Flynn, and Mariah Williams. Performers included students of Loring Job Corps and community members.
Chair of the Community Relations Counsel Connie Sandstrom received the Citizen of the Year award during the Nov. 14 banquet at Job Corps. Accepting the award in Sandstrom’s absence is co-worker Sue Powers.
Aroostook Republican Photos by Natalie Bazinet
Left, Clifford Rhome, president of the Rotary Club of Limestone and Dottie Martin, right, presented the Paul Harris Fellow to Loring Job Corps. The Paul Harris Fellow is the highest honor that Rotary International can bestow on anyone. Jim Gagnon, director of the Job Corps Center and host of “An Evening With the North Stars,” accepted the award on behalf of Job Corps. The Limestone Rotary chose Loring Job Corps based on the centers commitment to serving the community.
