Community invited to nominate
NMCC alumni ‘stars’
PRESQUE ISLE — The search is on to identify members of the community who, over the past half-century, have played a key role in the development of The County’s college – Northern Maine Community College and its forerunners Northern Maine Technical College and Northern Maine Vocational Technical Institute.
The NMCC Alumni and Friends Organization is turning to the public to help find three additional “stars” to complete its constellation of NMCC’s 50 Shining Stars, a project the group initiated a year ago in preparation for the college’s 50th anniversary celebration. The intent was to identify one individual (alumni) from each of the years that NMCC, NMTC and NMVTI have graduated students.
The challenge that presented itself is that, although founded in 1961, the college did not welcome its first students until 1963, and as a result held its first graduation in 1965, leaving four of the 50 star slots open. Alumni board directors intended to fill one of the four with a yet-to-be-named member of the class of 2011, but that still left three.
“We decided that it would be most appropriate to honor some of NMCC’s community friends who have helped advance the college in meaningful ways over the past five decades,” said Scott Carlin, president of the NMCC Alumni and Friends Organization. “It is reflective of the critical and much appreciated support NMCC has received from throughout the region since the days when the institution was just a dream to the very real success it is today. It also goes well with our group’s inclusive mission to engage all alumni and friends of the college.”
Over a period of several months last spring and summer, a specially formed committee of the NMCC Alumni and Friends Organization held several meetings and work sessions to identify alumni from each of the classes dating back to 1965. The group set a goal of finding individuals who collectively represented the array of academic programs (past and present) and the breadth and depth of the impact the college and its alumni have made throughout the region, state and beyond over five decades.
“We were looking for and selected a really good mix of people who have been successful in their own right and have made a positive difference in their profession, community and in the lives of others around them,” said Cindy Albert, member of the selection committee. “As individuals and as a group, these ‘shining stars’ tell the true NMCC story and really demonstrate the very positive and profound impact the college has had on the economic development of The County and the quality of life of our community through the years.”
To capture those stories, several current NMCC students spent the latter half of last summer and a good part of the fall conducting interviews with and collecting photographs of the outstanding individuals. In the coming months, the student’s work and the “shining stars’” success stories will be shared with the community through a college-initiated marketing campaign and in a number of campus publications.
Four of the “Shining Stars” were honored by the Alumni and Friends Organization as the forerunners to introduce the project at the alumni banquet this past fall. Robert Clark of Fort Fairfield, Robert Lilly of Scarborough, Nancy Putman of New Limerick and Ammie Toby of Houlton were recognized Sept. 10, 2010.
Clark, Lilly, Putnam and Toby will be the special guests, along with all 50 stars – including the three yet-to-be-named community members, at the NMCC 50th anniversary Gala Banquet planned for Sept. 10, 2011. At that event, posters will be unveiled featuring a photo of the individual stars, information about the person and a quote about their NMCC experience.
Individuals who would like to recommend a “Shining Star” that they feel has contributed significantly to the NMCC community are encouraged to send a letter of nomination explaining why they believe that person is deserving of the honor. Letters should be mailed to the NMCC Alumni and Friends Organization, 33 Edgemont Drive, Presque Isle, Maine 04769, or can be e-mailed to alumni@nmcc.edu. The deadline for submission for nomination letters is March 1, 2011. For more information, contact the NMCC Foundation and Alumni Office at (207) 760-1188.
