Carleton Project graduates 12

By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
    HOULTON — Adult Education, high school and college graduates received diplomas Thursday evening at the Houlton Higher Education Center’s Recognition Night.
    Twelve Carleton Project students received their diplomas during the event, which also served as a recognition night for graduates from the University of Maine at Presque Isle, University of Maine at Augusta, University of Southern Maine and Northern Maine Community College.
    In addition, a number of students from the Houlton/Hodgdon Adult Education program were honored for completing courses.
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Joseph Cyr
CARLETON GRADS — The Carleton Project bestowed diplomas to 12 individuals Thursday evening during a graduation ceremony at the Houlton Higher Education Center. Receiving their diplomas were, front row from left, Emma Schools, Cheyanne Flint, Toni Cushing and Shelby Archer; and back, Jesse Clark, Scott Curtis, Kayla Trueworthy, Kaitlyn Moran and Alyssa Savage. Not pictured are Michaela Gray, Samantha Polchies and Tyler Cote.
    Chuck Ames, center director for HHEC, welcomed those to the evening ceremony.
    “It is an honor to be with you on this very special occasion,” Ames said. “All of the staff who have worked with (graduates) are keenly aware of the challenges you have faced and the achievements you have earned. Your persistence is now paying off.”
    Ames said regardless of whether the grads seek employment or look to further their education, they will be faced with new directions and opportunities because of the work they accomplished at the center.
    “At this time of year, I generally have a request for the graduates,” Ames said. “Since this year’s graduation theme is entitled ‘Making a Difference,’ I am asking each of the graduates to become an army of one to make a difference in the lives of others in the community.”
    Ronald Murray, adjunct faculty, served as the guest speaker for the evening, infusing a steady dose of comedy into his speech. Murray, a 1965 graduate of Houlton High School, is a retired teacher from Hodgdon High School and is currently teaching courses for NMCC and UMPI at the center.
    “I have noticed in the past as people address graduation ceremonies, they wear (graduation) gowns,” he said. “Is there one here tonight for me?”
    Murray said while chances are, in the years to come, many of the students will not remember who spoke at the graduation or recall what was said, he hoped they would remember one phrase.
    “Hopefully your best work has not yet been done,” he said.
    Carleton Project students receiving their diplomas included Emma Schools, Cheyanne Flint, Toni Cushing, Shelby Archer, Jesse Clark, Scott Curtis, Kayla Trueworthy, Kaitlyn Moran, Alyssa Savage, Michaela Gray, Samantha Polchies and Tyler Cote.
    Houlton/Hodgdon Adult Education students who were recognized included William Berry, Jessica Lynn Boatwright, Haley Boyce, Eric Brown, Craig Buxton, Cedric Campbell, Kasandra Caron, Ricky Caron,  Bernard Carpenter, Todd Chasse, Patrick Cochran, Josh Doody, Lacee Dube, Brianna Lee Faulkner, Jason Gill, Danielle Golding and Allan Hathaway.
    Also, Marlana Hetherington, Shelby Kieffman, Joanna London, Justin McGinley, Leroy McKenzie, Jesse Merrill, Daniel Miller, Dustin Murphy-Moran, Shaylynn Norman, Michael Parker, Candace Potter, Kirby Sanford, James Schneider, Jerry Seel Jr., Christopher Stevens, Jacob Stevens, Todd Stubbs, Arden Tidd, Shauna Treadwell, Shaiana Vanderveen, Mitchell Vargas, Frederick Varney and Jennifer Warble. Four additional graduates preferred not to be listed in the program.
    UMA graduates included: Josiah Moorehouse, Julie Duff, Sandra London, Jessica Milton, Susan Bickford, Mariah Garnett, Chelsea Henderson and Gail Suitter.
    UMPI graduates included Marie Carmichael, Samuel Hiscoe, Jordan McNinch, Chad Duff, Reginald Porter, Barbara Redman, Christina Hall, Carol Goodness, Cassandra Merritt McAfee, Elizabeth Scott, Marcus Flewelling, Katie Henderson, Kelly Larson, Kathryn Watson, Tyler Hutchinson, Jared Carter and John Gaug.
    NMCC graduates included Amber Bennick, Kaley Bourgoin, Scott Boutilier, Nichole Brownlee, Lacey Clark, Jennifer Cloney, Angela Davis, Theresa Duff, Edward Fitzpatrick, Colleen Frost, Robert Gilmour, Karen Hardy, Michele King, Glenn Kreyssig, Heather Lafontaine, Jillian London,  Jonathan McQuarrie, Jamieson Romanelli, Tory Rouse, Michelle Schillinger, Kevin Schmidt, Gregory Schools, Elizabeth Stratton, Kelsi Suitter and Wanda White-Ouellette.
    Terri Morse received a degree from USM.