PRESQUE ISLE — On Saturday, Sept. 12, Aroostook Aspirations Initiative will sponsor the second annual Night with the Stars, hosted by the University of Maine at Presque Isle. This event was created by Aroostook Aspirations Initiative to honor their newly-elected Gauvin scholars from throughout The County.
AAI was designed to raise the aspirations of the young people in Aroostook County, ensure that they have access to a quality post-secondary education and help provide job opportunities in The County, stem the outmigration of our young people, and, as a result, help boost the economy of northern Maine.
Aroostook Aspirations is a strategic partner with over 40 businesses in Aroostook County, 10 of which are the largest employers in the regioin, all four Aroostook County colleges, and all 16 school districts, as well as several county-wide and statewide organizations. Ten of the students are being sponsored by county businesses in partnership with AAI.
The keynote speaker at the Night with the Stars will be Don Siviski, a graduate of Harvard University and Bowdoin College. Siviski, who began his career as a middle school teacher, formerly served as the Maine Department of Education’s Superintendent of Instruction, and now works as a school change coach with the Center for Secondary School Redesign. He will discuss Maine’s plan to create workers who not only know how to find answers, but are motivated to pursue new information on their own with passion and persistence.
In addition, a Mentor of the Year award will be presented to a person in Aroostook County who has played a significant role in encouraging and mentoring young people throughout the years. An award will be given for a county teacher who has used technology innovatively in the classroom to promote and inspire learning.
Anyone interested in attending the Evening with the Stars, can purchase tickets from the Aroostook Aspirations Initiative office by calling (207) 760-0558 or go to their website at gauvinfund.org/gala, click on Night with the Stars, and then click on Register Now.
