An alternative education center, the Carleton Project was founded by Houlton teacher and Carleton Project Principal, Alan Morris. After 20 years of teaching in public schools, Morris started a private high school in Presque Isle in 1999 with 12 students, and the school has since grown to include three additional locations that serve more than 50 students a year.
The Carleton Project’s mission is focused on student success. The school is 100 percent tuition driven, and enjoys partnerships with public schools that have come to understand the direct benefits for their schools and communities when they support students they recommend.
“This is an exceptionally great group of kids that really has something to put on the table and it gives me a tremendous amount of hope for our future,” Morris said in his welcoming remarks. “I will be sad to see them go, but I am sure we will stay in touch.”
Morris used the analogy of a swimming instructor teaching youngsters how to swim as he described how both he, and many of the other Carleton Project teachers, felt about the graduating class.
“When they are standing on the edge of the diving board, and you know you have taught them how to swim, do you just keep encouraging?” he asked. “Or at some point do you just have to kick them off the diving board? I think both work.”
Otis Smith, director of Adult Education, served as the guest speaker for the evening. He encouraged the group to strive to make a difference in whatever career path they chose.
“Congratulations on reaching this milestone in your lives,” he said. “Congratulations as well to your friends and family for their support and to the instructors and staff members whose mission it has been to make you a better person by making school challenging.”
Graduate Virginia Fuhrmark thanked the faculty at staff at the Carleton Project for helping her achieve her goal of graduating.
“The staff is always there to look past our rough edges and give everyone opportunities and chances,” she said. “I have been going here for almost three years and I have seen a lot of students come and go. I can honestly say that I have learned something from each and every one of them.”
From the Presque Isle location, graduates receiving diplomas were: Jesse Dewley, Killian Dubourg, Fuhrmark, Michael Noonan, Matthew Norris and Sadie Webb.
From the Houlton area, graduates receiving diplomas were Dillon Carmichael, Noah Grant, Sara Heath, Allison Noyes, Annah Prosser and Danielle Suitter.
From the Bangor location, graduates were: Breanna Burleigh, Gage Gagnon, Sarah Quinones-Bonilla, Michael Sanchez-Zulueta and Christopher St. Pierre.
