AAI’s ‘Night with the Stars’ Gala
celebrates Gauvin Scholars
PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — The third annual Night With the Stars Gala, hosted by Aroostook Aspirations Initiative, took place Sept. 17 at the University of Maine at Presque Isle.
The event celebrated the 19 incoming Gauvin Scholars and highlighted the 2014-15 scholars as well. The evening provided students the opportunity to meet business and community leaders and make connections that will help them both in college and when they begin to enter the workforce.
The evening began with opening remarks from the University of Maine at Presque Isle Interim President Ray Rice, who highlighted many of the great opportunities at UMPI and each of the other three higher education institutions in Aroostook County. Rice also congratulated each of the Gauvin Scholars in attendance.
“To each of this evening’s stars, I would like to say that the commitment you have made to this region is commendable, and we look forward to seeing the contributions you will make here in Aroostook County,” he said.
Dana Connors, Maine State Chamber of Commerce president, was the keynote speaker for the event. “Aroostook Aspirations Initiative sets the standard for bringing together Aroostook County’s youth with educational aspirations, setting them on a course for contributing to the economic success of this very important region of our state,” said Connors.
University of Maine at Presque Isle sophomore and 2015 Health Services Foundation Gauvin Scholar, Amber Hulstrunk, spoke about her personal challenges and how the Gauvin Scholarship has helped her persevere.
“When darkness seems to shine the brightest, good things can come out of it. And the good things did come,” said Hulstrunk. “It came in the form of improving grades that helped me get into college. It came in the form of a scholarship that made me finally realize … I could dream in reality.”
The evening also celebrated leaders in business, community and education.
Four awards were presented at the event. The Mentor of the Year Award, sponsored by Cary Medical Center, was presented to James Smith of Fort Fairfield High School; Ellyn Whitten-Smith was named the 2016 Innovative Educator, an award sponsored by MMG; and MMG Insurance was named Aroostook Business of the Year, an award selected by the AAI Board of Directors.
The first annual Road Back Home award was presented to Connors. This award was created to recognize someone from Aroostook County who is still connected to the area in some way, who continues to make The County proud no matter where they live, who continues to give back to the area and whose actions demonstrate continuing support for Aroostook and a desire to ensure a bright future. The purpose of the award is to honor loyalty, instill pride, and promote the Aroostook County way of life.
The 2017 Night With the Stars Gala will be held on Sept. 16, 2017.
For more information about Aroostook Aspirations Initiative, go to www.gauvinfund.org‚ or call (207) 760-0558.
