PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — The third annual Night With the Stars Gala, hosted by Aroostook Aspirations Initiative, took place Sept. 17, 2016 in Presque Isle. Designed to celebrate students in the Gauvin Scholar program, the event also highlights business, community, and education leaders throughout Aroostook County with awards for Mentor of the Year, Innovative Educator and Aroostook Business of the Year. This year, the organization also introduced a new award, The Road Back Home award.
The 2016 Mentor of the Year Award, sponsored by Cary Medical Center, was presented to James Smith, a history teacher at Fort Fairfield High School. Nominated by the first-year Gauvin Scholars, the Mentor of the Year award is given to an individual who has positively impacted the lives of Aroostook County students.
Gauvin Scholars nominate community members, teachers, administrators, coaches, friends or family members who they believe have developed meaningful relationships with the Scholar, their peers and their community. Smith received three nominations for the award.
“When I was asked to nominate someone for Mentor of the Year, Mr. Smith was the first person to come to mind,” said Meghan Everitt, 2016 WAGM-TV Gauvin Scholar. “I can’t think of anyone that is a better fit to have this title. He has always been so helpful and outgoing, is contagiously enthusiastic and joyful and would do just about anything to put a smile on someone’s face and loves to see students grow and make progress.
“I wasn’t the only one that nominated Mr. Smith. All three of the Fort Fairfield Gauvin Scholars nominated him. Three different people, with three different brains, going to three different schools, nominated the same man for this award. That must mean he really deserves it,” Everitt said.
Ellyn Whitten-Smith, art teacher at Presque Isle High School, was named the 2016 Innovative Educator. The Innovative Educator award is sponsored by MMG Insurance and recognizes an educator in Aroostook County that uses innovation in their classroom. This award recognizes educators that implement creative uses of technology within their classroom in order to better serve and engage the students.
“The thing that stands out the most when I think of Ellyn Whitten-Smith is the fact that she loves being an art teacher,” said Ben Greenlaw, Principal of Presque Isle High School, in his nomination letter. “Ellyn is great at meeting students ‘where they are’ in terms of their artistic ability. She offers classes geared toward the high achievers in art and cultivates their creative side while at the same time making her classes accessible to students who struggle in art and/or have special needs.“
The 2016 Aroostook Business of the year award was presented to MMG Insurance. This year’s nominations were provided by Aroostook Chambers of Commerce and the recipient was selected by the Aroostook Aspirations Initiative Board of Directors.
MMG Insurance is recognized as one of the best employers in the area, said AAI officials. They have a long history of growth and success in Aroostook County and beyond. MMG supports the continued education of their employees as well as the Young Professionals Institute operating at the University of Maine at Presque Isle. Recently, they have partnered with UMPI to open the MMG Center for Professional Development, which will provide more continuing educational opportunities to the region.
The first annual Road Back Home award was presented to Dana Connors, the keynote speaker for the evening. The award was created to recognize a person from the region who is still connected to the area in some way, continues to make The County proud no matter where they live, continues to give back to the area, and whose actions demonstrate continuing support for Aroostook and a desire to ensure a bright future.
A native of Aroostook County, Connors began his career as city manager of Presque Isle before serving as commissioner of transportation. Now the president of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, Connors understands economic and workforce development. He also understands that educational opportunity is key to achieving our shared goals of a prosperous Aroostook County.
“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.
For more information about Aroostook Aspirations Initiative, go to www.gauvinfund.org‚ or call (207) 760-0558.
