For Andre Anderson, of Caribou, arriving at the University of Maine at Fort Kent as a college student in 2007 was not only the first time he had travelled to Aroostook County, but also the first time he came to America.
Anderson grew up in Jamaica with his mother, brother and two sisters. Starting in seventh grade he attended Munro College, a free boarding school for middle and high school-aged boys. He met former UMFK soccer coach Bill Ashby when Ashby travelled to Jamaica hoping to recruit student players for his team. Anderson later earned a soccer scholarship that allowed him to attend UMFK and helped with tuition costs.
Throughout his childhood, Anderson’s mother worked as a seamstress, work she still does today. He knew he wanted the opportunity to attend college in America to pursue a career and support his family back home.
“Education was always important to my mother. She went above and beyond to make sure we got help with homework and had access to tutoring,” Anderson said. “Even though we went through some challenging times she provided for us.”
At UMFK, Anderson found great support systems from both the international student population and the local community. The university’s soccer team had students from close to eight countries. The diverse student population was something he had not expected to encounter in the most northern region of Maine.
“There was one soccer game in 2008 where it was 15 below zero with the wind chill, but close to 1,000 people had shown up to watch us,” Anderson said. “Ironically, our team had students from different Caribbean islands while the Florida team we were playing against had Scandinavian players who were used to the cold weather.”
While studying in Fort Kent, Anderson also became close friends with Tony and Catherine Jandreau, whom he met after befriending their daughter, Nicole, also a UMFK student at the time. Through their friendship he met many other members of their family and learned more about the people of Aroostook County, whom he believes to be hardworking and supportive of one another through both good and bad times. He also got involved in the community through UMFK’s soccer camp for children and as a volunteer for the Can-Am Crown International Sled Dog Races in Eagle Lake.
Throughout his four years in college, Anderson remained in Fort Kent during the summer months and worked several jobs to send money to his family in Jamaica. After earning a degree in behavioral science with a minor in coaching, he began working in UMFK’s admissions office. In 2014 he accepted the position of assistant director of admissions at Northern Maine Community College in Presque Isle, where he has since remained.
Anderson sees his career as a way to inspire students to follow their goals.
“College changed my life and so I enjoy telling students what NMCC has to offer them,” Anderson said. “I’ve formed really great relationships with everyone at NMCC.”
Anderson is now married to Ashley Ames-Anderson, also a UMFK alum, and they have two children — Adley, 3, and Abel Anderson, 6.
He has since earned his master’s in business administration from Husson University and in February will begin a soccer skills program for area youth at NMCC.
In recent years Anderson has visited his family in Jamaica at least once every two years and he has welcomed his mother and sisters for visits to Aroostook County several times. Although he sometimes misses his childhood home, he is grateful to have found supportive friends and extended family members in Aroostook County and southern Maine.
“It’s a beautiful place to live and raise a family. People here really care about each other,” Anderson said. “I think it shows that it doesn’t matter where you’re from. Being a good human being is the most important thing.”
