SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine — A student at Northern Maine Community College in Presque Isle is one of nine Maine community college students who were awarded scholarships in honor of Leon A. Gorman for the upcoming 2020-2021 academic year.
Ethan Chadwick of Abbot, a precision machining technology student at NMCC, has been named a 2020 Leon A. Gorman scholar and will receive a Gorman Scholarship equal fo a full year of tuition.
This is the fifth year of the scholarship program, which has previously supported one student at each Maine Community College system campus. This year the program expanded to support three students at Southern Maine Community College, the largest school in the system. Each recipient will receive funds for a full year of tuition.
The scholarship was established in 2014 by the children of Leon and Lisa Gorman in honor of Leon Gorman’s 80th birthday. The longtime president and CEO of L.L. Bean, Gorman and his wife, Lisa, worked behind the scenes to support Maine community colleges, establishing The Foundation for Maine’s Community Colleges, for which Mrs. Gorman continues to serve as vice chair.
The scholarship supports Maine community college students who demonstrate strong academic achievement, financial need, and a commitment to community service, a hallmark of the scholarship’s namesake.
“This scholarship was so meaningful to my father who understood the importance of the community colleges and their hardworking students. He would have been proud to be associated with these smart, motivated and dedicated recipients who devote so much of their time and energy to their education, families and communities,” said Jennifer Wilson on behalf of her family.
Other winners include Kacie Simpson of Lewiston, nursing, Central Maine Community College; Kateryna Bagrii of Levant, nursing, Eastern Maine Community College, Gregory LeCorps of Dixmont, sustainable construction, Kennebec Valley Community College; Fazel Qaney of Westbrook, information technology, Patrick Remedis of Bridgton, business administration, and Marcus Taylor of Wells, communications and new media/liberal studies, all of Southern Maine Community College; Joshua Flaherty of Gorham, mechanical technology, Washington County Community College; and Natalie Nguyen of Biddeford, health studies, York County Community College.
“I want to offer a hearty congratulations to this year’s Gorman Scholars, who have demonstrated hard work, service to others and achievement, especially during such a challenging time. We are very proud of these students, and grateful that the enduring legacy of Mr. Gorman honors these impressive students who have worked so hard,” said Maine Community College System President David Daigler.
