BANGOR, Maine — At the annual Maine Principal’s Association on Saturday, Mark Jones presented the Principal’s Award to Collinses — current CHS senior Clara Collins, and CHS alumnus representing the state in the U.S. Senate, Susan Collins.
Interestingly enough, neither niece nor aunt knew the other would be attending the annual recognition luncheon until a few days before the event.
Clara was slated to attend an opera at the University of Maine in Orono, and had informed Jones that she’d be unable to attend the Principals’ Association event; Sen. Collins was contacted to be the event’s keynote speaker only after the original speaker had cancelled.
But when Clara found out that her aunt was going to attend the luncheon, she and Jones reworked their schedules so that the award winner could attend the recognition event … and she even made it to the University of Maine campus in time to catch the second half of the opera.
“It was exciting for everybody — certainly Clara — and her aunt Senator Susan Collins got to see each other at a special event like that,” Jones recalled on Monday.
While it was a happy coincidence that made the luncheon a small reunion for the Collinses, it was unbeknownst to most that there was an extra surprise in the works.
“Clara and I were sitting around the table with other principal and student award winners, (including Principal Sue White and award winner Melissa Cantafio from Limestone Community School) and Director of the Principals’ Association Dick Durost came over to me, and asked to pull me aside … because Clara was sitting right there and he didn’t want to let the cat out of the bag,” Jones said with a grin.
Turns out that in Durost’s conversation with Sen. Collins leading up to the event, Collins had remarked that she wondered which of her classmates from Caribou High School had received the Principals’ Award for her class. Durost informed her that the MPA wasn’t presenting the award at the time. In appreciation for her attendance at the annual luncheon, and in recognition of her success, Durost quickly asked Jones during the event if he would present an additional Principal’s Award to the senator.
Jones, of course, was excited to be a part of the surprise and gladly presented both Collinses with a Principal’s Award that day. It was the first time he’d presented an award to a senator, but he commented that he wasn’t nervous.
Back in the days when Principal Freeman Brewer oversaw the Caribou High School, Sen. Collins and Jones actually attended the school together, albeit in different grades.
Jones said that Sen. Collins was surprised to be presented a plaque of her own.
“She seemed pretty surprised by that,” Jones commented. “She’d just finished up her keynote speech and seemed to be pretty pleased with (the award.)”
“I was surprised and delighted to receive the Principal’s Award which is given to outstanding high school seniors for several years now. The award didn’t exist when I actually was a senior at Caribou High School and I joked that, if it were given, I hope that my record would have earned it!” Sen. Collins said on Tuesday.
“Most important, it’s a real honor to share it with the many remarkable high school students, including my niece Clara, who have worked so hard and given so much to their communities,” she added. “There is no doubt that these students will be our leaders of tomorrow.”
Sen. Collins’ keynote speech included positive experiences growing up in The County and attending CHS.
“I remember when I left Caribou High School for college how uncertain I felt at first amidst students who came from big cities,” the senator said. “But I quickly discovered that there are some real advantages in having come from Maine where I learned the values of hard work and integrity.”
“My lesson to you is that you have worked hard to open the door of opportunity – you should not be afraid to stride through that door with confidence, to take risks, to follow your dream,” Sen. Collins said at the closing of her speech. “People from Maine have gone on to do just about everything — write best-selling novels, poems, and plays, make scientific breakthroughs, star in movies, become astronauts — even run for president. You should follow your dream, whatever it is,” she added. “I am not suggesting that you will be able to avoid disappointments — all of us suffer setbacks – but you should pursue your dream.”
“I am living proof that if you believe in yourself, work hard, and persevere, you can achieve your goal,” the senator concluded. “Congratulations and good luck as you continue your own journey.”
