Job Corps luncheon marks 50th anniversary

LIMESTONE, Maine — The Loring Job Corps Center recently celebrated the 50-year anniversary of Job Corps with a ribbon-cutting ceremony for their new tractor trailer truck that will be used as the primary training vehicle for the highly successful commercial drivers license program.
The luncheon allowed the center to conduct a briefing with community supporters as well as update the public on the ongoing success of the Loring Center. Food was prepared and served by the Loring culinary students.
Roger Felix, Job Corps business and community liaison, spoke on the Loring Honor Guard’s recent Washington D.C visit and how proud he was that the Loring Honor Guard represented the entire Job Corps community in the opening ceremonies of the 50-year Anniversary Gala.
Felix also commended the local congressional representatives in assisting Loring Job Corps in setting up the many visits to Maine’s Congressional Delegation in the capital.
“We are so lucky here in Maine,” Felix said. “Our Senators and Congress members work well together and we were so grateful to have the opportunity to personally thank both Senators for their leadership and support of the Job Corps program.”
The center awarded both Dixie Shaw and Patty Perry for their dedication and support of the Center. Felix thanked Shaw for her commitment to the center and her desire to help everyone she meets, “Your leadership is contagious and we thank you,” he said.
Patty Perry, who serves as the chair for the Loring Job Corps Community Relations Committee, was also presented an award from the center.
“Patty works tremendous hours in support of Maine and then goes above and beyond in assisting the center,” Felix said. “Her dedication and leadership is what makes us successful and all of us thank her for being a part of our team.”
The event was not just the center awarding community leaders; the center also received a Congressional citation from Sens. Collins and King congratulating Loring and the Job Corps program’s 50 years of success. The record was read by District Representative Barbara Hayslett for Sen. King’s office and District Representative Lorie Ireland from Sen. Collins’ office.
Also in attendance was Kim Rohn, district representative for Congressman Poliquin’s office.
The group then moved outside to conduct the official ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Center’s new CDL truck from Freightliner. Robert Watson, manager of the Northern Region Maine Department of Transportation and chairman of the Center’s Industry Council addressed the luncheon sharing some quotes from one of the Center’s largest partners Warner Trucking.