PRESQUE ISLE — With wire cutters in hand, leaders representing higher education and private business ushered in a new era of technology on the Northern Maine Community College campus Friday.
Billed as a “wire-cutting” ceremony, the event marked the official launch of NMCC’s wireless computer network and was attended by college leaders, board members, faculty and students, as well as the Aroostook County press corps. Also on hand were representatives of Katahdin Trust Company, whose $25,000 corporate gift to the College and Community Advancement Fund of NMCC’s Campaign for the County’s College made the project possible.
Funds provided by Katahdin Trust, a lead contributor to the first-ever major gifts campaign undertaken by NMCC, allowed the college to establish the infrastructure for a campus-wide wireless network and to purchase and install wireless access points in the Edmunds and Christie Building complex. The facility houses NMCC’s primary classroom, public meeting, and administrative office space, as well as the college library and learning center. Plans are to eventually cover the entire campus with wireless access.
The initial infrastructure, an Aruba 6000 modular, full-featured LAN mobility controller, will allow NMCC to build onto the backbone and expand wireless access across the entire campus, including the residential halls and cafeteria. Officials say the investment will ensure that the college can maintain a secure, manageable network at a greatly reduced cost.
“Katahdin Trust Company’s gift to the Campaign for the County’s College will have a significant and positive impact on our campus community. Users of this new technological infrastructure will be provided the opportunity to take advantage of the latest technology, mobility, the Internet, and access to college resources through a safe and secure network,” said Timothy Crowley, NMCC president. “This is an important development for NMCC, and we thank our friends at Katahdin Trust and our employees who made this day possible,” he added.
Students, faculty and staff will be the first beneficiaries of the wireless system; however in coming weeks the network will be made available to business and industry representatives and community members who visit or hold events at the campus in facilities where the technology will be activated.
That connection with the community, coupled with the strong ties that exist between NMCC and Katahdin Trust Company — northern Maine’s largest community bank — were two primary reasons why the financial institution elected to direct their donation specifically to the wireless network initiative.
“Many of our employees have attended this fine institution which has served as our region’s source of affordable, accessible postsecondary education opportunities, workforce training, and continuing education for more than 40 years. We are pleased to pledge our support for this very important initiative,” said Jon Prescott, president and CEO of Katahdin Trust.
In addition to the corporate donation of $25,000, Katahdin Trust has invited its 150 employees to consider joining the bank in assisting NMCC by investing in the college’s future. Katahdin employees were given the opportunity to give to the Campaign for the County’s College through payroll deduction or make a direct pledge to NMCC. As an incentive, the bank will match dollar for dollar all employee donations up to a total of $1,000 per employee.
“Higher education and economic development are critical to a community’s viability, and we are pleased to support Northern Maine Community College, which has been and continues to be a vital partner in economic development of our market area,” said Prescott.
Questions from the press regarding the specifics of the wireless network were directed by President Crowley to Barry Ingraham, NMCC’s director of information technology. Ingraham said the new system is password protected and specifically designed to compliment the campus’ existing wired network. He added that the network is designed to be expanded with more access points to cover all parts of the campus, including residence halls.
