Student Intern
There was an extra piece to the regular boys basketball Senior Night this year when the Houlton High School community honored four HHS Sports Boosters members with outstanding dedication plaques. 
Photograph by Theron Larkins
AWARDED – Jody and Wendell Harvey were presented an award from Houlton High School Principal Marty Bouchard, right, for their outstanding dedication to the SAD 29 Sports Boosters organization. They have been members since 1999.
Jody and Wendell Harvey and Scott and Tara Austin were all presented with plaques during the pre-game ceremony. The Harveys have been members of Sports Boosters since 1999, with Wendell serving as vice president from 2003 to 2007 and Jodi serving as treasurer since 1999. The Austins joined in the fall of 1994. Scott is currently serving as president and Tara became a voting member during 2007. 
Photograph by Theron Larkins
RECOGNIZED – Scott and Tara Austin were also presented an award for their outstanding dedication to the SAD 29 Sports Boosters by Houlton High School Principal Marty Bouchard. The Austins have been members since 1994; Scott is serving as president and Tara became a voting member in 2007.
“I actually had to become a voting member because … we didn’t have enough parents come to the meetings to fill the offices and public member spots,” explained Tara Austin.
The Houlton High School Athletic Boosters Club, better known as Sports Boosters, was put together in February 1994. Parents along with the principal at the time, David Wiggin, organized the club to provide recognition awards and raise funds to supplement the athletic budget.
Before Sports Boosters, every sport was funded differently, depending on the aggressiveness of a coach or parents who were fund-raising. Local businesses were commonly hit up every year for donations in support of various sports.
“Our goal is to ensure that all funds are distributed on an equitable basis to all athletic teams,” said Sports Boosters President Scott Austin.
A few early fund-raisers were not quite as profitable as today’s. One of the first ideas for raising money was through a sponge throwing game at the July 4 Fair in 1994, which raised a grand total of $41. The next year a lawn raking fund-raiser set for April was cancelled because of snow.
In recent years, the Sports Boosters have found a good balance and foundation of fund-raisers around the town. They take in money from concessions at soccer games, from 50-50 tickets at basketball games, by helping to park cars in the high school parking lot during the Fourth of July, and by selling their annual sports booklets. With these four fund-raisers the Sports Boosters Club raises roughly $8,000 annually.
Through the years, as the Sports Boosters Club expanded and became more organized, many additional purchases were made through fund-raising. Besides the original plans of buying plaques and holding receptions, the Boosters with the help of local businesses, made some significant upgrades to the facilities and fields around Houlton High School. They have helped pay for everything from dugouts, lights, and a scoreboard for the soccer field, to a batting cage and pitching machine for the baseball and softball teams, and many other sporting items. The Boosters also began giving out a $500 scholarship to both a college-bound senior boy and girl, based on good sportsmanship, work ethic and leadership.
However, the Sports Boosters Club members realize that it would not have grown into the organization it is today if it were not for the help of the entire community.
“Local businesses, along with volunteers and alumni, have made great contributions to help out the Boosters since the beginning,” said Scott Austin.
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 2 at 6:30 p.m. in Room 25 at the high school. Everyone is urged to get involved and show support to local high school sports.
