PRESQUE ISLE, Maine – With double-digit growth in both donations to the organization and dollars raised through fund-raising initiatives over the previous fiscal year, and a marked increase in student scholarship disbursements, the Northern Maine Community College Foundation celebrated its most recently-completed fiscal year at an annual dinner meeting held at the college Nov. 5.
The non-profit organization exists to support NMCC by raising and managing student scholarship funds and other special initiatives that assist students in reaching their goals of attaining a post-secondary degree at The County college. Over 100 board members, donors, college students, alumni, faculty and administrators were in attendance to celebrate a most successful year for the NMCC Foundation.
“After exceeding in 2008, by over half a million dollars, the $2 million goal of our first-ever major gifts campaign, the college, with the support of the Foundation over the past year, went to work instituting the projects made possible by the campaign,” said Richard Engels, outgoing NMCC Foundation board chair in his remarks. “This included the official opening for the Allied Health Simulation Center, supported by the Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield Foundation, and the opening of the new Business Technology Center, funded by MMG Insurance.
“As the result of a federal grant received during the Campaign for the County’s College, with the support of Senators Collins and Snowe, extensive renovation work was completed on NMCC’s Christie lecture hall, which was officially re-opened in July and named after late Foundation board member and college supporter Peter G. Hunt. Sr.,” he said.
Despite the challenging economic times, the NMCC Foundation realized an impressive 60 percent growth in donations and a 29.5 percent increase in fund-raising revenue in the fiscal year, which ran from July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009, compared to the previous year. Newly established scholarship funds, additional gifts from donors to existing scholarship funds, and donations raised through the major gifts campaign resulted in 44 percent more in scholarship disbursement over the previous year.
Other highlights of the past year noted during the annual meeting included the support received in the form of a $10,000 donation by Maine Public Service Co. to support NMCC’s new wind power technology program, the first disbursements to college faculty from the Investing in Innovation technology endowment fund created through the major gifts campaign, and the development of a new strategic plan for the Foundation crafted by a committee led by incoming board chair Brian Hamel.
A highlight of the annual dinner was a presentation by the newly re-invigorated NMCC Alumni Association. During the meeting, Judy Hilton and Scott Carlin, members of the new group, spoke about what it means to be a graduate of the college and the difference the institution has made in their lives and the lives of their families. Hilton graduated from then NMVTI in 1975 with an associate degree in computer programming and 1976 in business administration. Carlin graduated in 1979 in the business administration program.
Three current recipients of Foundation scholarships also took part in the event. Lisa Clark of Garfield, a medical office administration and medical coding student, Chelsea Sadler of Perham, a liberal studies student, and Jennifer Tweedie of Blaine, a nursing student, each explained what their scholarships meant to them.
Three awards were presented during the course of the evening to honor donors and volunteers. The 2009 Special Benefactor of the Year Recognition Award was presented to the organizers of the annual Sturdivant Island Tuna Tournament. Paul and Alice LaBrecque of the coordinating committee attended the meeting to accept the award on behalf of the organization, which has donated tens of thousands of dollars to the NMCC Foundation for scholarship funds over the past several years. The LaBrecques, in turn, presented the Tuna Tournament’s annual contribution in the amount of $10,000 to the Foundation.
The Foundation’s Eagle Award was presented to Roger Roy, Foundation finance and investment committee chair and executive vice president of MMG Insurance, for the impact he has had on the foundation. The prestigious service award is presented to an individual who consistently goes above and beyond the call of duty.
During the meeting, Richard Nadeau of Presque Isle, owner of A & L Construction, was elected as a new member of the board. Also introduced was first-year student representative Dustin Graham, a liberal studies student from Mapleton.
Elected as the 2009-2010 slate of officers for the Foundation were Hamel, who will step in as the new chairperson and Vicki Smith as vice chairperson. Continuing in their current roles are Larry LaPlante, treasurer, and Lois Dickson, secretary. Engels becomes the immediate past chair of the board. Joining the officers on the executive board are Bruce Sandstrom and Michael Kelley Sr., who will serve as directors-at-large; Gary Cleaves, who will represent the alumni association, and Graham and fellow student Mariah LeMieux, who will serve as NMCC student representatives.
The complete NMCC Foundation Board is comprised of Scott Carlin, owner of Star City, Hillside, and Mars Hill IGAs; Gary Cleaves, retired general manager of the Maine Military Authority; Gregg Collins, vice president of S.W. Collins Co.; NMCC President Timothy Crowley, Lois Dickson, owner of Tempo Employment Services; Richard Engels, attorney with Bemis & Rossignol; Chris Fitzpatrick, senior regional vice president at Machias Savings Bank in Houlton; Carl Flora, president and chief executive officer at the Loring Development Authority; Raynold Gauvin, retired of Mapleton; Sandra Gauvin, retired of Mapleton; Dustin Graham, liberal studies student at NMCC; Janet Grieco, English instructor at NMCC; Philip Grondin Sr., retired; Brian Hamel, partner at Thompson-Hamel; Virginia Joles, director of communications, board relations, and economic development at Maine Public Service.
Also serving on the board are Michael Kelley Sr., executive vice president of TD Banknorth in Presque Isle; Larry LaPlante, finance director at NMCC; Mariah LeMieux, residential construction and computer-aided drafting student at NMCC; Melony Hunt-LeShane of Fort Fairfield, Edwin Nickerson, director of business development at the Loring Development Authority; Roger Roy, executive vice president at MMG Insurance of Presque Isle; Bruce Sandstrom, senior vice president of finance at The Aroostook Medical Center; Connie Sandstrom, executive director of the Aroostook County Action Program; Emily Smith, partner at Smith’s Farm, Inc.; Vicki Smith, vice president of marketing at Katahdin Trust Co. in Houlton; Jane Towle, co-owner/broker at REMAX Central; Terry Wade, plant manager at Smith and Wesson; and Robert White, retired.
