By Natalie Bazinet
Staff Writer
CARIBOU — Rotarians Katherine Anderson and Bob Sprague were honored during the annual meeting of the Caribou Rotary Club, both being named recipients of the Rotary Club’s Paul Harris Award.
Aroostook Republican photo/Natalie Bazinet
Two Caribou Rotarians were named recipients of the Paul Harris Award during the club’s annual meeting on July 11. Attending the presentation were, from left, Incoming President of the Caribou Rotary Club Patrick Bennett, Paul Harris Award recipients Bob Sprague and Katherine Anderson, and Outgoing President Doug Hunter.
As explained by Karen Chapman, “Katherine Anderson and Bob Sprague are not just Rotary members, they are Rotarians,” she said.
“Rotarians are those who give of their time, talents and resources outside of the weekly Rotary meetings to not only serve their family, community important causes or passions, but to serve their Rotary Club by participating on committees, with projects and fundraisers,” Chapman said.
In honoring both honorees, members of the Caribou Rotary Club donated $1,000 to the Rotary Foundation.
Bob Sprague
Bob Sprague was introduced during the introduction as “a true friend and role model to many; fellow coach, father, grandfather, teacher, deep thinking, detail guy, great listener, lover of life and ‘Renaissance Man,’” by Rotarian Rob Kieffer.
“Though Bob will never take the credit, his inspiration, drive and influence are largely responsible for the Caribou High School multi-use trails and ski building,” Kieffer added.
Sprague’s teaching career spans the decades, but for the past five years he’s been tutoring Caribou High School students in math and science.
“In the five years I have worked with Bob Sprague in the Transitions Center at the Caribou High School, I have learned that he is much more than a math/science tutor. Bob is not only an academic coach, he is also a life coach to many of the students who come in for tutoring,” explained Carol Pierson, adding that Sprague shows infinite patience working with some of their more challenging students. “He genuinely cares about the students in our high school and it shows in the respect they show for him,” she said.
A testament to Pierson’s statement, Sprague’s former students spoke about the impact Bob has had on their lives, including Laura Collins.
“It doesn’t matter the sport or the subject, Mr. Sprague is a thoughtful, caring man that is full of compassion and generosity. He truly goes the extra mile and as a result has had such a positive impact on the Caribou High School community,” she said. “I cannot think of anyone more deserving than him to receive this special honor.”
Sprague was married to the late Karen Anderson; he has two children: daughter Anna, who lives in Holland with her husband, Bo Van de Rhee, and son Jonathan, who lives in Boston with wife Krissie Sprague; Jonathan and Krissie attended the annual meeting along with their children (and Bob’s grandchildren) Alex and Noah.
Katherine Anderson
Being a 15-year Rotarian, Katharine Anderson joined the club just 10 years after women were first allowed to join Rotary.
Fellow Rotarian Pam Scheppele highlighted some of the things Anderson has contributed to the community during her decade and a half of Rotary service; to name a few, Katherine’s volunteered at the Rotary Club’s food booth during the Caribou Annual Arts and Crafts Festival, she currently serving her second year on the club’s Board of Directors, she represented the club during the Caribou Sesquicentennial Parade and even has participated in the Group Study Exchange, helping the Caribou Rotarians host teams from Fiji, Australia and Mexico.
“Katherine is one of those Rotarians who we don’t always see, front and center, but she’s there, holding up our club and helping us achieve wonderful things,” Scheppele said.
Ally Hessert, who was provided the opportunity to visit Sweden as a Caribou High School student thanks largely in part to Anderson’s volunteerism, described just how influential that trip was on her life and thanked Katherine.
Chapman described how Anderson’s hard work and passionate care for others helped establish her home health care business in 1995, Professional Home Nursing, which received top recognition in 2011 when it was named Decision Health Home Care Elite Top 100. Katherine is the co-owner and CEO of the business.
“While running a business and raising a family, attended Husson College and graduated with a master’s of science degree in business,” Chapman said. “While wearing all these important titles simultaneously, she found time to actively serve her community.”
Katherine is the wife of Curt Anderson and mother to their two sons Kyle and Cameron.
