ASHLAND, Maine — SAD 32 wants to create a Career Wall of Fame to create aspirational goals for their students.
Fort Fairfield has a Wall of Fame and the Ashland District School is considering their own to be located next to the front entrance of the SAD 32 school.
Sherri Calhoun, a math, science and reading teacher for SAD 32, helped the school pursue the College and Career Readiness Grant, which is through the Maine Educational Loan Marketing Corporation Education Foundation. Ashland High School received $17,250 in December 2022 in grant money toward the project, and established a College and Career Access Team.
“It’s worth pointing out some of these people who have graduated from our high school are examples of amazing people who have led the way and who have had amazing careers that came from our small community,” Calhoun said.
The grant will run out of funds by June 2024. The application deadline is July 1 of this year.
Part of the grant is to raise aspirations for the students in Ashland High School and encourage parents and grandparents to be involved with SAD 32, Calhoun said.
Some Ashland students struggle with seeing the possibilities available to them beyond their small community. The grant is intended to ensure Ashland High School students are supported by the community in their opportunities to explore a variety of different career options.
The Ashland School Board voted in April to create the Career Wall of Fame. School Guidance Director Lynwood McHatten introduced the idea for the College and Career Access Team in February, on which McHatten and Calhoun both sit.
The College and Career Access Team has seven members made up of three Ashland school teachers, one parent from Ashland, Joel Hall, the principal and superintendent. The team also wants two additional members with one from the Ashland Alumni Association, and one member from the SAD 32.
All will serve on a committee that will select the applicants to go on the Career Wall of Fame.
Applicants for the Career Wall of Fame will be submitted over the summer with career fields like construction, retail, medicine, education and business who have been in their careers for a minimum of 20 years.
The proposed location of the Career Wall of Fame nearby the front doors of the Ashland District School on May 25. (Paul Bagnall | The Star-Herald)
The age group for the Career Wall of Fame are graduates who are now in their 50s and have been well established in their career field. Both Calhoun and McHatten wanted to recognize graduated Ashland High School students who have distinguished themselves in their careers beyond high school.
Paper nomination forms found around town in Ashland, such as the Good Shepherd Thrift Shop on Main Street and the Ashland Town Office, which can be submitted to the committee for the Ashland Career Wall of Fame.
Calhoun is reaching out to work with the Ashland Alumni Association to get their email list to send out applications. The Ashland Alumni Association is independent and not affiliated with the Ashland High School.
The Ashland Alumni Association has coordinated high school reunions and given scholarships to graduating seniors in years past, McHatten said.
“We are hoping to get suggestions from other people, then the committee will meet and hopefully get five people for the first year that will represent a variety of careers,” Calhoun said.
In America there’s an idea that bigger is always better and is symbolic of success. The kids who go to Ashland feel that they are limited in their scope of opportunities because they come from a smaller school, McHatten said.
Around 80 students are attending the Ashland District School from grades K to 12. After the Career Wall of Fame goes up, SAD 32 will consider adding more spots to it.
“You can go to Ashland and become anything you want,” Calhoun said.
