April 30, 2019
Over 300 people gathered at the Ramada Inn in Lewiston on April 17 for the Central Maine Community College (CMCC) Annual Dinner. The event, hosted by the college’s Education Foundation Board of Directors, marked the thirtieth anniversary of the foundation’s incorporation in 1989.
After welcoming remarks from Foundation Board Chair Christine Bosse, CMCC President Scott Knapp delivered his annual “State of the College” address and recounted some milestone events in the foundation’s 30-year history. The event concluded with the presentation of awards to students, employees, and supporters for their achievements or contributions to the college.
Proceeds from the dinner, which are expected to exceed $25,000, will benefit the foundation’s scholarship fund. The mission of the foundation is to provide financial support to CMCC and its students, to advocate on behalf of the college, and to nurture relationships with the community and constituencies. The foundation has raised more than one million dollars in scholarships for the college.
Seated left to right are Kayla Thayer, Student of the Year; Ouseiny Ousmane, “Against All Odds” Award; Matt Kinney, Scholarship Recipient of the Year; Shawn Brown, Veteran of the Year; Terry Samson, President’s Award; Kauna Yaga, “Against All Odds” Award; Kristen Huntress, Female Student of the Year; and Jordy Knoren, Male Student Athlete of the Year. Standing are John Wallace, Faculty Member of the Year; Zakiya Sheikyh, All-Maine Academic Team; Chris Thoma, Adjunct Faculty Member of the Year; Rusty Vining, All-Maine Academic Team; Bert LaBonte, Corporate Partner of the Year; Dan Graham, Staff Member of the Year; and Ben Creznic, All-Maine Academic Team. Missing from the photo is Tyler Hayes, All-Maine Academic Team.
April 30, 2019
David Gluck, far right, regional director of the Northeastern Retail Lumber Association, presented the Brian C. Thayer Memorial Scholarship to CMCC student Maxwell Stanley, center. Others present are left to right Don Varney, chair of the CMCC Building Construction Technology program; Joanne Tarr, Lapointe Lumber Company; and Gene Flanagan, Viking Lumber Company.
Maxwell Stanley of Vinalhaven has been awarded the Retail Lumber Dealers Association of Maine Brian C. Thayer Memorial Scholarship.
A graduate of Vinalhaven High School, Stanley is a full-time, second-year student in the Building Construction Technology (BCT) program at Central Maine Community College. After he completes the program, Stanley hopes to return to the island to live and work in the construction field.
The BCT program at CMCC prepares students for employment in construction-related fields. Through a combination of classroom study and hands-on lab work students become broadly familiar with methods, standards, and codes associated with the construction industry. The BCT program now offers a “job-site” track that includes paid on-the-job training for academic credit. Students rotate between seven-week increments of job-site training and on-campus courses.
The Retail Lumber Dealers Association of Maine was established in 1933 to foster the interests of those in the retail lumber and building materials industry. Affiliated with the Northeastern Retail Lumber Association, the group provides educational and training opportunities for its members and scholarships for deserving students in the construction fields.
April 30, 2019
GUEST COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY INFORMATION:
Central Maine Community College is hosting the 2019 Commencement Ceremony on Thursday, May 16th at 6 p.m. at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée located at 190 Birch Street in Lewiston, Maine.
The ceremony lasts approximately 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Tickets are not required, and there is no limit to the number of guests that can attend, though seating is on a first-come, first-serve basis. Doors open at 4:45 p.m.
If you are attending the Commencement Ceremony as a guest, and require special accommodations or seating, please contact Dave Gonyea at (207) 755-5251 or email dgonyea@cmcc.edu.
If you are unable to attend in person, you may livestream the 2019 Commencement Ceremony on YouTube.
GRADUATE INFORMATION:
Graduates should visit CMConnect to view all required information including cap and gown (regalia) pick up day/time and Commencement Ceremony information.
MEDIA INFORMATION:
Media interested in attending the ceremony are welcome to do so. Please contact Heather Seymour at (207) 755-5248 or Roger Philippon at (207) 755-5357 or email publicrelations@cmcc.edu for more information.
April 29, 2019
Pictured left to right are scholarship recipient Kauna Yaga; CMCC Dean of Planning & Public Affairs Roger Philippon; scholarship recipients Lyndsay Vachon and Seth Boucher; and Steve Brackett, president of the Council. Absent from the photo is scholarship recipient Jacynda Rousseau.
The Androscoggin Valley Council of the Mountains to Shore Board of Realtors awarded scholarships to four Central Maine Community College (CMCC) students at a recent breakfast meeting hosted by the organization: Seth Boucher of Auburn, Lyndsay Vachon of Minot, Jacynda Rousseau of Leeds, and Kauna Yaga of Turner.
Boucher is an honors student in the Criminal Justice program. After he earns his associate’s degree, he plans to enroll in the Criminal Justice Advanced Certificate program at CMCC and pursue a career in the law enforcement field.
Vachon is majoring in Business Administration and Management and has earned highest honors every semester. A mother of two, she works full time at a bank where she hopes to build a career.
An honors student in the Graphic Communications program, Rousseau works two jobs and will begin a part-time position with the graphics program this summer. She is considering careers in logo design and art therapy.
Born in Nigeria, Yaga escaped from the terrorist organization Boko Haram in 2014. After relocating to Maine in 2017, she earned her high school diploma and began her studies at CMCC last fall, narrowly missing the dean’s list.
April 4, 2019
Auburn, ME – Central Maine Community College (CMCC) is hosting an American Red Cross Blood Drive on Wednesday, April 17, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the Kirk Hall gym.
In support of blood donation, the American Red Cross is giving away a full-size Iron Throne from HBO’s Game of Thrones as part of the “Bleed for the Thrones” partnership with HBO. Individuals who donate before April 30, including at the CMCC blood drive, will automatically be entered to win. Donors will also receive a commemorative Bleed for the Throne poster, while supplies last. See terms and conditions at rcblood.org/GoT.
Individuals can schedule a donation at www.redcrossblood.org/give and use the code CMCC. Walk-in appointments are welcome. All donors are encouraged to have a meal and drink plenty of liquid before donation. Snacks and water will be available for individuals after donation. For full eligibility requirements, visit www.redcrossblood.org.
March 21, 2019
The new CMCC Esports Arena was packed on Saturday, April 6 with interested students and family members!
The only arena of its kind in Maine, the 1,600 square-foot high-tech arena located in Kirk Hall is being equipped with Alienware Area-51 Threadrippers; five console stations with Xbox One, PS4 Pro, and Nintendo Switch; and a Twitch broadcast booth for live streaming matches.
Esports is a hugely popular and rapidly growing field of competitive video gaming. The college announced earlier this year that it is joining the National Association of Collegiate eSports (NACE) starting in the fall. Director of Admissions Andrew Morong notes that CMCC continues to recruit top players in Maine and beyond to join the first teams. Students who participate will have to meet the same requirements as other athletes at the college.
Some of the games the Esports teams will compete in include Fortnite, Rocket League, Apex Legends, Overwatch, League of Legends, CSGO, Rainbow Six Siege, Madden, NBA 2K, and FIFA.
Morong also notes that CMCC will be competing largely against four-year colleges, since they comprise 90 percent of NACE membership. “We will be the only community college north of Virginia to offer competitive eSports,” he added.
In addition to the Esports teams, CMCC is also starting an Esports associate degree program that will focus on the business aspect of Esports, such as marketing, organizing and promoting events, and utilizing digital technology.
Anyone interested in more information is encouraged to contact Andrew Morong at amorong@cmcc.edu or 755-5448.
March 14, 2019
The annual pinning ceremony was held earlier this month for graduates of the Central Maine Community College Medical Assistant program. Family and friends were in attendance as members of the 2019 graduating class from the program were awarded their special medical assistant pins. Also participating in the ceremony were externship coordinator Anne Russo-Ladd and instructors Dr. Carmin Iadonisi and Tracey Martin.
The Medical Assistant graduates pictured left to right are Michelle Snow, Nicole Herald, Kristen Rickett, Taylor Bergeron, Halimo Mire, Brooke Reynolds, and Lisa Yaworksy.
The Medical Assistant associate degree program at CMCC prepares graduates for entry-level employment in settings in which medical secretarial and/or basic clinical and laboratory training are required. The program curriculum includes coursework in anatomy and physiology, communications, medical administrative procedures, medical law and ethics, medical transcription and medical assistant clinical procedures.
February 28, 2019
These four officers are leading the Student Senate at Central Maine Community College during a busy and activity-filled year. Left to right are William Bishop, president; Derek Kuusela, vice president; Brink Beaulieu, treasurer; and Casay Mohamed, secretary. The Senate is the governing body for all student activities and the official student voice on campus. Senators are elected by the student body and are responsible for allocating funds received from activity fees paid by students
February 11, 2019
Mike McMahon second from left, presents a check to Roger Philippon, dean of planning and public affairs at CMCC, to fund scholarships at the college in memory of his brother Thomas. Others left to right are members of the LHS Class of 1967 who raised the funds for the scholarships: Ron Paradis, Paul Labbe, and Paul Lavoie.
Members of the Lewiston High School Class of 1967 presented a check for $1,500 recently to the CM Education Foundation for scholarships in memory of their late classmate, Thomas J. McMahon.
In 1969, Specialist Fourth Class McMahon was serving in Vietnam as a medic when his company came under heavy fire and three soldiers were seriously injured. McMahon left his covered position and ran through intense enemy fire to the side of one of the wounded, administered first aid, and carried him to safety. He was then hit by an exploding mortar round while returning a second injured man to safety. Refusing medical attention, McMahon fell mortally wounded before he could rescue the third man. In recognition of his bravery and service beyond the call of duty, McMahon was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, the United States military’s highest decoration.
Class members also raised funds to place a granite bench in McMahon’s honor in the Veterans Memorial Park in Lewiston. The McMahon Elementary School in Lewiston is named in his honor.
February 5, 2019
Fern Langlois has been hired as the new food service manager at Central Maine Community College (CMCC). Langlois comes to the college with a strong background in food service, having worked for Sysco Foods for 23 years. More recently, he was the food service manager at Lewiston High School. Langlois earned his degree in culinary arts from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY. He lives in his hometown of Sabattus.
Langlois is working with senior manager Bob Daigle in overseeing the entire food service operation at CMCC, including the campus dining commons. The dining commons provides students, faculty and staff with entrees, made-to-order wraps, a full salad bar, short-order service, snacks and beverages.
