AUBURN — Matthew A. MacDonald of Turner has been selected as the Student of the Year at Central Maine Community College. He and six other Maine community college students were honored this spring for their academic success and campus and community involvement at a ceremony in Augusta hosted by the Maine Community College System board of trustees.

The award winners were selected by college faculty and staff. Each of the students was awarded a John H. Lapoint Jr. Leadership Award in the amount of $1,000. Lapoint was president of UF Strainrite in Lewiston and a trustee of the Maine Community College System when he passed away in 1995. Lapoint’s widow, Jana Lapoint, a former chair of the board, helped establish the fund for the annual awards.

MacDonald was a general studies major who plans to transfer to USM’s School of Business in the fall. He has been an enthusiastic participant in a variety of programs at CMCC, taking part in events such as tutoring, transfer services, cultural trips and student skills workshops. He held a work-study position in the TRiO office and served as a student mentor for TRiO summer programs and the first-year seminar class. He was also active with the Outdoor Club and Student Senate.

MacDonald is an eagle scout who has been involved in his community with Big Brothers/Big Sisters and the Maine Adaptive Ski Program.

“Matt is an extremely dedicated student who approaches his school work with zeal, determination and perseverance,” said Dean of Students Betsy Libby. “The words ‘I can’t do it’ are simply not in his vocabulary.”

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