AUBURN — College students who surmounted great obstacles and those who supported those efforts were celebrated Friday at a 10th anniversary awards luncheon by College for ME-Androscoggin at the Hilton Garden Inn Auburn Riverwatch.
About 200 attendees heard powerful stories from three area residents whose exceptional perseverance led them to attain college educations through College for Me-Androscoggin services and guidance. The nonprofit collaborative promotes educational attainment in Androscoggin County.
Tonya Bailey-Curry, a Lewiston native, described how she had to balance full-time school while grieving the loss of one of her children.
“It was more than I could handle at times,” she said, “so the additional support both financially and emotionally provided was not taken for granted. I am truly grateful.”
She recalled a day in 2010 when she and her husband were driving by Kaplan College in Lewiston. She asked him to stop. She wanted to check out the courses there.
“With two of four children heading to college, I said, it’s time for me to go, too,” Bailey-Curry said.
It was a daunting, but ultimately, rewarding challenge. She said the four years flew by, although she had to overcome very tough times, including the loss of her mother and an adult son, and the birth of twins.
Bailey-Curry told the audience she was determined to be a good example for her children, but also “an ambassador for higher education.”
She is in her first semester of her master’s program in social work at the University of Southern Maine. She is enrolled full time and is the graduate assistant for the School of Social Work. As the recipient of a Musgrave Scholarship in the fall of 2014, she was able to complete her undergraduate degree and move forward with her educational and career goals.
Erin Hayes, who is risk manager for St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center, told how she has been her husband’s caregiver for almost eight years since he broke his neck and became paralyzed from the shoulders down. She spoke about their journey with his injury and her discovery of how taking care of herself was also an essential path to a happy and satisfying life.
She said, “I went through years of denial” of her own needs until she realized “I had to change, and to heal I needed to help other people.” When she found she could focus on herself without judgment and accept the fact that “it’s OK to ask for help,” she turned her life around.
Catie Moran spoke about her life experiences and challenges from an early age remembering that, even as a child, no one asked about her homework, much less her aspirations. She graduated recently from Kaplan University summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. She is working at Bates College as an academic administrative assistant.
Moran said she believes that everyone should have opportunities to reach their potential. She attained her goals despite dealing for six years with her son’s chromosomal disorder that eventually took his life. She struggled to gain a personal identity after years of being known as “Bobby’s mom.”
She said, “By developing individuals and armoring them with knowledge, skills and confidence, we build a stronger, healthier and more resilient community.”
The Student Award was presented to Tim Stretton, who works in the Washington, D.C., office of U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine. He was surprised with the showing of a congratulatory video from the senator.
Prior to graduating from Lewiston High School in 2009, Stretton completed eight early college courses, fulfilling one year of collegiate academic requirements. After high school, he attended the University of Southern Maine to study political science and international studies. He paid for his studies by working full time at a local Burger King. He continued his graduate studies at Norwich University.
Doug Dumont accepted the Advocate Award based on his work as the aspirations coordinator at Lewiston High School. His work has been instrumental in bringing the Lewiston High School College Attendance Intention Rate from 69 percent in 2014 to 85 percent in 2015, an increase of 16 percent.
Also honored for his vision and role in founding College for ME-Androscoggin was Zark VanZandt, former dean of the University of Southern Maine’s Lewiston-Auburn College.
Joan Macri and Jan Phillips also were recognized for pioneering work. They retired from their lead positions with the organization this year. Phillips received Visionary Leadership Award and Macri received the Aspirations Champion Award.
Newly appointed executive director Maggie Davis introduced the launch of a new website, www.collegeforemeandroscoggin.org.
An award for corporate leadership went to Jim and Kathy Wellehan of Lamey Wellehan, who for 20 years have given scholarships to Maine students pursuing studies on Maine’s ecology and economics.
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