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University of Maine at Fort Kent and the TRiO Student Support Services program held their tenth annual recognition banquet on April 25th to honor students involved in the TRiO program. UMFK President Dr. John N. Short provided the welcome address.

The banquet’s keynote speaker was Karen Hadley Keim.  Hadley Keim has worked for the University of Maine’s Educational Opportunity Center and Talent Search programs for 24 years, currently as its director.  She serves on the Adult Degree Attainment Partnership; Penobscot Job Corp Advisory Council; Bangor Housing Authorities Advisory for Family Self-Sufficiency; Maine Spark Future Success and Adult Promise; Rockefeller Scholarship Committee; the Maine Workforce & Education Coalition; and the Women’s Employment Issues for the Maine Jobs Council.  Hadley Keim is the past president of Girl Scout of Maine and the New England Educational Opportunity Association.

The following TRiO students were recognized for their individual support and student work as a peer tutor, note takers, or as complimentary instruction leaders.  Max Jandreau (Fort Kent); Jenacie Klinger (Loveland, CO); Megan Cole (Sherman, ME); and Brooke Lilley (Oakfield, ME). Each student was presented a certificate.

The 2018 Student Support Services awards were given to the following students: These awards recognize students for their successful transition to higher education and their proactive approach to academic achievement.

Most Successful Freshman Award: Molly Elwell (Millinocket, ME)

Honorable Mention: Kaitlyn Farnham (Plainville, VT) and Megan White (Corinna, ME)

Most Successful Sophomore Award: Jenacie Klinger

Honorable Mention: Emma Reynolds (Eddington, ME); Kala Grant (Brewer, ME), and Tasha Jeffers (Fort Kent)

Most Successful Junior Award: Katelynn Dougherty (Fort Kent)

Honorable Mention:  Brittnie Hodsdon (Connor Township, ME) and Steffany Caron (Fort Kent)

Most Successful Senior Award: Brook Lilley (Oakfield, ME)

Honorable Mention:  Sarah Locke (Fort Kent); Cecilia Efuetlacha (Coppell, TX); and Njukam Loveline (Arlington, TX)

Haleigh Smith (Bar Harbor, ME) and Vanessa Lopez Garcia (Portville,CA) were recognized for their significant improvement to academic achievement and recognizing their increased efforts towards becoming successful students:

The following students were recognized for their significant determination and persistence towards academic achievement and attaining their academic goals: Abdi Hussein (Lewiston, ME); Autumn London (New Limerick, ME); Emma Reynolds (Eddington, ME); Dawna Cservak (Machiasport, ME); Catherine Williams (Guilford, ME); and Rebecca Brown (Bowdoin, ME).

The following students were recognized for their outstanding motivation. They have the drive and willpower to overcome any obstacles they might encounter to do well and achieve their academic goals: Jenacie Klinger; Max Jandreau; Njukam Loveline; Emmanuella Anyika (Fort Kent); Ahkeim Forbes (Kingston, Jamaica); Olivia Marston (East Millinocket, ME); and Sesie Young (Madawaska).

This TRiO student was recognized for her exemplary participation in the Student Support Services program, as well as on-and off-campus involvement, has shown skills in leadership, teambuilding, communication, as well as persistence towards her academic goals and success as a student. Jenacie Klinger was named the 2018 TRiO Student of the Year.

Klinger has often branched outside her comfort zone and taken on new challenges in order to get the most out of her collegiate experience. She has consistently taken the initiative on different projects and reached out to her fellow classmates to create communities wherever she goes. A forward-thinking individual, Klinger utilizes her time in university as a testing-ground for job and life experiences that will help her shape her career.

Thirty-nine TRiO students were awarded a TRiO scholarship this year. 

The following TRiO students were recognized and presented with their Student Support Services cords, which they will wear at graduation. The graduates-to-be include: Amanda Bagley (Presque Isle); Brittney Beaulieu (St. David); Samantha Beaulieu (Wallagrass); Andre Begin (St. Francis); Marcus Bell (Madawaska); Megan Brown (Fort Kent); Nancy Cray (Presque Isle); Shania Gervais (Saint Agatha); Kelsey Gifford (Bradley, ME); Lory Guerrette (Madawaska); Odean Irons (Fort Kent); Kenadi Labbe (Fort Kent); France McDermott (Madawaska); Amanda Ouellette (Fort Kent): Demi Pelletier (Fort Kent); Kelly Post (Lindenhurst, NY ); Destiny Prosser (Littleton, ME); Adriarna Ross (Peru, ME); Katelyn Roy (Fort Kent); Dennis Sanborn (Oxford, ME); Brooke Saucier (Eagle Lake); Alexander Trask (North Monmouth, ME); and Brook Wooldridge (Riverside, CA).

UMFK Vice President of Academic Affairs, Dr. Steven Gammon, closed the evening’s ceremony.

TRiO Student Support Services is funded through the Department of Education under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and are referred to as the TRiO Programs because there were initially three programs.  TRiO programs are designed to help low-income, first-generation, and/or disabled students, under the guidelines of the American with Disabilities Act, Americans enter college, graduate and move on to participate more fully in America's economic and social life.

The Student Support Services Program’s focus is to insure that their participants have a realistic chance to persist in school and graduate from UMFK. To accomplish these objectives, they provide services to enhance students' academic success, personal skills, and social skills.

TRiO is a nationwide federally funded organization committed to providing educational opportunity for all Americans regardless of race, ethnic background, or economic circumstance.