Graham named
NMCC 2011 Student of the Year
PRESQUE ISLE — Northern Maine Community College senior Dustin Graham of Mapleton has been named the college’s 2011 Student of the Year. Graham will earn his associate in arts degree in liberal studies when he graduates May 14. He was recently honored along with six other students from Maine Community College campuses across Maine at a ceremony in Augusta.
Photo courtesy of Northern Maine Community College
DUSTIN GRAHAM of Mapleton was recently chosen as NMCC’s 2011 Student of the Year. Graham, who will earn his associate in arts degree in liberal studies when he graduates May 14, was honored April 27 along with six other students from Maine Community College campuses across Maine at a ceremony in Augusta. Pictured are, from left: Maine Community College System Board of Trustees Vice Chair Robert Clark of Fort Fairfield, Graham, Maine Community College System President John Fitzsimmons and NMCC President Timothy Crowley. MCCS Board of Trustees Chair Kris Doody of Caribou also participated in the award presentation.
“NMCC was the best place for me to start my college career. It afforded me the opportunity to be really involved, and it served as a great place for me to test the waters as to what college was about,” said Graham. “I could have gone away to a larger school and still had a positive experience, but NMCC was the best fit to begin my college education.”
In addition to being a student worker for the NMCC development and college relations office and an employee of Star City IGA, Graham has dedicated himself to achieving academic success and to engaging in community service. Whether it be for personal interest or to enhance academic skills such as writing, he takes part in a number of events on campus, such as the annual Creative Writers Reading Series, the African American Read-In, and the recent writing workshop held by playwright John Cariani.
Graham has served on the NMCC Student Senate for the past two years, currently holding the office of vice president. He is a student representative for the NMCC Foundation board of directors, serving on both the executive and Investing in Innovation committees. Earlier this spring he was elected to the NMCC Alumni & Friends Organization board. In addition, Graham serves on NMCC 50th Anniversary planning committee and is actively involved in a number of other college activities.
Within his community, Graham contributes to a variety of organizations such as the Aroostook Teen Leadership Camp, Presque Isle Community Players, Diocese of Maine Harvest Ball Planning Committee, and with youth ministry as a volunteer for St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Presque Isle.
“We are so pleased to have Dustin Graham represent NMCC as our 2011 Student of the Year. Academically capable, socially engaged, and very civic-minded, Dusty chose a different pathway toward his ultimate goal of becoming a teacher than most like-minded high school graduates,” said Dr. William Egeler, NMCC dean of students in honoring Graham at the Student of the Year ceremony in Augusta. “By completing his degree in liberal studies at NMCC, Dusty has not only capitalized upon every opportunity presented to him, but he has done so without acquiring a mountain of debt throughout the journey.
“Dusty is a wonderful example for others in so many ways; we are very proud to have him represent the college in this way,” he said. “By the number of nominations he received for this honor, I’m certain I am not alone in that feeling.”
Upon graduation from NMCC, Graham will be traveling to Orono this fall to continue his education at the University of Maine, where he will be pursuing a baccalaureate degree in secondary English education.
“Although I’ll be leaving Aroostook County to continue my education, NMCC has helped me get a great start and I look forward to returning to the area in order to give back both to the college and the community,” Graham said.
