CARIBOU, Maine — Michael Hunter, a recent Caribou High School graduate, was the first to be awarded the newly established Peter A. Harmon scholarship.
The scholarship’s namesake passed away suddenly in July of 2015, which motivated the Harmon family to create the scholarship in his honor. According to Suzanne Harmon Withee of Bedford, N.H., the family will continue annually presenting the scholarship to exceptional students seeking higher education in the engineering fields.
Michael, son of Scott and Robin Hunter, was officially given the scholarship during “Class Night” in June, and plans on attending the University of Maine at Orono this fall with a major in mechanical engineering technology.
Like Hunter, Peter Harmon also sought education at the University of Maine at Orono, and graduated in 1987 with a bachelors of science in mechanical engineering technology. Upon graduating, Harmon worked as a mechanical engineer for SD Warren Paper Mill in Westbrook as a laboratory engineer in its research program, which focused on the paper coating process, and led him to many troubleshooting assignments at other mills.
Several members of the Harmon family worked to make this scholarship a reality, including Thomas and Annette Harmon of Caribou along with their children: Gregory Harmon of Prattville, Ala., Denise Harmon of Alburquerque, N.M., and Withee.
“It was a logical choice to fund a scholarship in Pete’s name back in the town where he grew up – a town he loved,” said Withee. “My parents and siblings could not be more pleased to award the scholarship in its first year to such a worthy candidate and outstanding student.”
The Harmon family is thankful to RSU 39 and the Caribou High School Guidance Department for helping establish the scholarship, particularly Guidance Counselor Mark Pinette and RSU Business Manager Mark Bouchard.
“Pete valued his education,” Withee added, “he was proud of his work as an engineer, proud to be a CHS graduate, and especially proud of his long-established Harmon family roots and ancestry in Caribou.”
