Cote making dreams a reality
at Carabassett Valley
MARS HILL NEWS
by Tomi Henderson
Whitney Cote of Mars Hill was accepted at Carrabassett Valley Academy as a student snowboarder for the winter session in November. She and her parents, Tami and John Cote, went to CVA for an applicant interview on Nov. 18. She was accepted soon after, finished her classes at Greater Houlton Christian Academy on Nov. 23 and started attending school at CVA on Nov. 29. She made her first run on Sugarloaf Mountain on Nov. 30.
Photo courtesy of Tomi Henderson
Whitney Cote of Mars Hill, daughter of Tami and John Cote, has been accepted at Carrabassett Valley Academy as a student snowboarder for the winter session.
Whitney enjoyed a send-off party on Nov. 27 with friends and family there to wish her well. She received many gifts — for her new dorm room and for school. She also received some cold-weather gear and a new Burton V-Rocker snowboard with Scribe bindings and Tryst boots.
Whitney is in her sophomore year of high school and has been an avid snowboarder for over five years. She applied for and received a Bill and Joan Alfond Student-Athlete Scholarship and has also received financial help from several friends and family members to assist with her expenses at CVA. Her parents state, “If Whitney shows the academic and athletic excellence she is very capable of, she may receive a recurring Alfond Scholarship.”
For over six years, the Alfond Scholarship has funded deserving students from Aroostook County, giving them the ability to pursue their dreams on snow and meet their academic potential at CVA.
Photo courtesy of Tomi Henderson
AIR TIME — Whitney Cote, of Mars Hill, a student at Carrabasett Valley Academy, enjoys a little ‘air time’ during a recent run on the slopes.
Carrabassett Valley Academy’s dorms were built in 2007 at the base of Sugarloaf USA. Each floor has a dorm parent that lives there with their families and pets. There is also an “anti-gravity,” state-of-the-art training facility for the student athletes to use.
Whitney’s parents were very impressed with their tour of the facility and with the balance of academics, athletics and life health skills that make up the CVA environment.
Whitney enjoyed her first two weeks at the facility and the quality one-on-one instruction she received from the trainer, as the other snowboarding students were on a trip to Colorado. She was home on Christmas break from Dec. 16 to Jan. 1 and enjoyed showing off some new skills at Big Rock.
She took part in the USASA Maine Mountain Series Slope Style event hosted by Sugarloaf on Jan. 8 and placed second in her division in the Slope Style Competition. Her two runs consisted of “big air” jumps — an “Indy” and a “Nose Grab” as well as two rail/ramp sections.
Whitney also competed in the Tuckers Boardercross USASA event to raise funds for children’s cancer research. Whitney placed third both days.
You can follow Whitney on her blog: http://whitneycotes-cvablog.blogspot.com. You can also ask her parents how she is doing, as they are always ready to brag about her!
Rotary Club
The Mars Hill Rotary Club met Tuesday morning, Jan. 11, at 6:30 at the Aroostook Health Center. Rotarian Chappy Clark reported that 45 students attended the first ski program at Big Rock, which Rotary had donated funds toward. This will be a great thing for the town as more kids are introduced to skiing.
The special speaker was Tim Crowley, president of Northern Maine Community College. He said that the school is doing all it can to help students with both financial and academic assistance whenever necessary. The most important thing for a school to achieve is bringing a student from enrollment to graduation so they are at their best going into the workforce.
Photo courtesy of Tomi Henderson
GUEST SPEAKER — Northern Maine Community College President Tim Crowley spoke at the Mars Hill Rotary Club meeting on Jan. 11. Pictured from left are: Rotarian John Kilcollins, Crowley, Rotary President Ed Wright and NMCC Instructor Wayne Kilcollins. Crowley announced that a sizable donation had been made to the college for the alternative energy lab, which will allow the class size to double next fall.
He said statistics show that 95 percent of NM graduates stay in the state of Maine, while 50 percent stay in Aroostook County. The school strives to help students achieve success while attending school. The different classes learn to work together and with the public by working on the Sinawik house (NMCC students construct a home in conjunction with the Presque Isle Kiwanis Club – an annual project that has provided housing for a number of County families over the years). This year’s house is the 34th home done.
Graduates have the opportunity to go on to a graduate program and get their master’s degree through Husson College — while staying on the NM campus.
The college has four divisions — business, trade and technology, arts and science, nursing and allied Health. The school has full enrollment as a limit was set on class size in order to maintain the quality of the classes.
The newest trade offered is the alternative energy lab, which works with wind, solar and hydro power. Thanks to a recent $1.2 million donation to the school to support wind power technology, this program’s class size will double in the fall as the new funds will allow for a second instructor.
The school is beginning to celebrate its 50th anniversary. The school started with the nursing program 50 years ago. Locally, 35-45 percent of nurses are NM graduates. There will be several activities over the next couple of years as an outstanding graduate is chosen from each class to be recognized as part of the anniversary activities.
Devoe visits family
Jeffrey Devoe spent some time over the Christmas holidays in Mars Hill with friends and family. Jeffrey is in the Army and graduated from his AIT school for vehicle mechanics on Dec. 15. He enjoyed his time at home before he reported to his first duty station in Fairbanks, Ala., on Jan. 6. He was met at the airport by his cousin Lisa Mosher Hoyt and her family. Lisa’s husband is also stationed in Fairbanks.
United Methodist Women
The January meeting of the Mars Hill UMW was held Jan. 10 in the church vestry. There were eight members present. Lunch was a sandwich brought from home. Coffee, tea and a delicious dessert made by Judy Stahnke, co-hostess, was served. The food blessing was a special reading by Judy.
After an hour of socializing, the new president, Donna Brewer, opened the business meeting. Her first item of business was to award outgoing President Elaine Bailey a service award pin for all her hard work the past two years. President Donna then led in the UMW Purpose Pledge and Prayer. All responded to their acts-of-kindness during the past month.
The secretary’s and treasurer’s reports were read and accepted as read. Five thank-you notes were read. Two or three possible upcoming projects were discusses and tabled until later.
After the benediction, the meeting was turned over to Program Chairperson Joan Walsh. After reading the scripture of how Elizabeth, who was expecting a child, encouraged her cousin Mary, the mother of Jesus, not to be worried or afraid to have her expected baby, Joan then passed out interesting stories of difficult situations and how they were encouraged to persevere. These stories were from the book “All Things Are Possible.”
Those attending included: Donna Brewer, Elaine Bailey, Joan Boone, Joan Walsh, Judy Stahnke, Diane Ketchum, Frances Banks and Clara Hussey.
Student of the Month
In a continuing effort to recognize outstanding student citizenship, the faculty of Central Aroostook Junior-Senior High School have announced that Olivia Cyr and Whitnie Bradbury have been selected as the December Students of the Month. They were selected in recognition of their commitment to the pillar of character.
Olivia is a member of the Junior Class and lists English, chorus and band as her favorite subjects. She is vice president of the Student Council and is on the soccer and math teams. She also participates in band, chorus and was chosen to attend All Aroostook. Outside of school, Olivia enjoys writing, singing, spending time with family and friends, playing the drums, reading, watching movies and attending youth group. The daughter of Heidi and Mark Cyr, Olivia plans to attend the University of Maine at Orono to major in new media.
Whitnie Bradbury is the daughter of Bart and Heather Bradbury. She is a member of the eighth grade class and lists algebra I and reading as her favorite subjects.
She is the class president and is on the Student Council, Yearbook Committee and the junior high and high school chorus. She also is a member of the basketball, softball and soccer teams.
Outside of school, Whitnie enjoys basketball, soccer, softball and gymnastics. She plans to attend college to become an elementary school teacher.
Diane Clough, building committee chair, answers questions at a special information public hearing on Wednesday, Jan. 5, about the proposed new municipal building for Bridgewater. The new building would house the fire station and community center.
Tomi Henderson is the correspondent for Mars Hill, Blaine, Bridgewater and Westfield. She can be reached at 429-9126 or e-mail tomihen@yahoo.com.
