PRESQUE ISLE – Northern Maine Community College faculty, staff and retirees came together for a luncheon just before the start of a new academic year to honor their fellow colleagues who have reached milestones in their tenure. Altogether, the ceremony recognized a combined 265 years of dedicated service.
RECOGNIZED DURING THE ANNUAL Northern Maine Community College employee/retiree recognition luncheon for their length of service at the College were, front row, from left: for 20 years, Kim Ferguson of Caribou; for 25 years, Miriam Gregg and Dan Butts of Mapleton, and Diane Peters and Bill Egeler of Presque Isle. Standing, from left: for five years, Dean Duplessis of Van Buren, Carol McCleary of Presque Isle, and Johna Lovely of Mapleton; for 15 years, Norma Smith of Presque Isle, Alinette Morse of Fort Fairfield and Wendy Bradstreet of Bridgewater. Absent from photo, all from Presque Isle: for 30 years, Dick Duplessis; for 20 years, Marilyn Willette; for 15 years, Sonja Fongemie; for 10 years, Bob Rice; and for five years, Elizabeth Crawford and Dave Wyman.
Seventeen NMCC employees were presented 30-, 25-, 20-, 15-, 10- and five-year service awards during the event, which featured touching and humorous tributes paid to honorees by fellow faculty and staff.
“We traditionally held this event at the end of the academic year and decided to move it to just before the start of classes,” said NMCC President Timothy Crowley. “Recognizing the members of the NMCC family who have reached important milestones of service to the College is a wonderful way to start a new school year.
“Time and again we hear from students, parents and alumni about how much of a difference NMCC has made in their life or the life of their child. Everyone who shares this sentiment with me also speaks of the individuals on the College faculty and staff who were instrumental in helping them to achieve their goals and realize their dreams,” he said. “The devotion and dedication of our employees is extraordinary and important for us to celebrate.”
Among those honored was Richard Duplessis, instructor of mathematics, who celebrates three decades of service to NMCC this year. In recognition of their colleague, Dan Hotham, the senior-most member of the College faculty spoke about Duplessis’ contributions to the campus in a tribute written by Sonja Fongemie, dean of continuing education.
“Dick started as a math instructor here at the college, moved into the Business Technology department as a CIS instructor and computer science guru, and last year, returned to the Arts and Sciences division to once again teach math. I did some calculations (I hope Dick would be proud of that accomplishment), and, based on averages, have determined that, not counting any evening, summer, or special courses, teaching five courses per semester, two semesters per year for 30 years, Dick has directly impacted the lives of more than 6,000 individuals in Aroostook County,” wrote Fongemie in the speech delivered by Hotham.
Twenty-five year service awards were presented to Daniel Butts, assistant dean of instruction; William Egeler, dean of students; Miriam Gregg, instructor of mathematics and communication; and Diane Peters, administrative assistant to the president.
Two employees, Kim Ferguson, librarian I and Marilyn Willette, senior office assistant in the nursing department, were recognized for 20 years of service.
Fifteen-year honors were presented to Wendy Bradstreet, accountant III; Sonja Fongemie, dean of continuing education; Alinette Morse, custodial worker II; and Norma Smith, assistant director of financial aid.
One employee, Robert Rice, instructor of diesel hydraulics was presented a 10-year service award.
Dean Duplessis, instructor of precision metal manufacturing; Elizabeth Crawford, Tech Prep coordinator; Johna Lovely, evening adviser/gender equity officer; Carol McCleary, senior accounting assistant; and David Wyman, computer programmer were each recognized for five years of service.
