SUMMERMAGAZINE2022 IN THIS ISSUE Celebrating the Class of 2022 Opening Doors for Students Sports Center Construction
13 Alumni Connection Thomas graduates are everywhere in businesses across Maine – including Marshall Communications and Maine Grains, who are teaming up for an exciting, upcoming project. It’s just another example of how our alumni are built differently.
A group of Thomas College students won top awards again at the international business competition this spring. Our H. Allen Ryan School of Business produces award-winning and highly qualified graduates, and we are so proud of them and their promising futures.
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ON THE COVER: 2022 graduates Rajhan Munnings and Abri Roberts smile and pose together on Commencement day. Read more about Commencement on page 8. DEPARTMENTS: 5 Letter from the President 16 Athletics 19 Class Notes 22 In Memoriam 6 16 8
Celebrating the Class of 2022 Thomas College celebrated its 128th Commencement ceremonies this spring. These stories cover the event and its honorees and highlights a few undergraduate and graduate students who are on to promising futures post-graduation.
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Travis Reed ’26, son of alumna Lisa (Reed) Folsom ’00, recently shared, “I chose Thomas because of its small but powerful community. From the first time I visited, I got the sense that they wanted nothing less than for me to succeed. I am grateful for the aid I received through Thomas and other scholarships. With the extra help, I know I can achieve my dreams!”
At Thomas College, faculty and staff get to know our students; provide them with supports to learn and grow; and set them on a path to success in their personal and professional lives.
Helping Students Achieve THEIR DREAMS
Did you know that 55 percent of our students are first in their families to attend college and that 78 percent are from Maine? With more than 70 percent of Thomas graduates staying in Maine, their impact on our state is real. Everything we do at Thomas is studentfocused and is possible thanks to donations from the community and Thomas family members like you. The Thomas Fund provides scholarships; faculty development; academic support programs; professional and career development opportunities; athletics and co-curricular experiences; along with campus improvements. Please consider making a difference today with a gift to the Thomas Fund by using the enclosed, postage-paid envelope or by visiting us online at thomas.edu/give Thank you! Caption
If you have ever stopped to reflect on the many influences in your life – family, friends, cowork ers, and bosses, for instance, those from your education experience may also come to mind.
Letters and news items may be edited for length and style.
MISSION Thomas College prepares students for success in their personal and professional lives, and for leadership and service in their communities.
WWW.THOMAS.EDU
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President Laurie G. Lachance is pictured here during the Spring 2022 President's Innovation Challenge final pitch competition. Read more on page 15. The Thomas Magazine is published three times per year by Thomas College. Signed letters may be sent to the Editor at Thomas College, 180 West River Road, Waterville, ME 04901, or emailed to pr@thomas.edu.
Letter from Presidentthe BOARD OF TRUSTEES Conrad L. Ayotte ’77, H’98 Co-Chair Brian M. Bernatchez ’88 1st Vice-Chair Douglas L. Cutchin H’09 2nd Vice-Chair Kenneth P. Viens H’17 Secretary & Clerk Clifford C. Abbott, Jr. Michael D’Appolonia Jim A. WilliamDoyleM.Dubay ’72 Holly Ferguson ’95, M.B.A. ’96 Robin Goodwin M.B.A. ’90 Charles “Wick” Johnson, III Meredith H. Jones Danielle K. Marquis ’99 Cary Olson Cartwright David C. Pease Dorcas B. Riley Greg Savard ’89 Kelley B. Shimansky ’89 Richard F. Spellman M.S. ’80 Laurie G. Lachance M.B.A. ’92 TRUSTEE EMERITI James W. Hennigar H’03 Susan B. Lavenson H’94 Susan S. Roche EDITOR MacKenzie Riley Young COPY EDITOR Bonnie Buckmore ’13, ’17 CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Bonnie Buckmore ’13, ’17 Larry Davis ’70, ’74, M.S. ’78 Sue MacKenzieChrisGoddardNordensonRiley Young Kerry MichaelSmartSullivan PHOTOGRAPHERSCONTRIBUTING Haley LaurelCampbellChadwick P’22 Amy Gingras Pat BenChrisHubelNordensonWheeler’19, M.B.A. ’20 Cottonwood Studios DESIGN PELLE Graphic Design Haley Campbell C ONGRATULATIONS to our graduating class of 2022! This year marks the tenth graduating class that I have had the privilege of seeing achieve their educational milestones. I have witnessed many positive changes to Thomas in the past ten years, and I could not be prouder of a graduating class. The class of 2022 has been quite possibly the most adaptable, hardworking, and committed group of students I have come to know, and you are all going to do incredible things in theAsworld.the President, I have the honor of celebrating the transformational role that we play here at Thomas in each of our students’ lives—focusing on their individual improvement; fostering a commitment to intellectual excellence and social responsibility; and cultivating a community small enough to be personal and welcoming, yet large enough to provide professional access and opportunities for everyone. Our ability to continue on this path is made possible through campus-wide efforts like our 7th April. For this year’s DOG, we introduced our new Opening Doors Scholarship Fund, which assists prospective students in enrolling at Thomas by helping remove financial barriers they may be facing. We hoped that our Terrier community would help us reach our goal of raising $750,000 in one day. Thankfully, just shy of midnight, a total of 1,515 people had chosen to support Thomas students – raising nearly $800,000 to provide more opportunities, scholarships, and resources for them! Thank you again to everyone who made our students a priority thisThisyear.past spring also saw the third set of President’s Innovation Challenge projects. This year’s event was especially dynamic for everyone involved, wherein some of our undergraduate and on-campus MBA students applied design thinking to a realworld, professional situation. We saw College
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Laurie G. Lachance M.B.A. ’92 President
Seventh Annual Day Of Giving Shatters All Records
To illustrate how impressive this year was, in 2016, our first Day of Giving, we had an incredible 324 donors; this year, more than 1,500 people gave –nearly 500 of whom were brand new to donating to Thomas College. And the money that was raised is equally amazing. In 2016, donations totaled a little over $90,000; this year, our social media advocates, volunteers, faculty and staff,
the new Sports Center, several schol arships, and the Thomas Fund. Among the scholarships funded was a new, innovative one called Opening Doors , designed to help promising students with significant financial need attend Thomas – when they might not other wise be able to enroll. The generous students and their families, trustees, businesses, and friends of the College raised and donated nearly $800,000 – an increase of 880 percent in just six years. When donors support Thomas College students, everyone wins! Thanks to generous supporters, donations were doubled for Athletics, “For the 7th year in a row, our Annual Day of Giving exceeded all expectations. Our Thomas family came together in a way that only our community members do to support our students. It was exciting and truly inspiring, and we are so very grateful,” says Thomas College President Laurie Lachance M.B.A. ’92.
4.13.2022 DAY GIVINGOF THOMAS COLLEGE Partner Up
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From Thomas student Molly Sottak’s perspective: “Day of Giving is singlehandedly one of the most nurturing and fun days out of the year. Being able to donate to whatever you want to support on campus gives endless freedom with your generosity.” And here is what John Little ’14 shared about why giving back to Thomas matters: “Each year my wife Sarah (Card) Little ’14 and I donate on the Day of Giving towards the Rebecca Kane Memorial Scholarship. We both connected with Rebecca, her story, her vibrance, and her energy. She embodied the Terrier spirit, through and through. If our small donation can go towards a student in memory of her, it’s worth every penny. We love Thomas and everything it stands for – #proudalums.”
Thank you all for partnering up to make such a huge difference!
donations directed toward this fund will help these students succeed in crossing the threshold into Thomas, setting them up for eventual success in their chosen professions, thanks to the myriad oppor tunities, experiences, and support sys tems available here.
n Day of 2022Giving 19850%STATS 84540232225of donations were from ALUMNI donors were STUDENTS were PARENTSMEMBERSFAMILYOR faculty and staff, subcontractors, volunteers, and formerdonatedemployees TRUSTEES,FRIENDS,and BUSINESSES donated SOCIALADVOCATESMEDIA helped spread theonlinemessage thomas.edu SUMMER 2022 THOMAS MAGAZINE 7
CHRISTINA BOWMAN , from Woolwich, ME, completed her studies in December 2021, graduating summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education Life Sciences. Christina is currently employed as a full-time, eighth-grade science teacher at Cony Middle School in Augusta.
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Undergraduate Speaker Representing the Undergraduate Divi sion as Class Speaker was RAJHAN MUNNINGS . Munnings is from South Caicos, Turks and Caicos Islands, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. After graduation, he plans to continue playing hockey in Europe or move back to his hometown and focus on entrepreneurship. Graduate Speaker Representing the Graduate Division as Class Speaker was NATHANIEL WHITE White is from Fairfield, ME, and graduated with a Master of Business Administration degree, with a concentration in Health Care Management. White currently works in Materials Management Procure ment for MaineGeneral Health.
HIS MAY, more than 200 graduates from undergraduate and graduate programs and their guests joined us on campus for a celebration of their hard work and success – and a look forward to their promising future – at Thomas College’s 128th Commencement ceremonies.Honoredat this year’s ceremonies were the following:
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COMMENCEMENT 2022 2022 CLASS SPEAKERS
OurCelebratingStudents’Success
This award is presented in recognition of outstanding academic achievement at the undergraduate level, and this year, Thomas was pleased to present the award to three students.
HANNAH CRAYTON, from Winslow, ME, graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Environmental Science and Policy. After graduation, Hannah began work as Sustainability Coordinator at OceanView in Falmouth, ME.
LINDSEY DESMARAIS, from Turner, ME, graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education. After graduation, Lindsey will be teaching fifth grade at Williams Elementary and will continue her education to achieve a master’s degree.
THOMAS SCHOLAR AWARD RECIPIENTS
2022 CLASS MARSHALS
HONORARY DEGREE RECIPIENTS
H. ALLEN RYAN H’08, H’22 (POSTHUMOUS)
CHARLES W. HAYS, JR. M.B.A. ’02 President and CEO of MaineGeneral Chuck Hayes was recognized with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree.
RECIPIENTDEGREEHONORARYSPEAKERCONVOCATIONHONORS&
DONNA LORING Author, broadcaster, and for mer Senior Advisor on Tribal Affairs to Governor Mills Donna was recognized with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree.
Former Thomas College trustee and philanthropist Allen Ryan was posthumously recognized with a second honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree. n
Assisting the graduating class this year as marshals were SYDNEY PINKHAM from Poland, ME, and STEELE YOUNG from Freeport,SydneyME.graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. She plans to pursue a master’s degree in Industrial – Organizational Psychology at East Carolina University. Steele graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Entrepreneurship/Small Business Management. After graduation, he started his new job as a management trainee at Copart in New Hampshire. thomas.edu
RECIPIENTDEGREEHONORARYSPEAKERCOMMENCEMENT&
GREGORY W. POWELL Chairman of the Harold Alfond Foundation Board of Trustees, CEO and President of Dexter Enterprises LLC Greg Powell was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree.
THE
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Jessica entered her first year at Thomas College ready for a change. When she began her higher educational journey, she invested in herself by joining the track team and by becoming a peer and earlystart tutor, all while conquering the persistent obstacle of anxiety. From the beginning, joining the track team was a welcoming experience for Jessica. However, anxiety made being a college athlete “very difficult.” She managed her anxiety through weekly, on-campus counseling sessions and peer support. With the help of her team, she gained confidence within herself and her abilities. By the end of her athletic career, she became a track team captain and broke school records in the outdoor 400-meter, indoor 4×200meter relay, and the 4×100-meter relay. These experiences were just some of the ways she left her mark on campus.
As the Class of 2022 begins life after graduation, we spoke with a few of our newest alumni to learn about their plans and to ask what they will take away from their Thomas experiences.
Naples,PsychologyME AFTER GRADUATION: Pre-Med and Med School
In May, Sam became the first person in his family to graduate from college. During his time at Thomas, Sam worked hard both academically and financially, receiving honors and high honors throughout all his semesters here and working full time while going to school so he could pay for college on his own.
Move
Sam is extremely proud that he was able to finish his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration in only three years. He graduated debt free, without financial assistance from his parents or other family members.
Sam started a full-time job with Unum as a benefits specialist in June.
JESSICA JENSEN ’22
“My favorite thing about Thomas College always has been, and will continue to be, the community. I really feel like there is no school in the world quite like Thomas,” she said. Jessica plans to attend a post-baccalaureate, pre-medical program for one or two years before heading to med
GRADUATESschool.ON
Sam understands hard work, and he is grateful for the opportunities that Thomas has given him: “The foundation, education, and experience Thomas has offered me has given me the ability to achieve the career and life goals I have set for myself going forward,” said Sam.
SAM FALLA ’22
In addition to these records, she maintained a 3.97 GPA which opened doors for her, including the opportunity to be an earlystart tutor for a biology course with Dr. Allison Moloney. Upon graduation, her dedication to academics also led her to receive an invitation to the Alpha Chi honors society.
Business Administration Palermo, ME AFTER GRADUATION: Benefits Specialist at Unum
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Cassie’s belief in the power of education stems from her dedication to the kids in her life, including her three children and the many who have come through her classroom.
Cassie’s relationship began with Thomas College when she transferred in with an associate degree. As a nontraditional student, she was able to receive her degree with honors thanks in part to the support of many professors, including Cindy Lepley, Gayla LaBreck, Todd Martin, and Dr. Richard Biffle, who cheered her on along the way. Following the completion of her bachelor’s degree, she began teaching in central Maine. While with Lincoln School in Augusta, ME, she decided to advance her education by once again coming to Thomas to receive her master’s degree.
In 2016, Cassie walked across the Thomas College Commencement stage to receive her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. Six years later, she did it again, receiving her master’s degree in Literacy Education.
“I have spent much of my career in survival mode. After getting bounced around by the ‘dot com’ bubble bursting; suffering job loss; and working for poor decision-makers, I had to reinvent and rebuild myself throughout much of this century. My education and certifications have helped me find stability in trying times,” said Gary.
CASSANDRA (AUDET) THOOPSAMOOT ’16, M.S. ’22 Master’s in Literacy Education Augusta, ME
“All of my accomplishments were not only to prove to myself that I can persevere but also to show my children that they, too, can overcome obstacles and accomplish what they set their minds to,” saidCommittedCassie. to lifelong learning, Cassie can grow in her teaching abilities, thanks to her Thomas College education. With this degree, she hopes to bridge the gap between her students and their confidence in their functional reading abilities. By pursuing her promising future as an educator through Thomas, she is better equipped to help her students do the same.
GARY SOUCY M.S. ’22 Master’s in Cybersecurity Westbrook, ME JOB: Program Manager, Cybersecurity at Tyler Technologies Gary, a born and raised Mainer, chose to complete a graduate degree from Thomas College to further his career and support the local Maine economy. During his time completing his master’s in Cybersecurity at Thomas, he has already been promoted and has developed a path for future professional development. He currently serves as Program Manager, Cybersecurity for Tyler Technologies in southern Maine.
JOB: 6th grade teacher at Lincoln Elementary School
“I am proud to provide much-needed, high-quality services to the clients I serve and the company I work for and, most importantly, that I have improved my ability to provide for and support my family,” said Gary. He is happy to have found his true calling in the field of cyber: “I am passionate about spreading the gospel of cybersecurity and am a self-identified cyber-evangelist. There is no greater satisfaction than helping others.”
But it wasn’t a straight-forward or easy path.
“With an MS in Cybersecurity from Thomas, I feel assured that my future will continue to be stable; will allow me the freedom to innovate; and will allow me to create a vehicle for continuous growth for myself and those around me.”
By Larry Davis ’70, ’74, M.S. ’78
CAYFORDLYNN ’74
While at Thomas, Lynn’s favorite professor was Nelson Madore: “I respected him and desperately wanted to get an A+ in American History but got a B+.” He also credits Liz Geller for making him a typist, which helped during his career. In 1975, Lynn went to work for the State of Maine as a computer operator trainee on the graveyard shift; after a year, he moved to the day shift. Lynn was then promoted to computer operator but had to go back on the night shift – a “deal breaker.” Thanks to his Accounting minor, he joined the Maine State Department of Labor as an accountant. Within a revoked an establishment’s liquor license for this game, but the Liquor Commission overturned the city and gave the bar another chance. In an Old Orchard Beach case, Lynn was the hearing officer, and he upheld the decision to revoke the bar’sAnotherlicense.case involved a strip club in Lewiston with a hotel liquor license, requiring them to rent rooms. When the annual rental income was reported as $20, it was obvious they were not renting rooms. They lost their liquor license. In 2003, Lynn retired from the State; became a law enforcement consultant at both L.L. Bean and a local golf course; and acquired his real estate license. In 2005, he worked for the State of Maine in Child Support Enforcement, locating out-of-state, deadbeat parents and making them pay child support. As Lynn says, “I can be a real jerk when it comes to parents not supporting their children.”
year, he was promoted to a tax field advisor/examiner position. Three years later, Lynn transferred to the Liquor Commission, collecting excise taxes in the field. This allowed him to learn liquor and tax law and to become an expert on liquor licensing. He was a tax auditor from 19801984, then license director/legislative liaison. In 1997, Lynn became Chief of Liquor Enforcement. He ruled on the infamous bladder buster game played by bars in southern Maine. All patrons paid twenty-five cents per beer until someone went to the bathroom, then the price increased to $1.50. The law states drinking games that encourage consumption are not allowed. This game created fights, over-service, and visual intoxication. The city of Portland CATCHINGUPWITH “Doing the
People’s Business”
L YNN CAYFORD grew up in Gardiner, ME, with three sisters and one brother. His dad worked at Togus VA, and they all had to pay their way through college. Lynn got his associate degree in Business Administration from UMA. For his bachelor’s degree in Business Education (Accounting minor), he chose Thomas which accepted his UMA credits. He could live at home and work at Cottle’s (now Hannaford), paying his way through school.
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Lynn left State employment in 2015. He now sells real estate and enjoys spending time with his wife Edna and their daughters, Vanessa ’99 and Nicole. In 2022, he went to work for the Maine State Senate Staff, performing door security and administrative duties.
Kayla said she has had a lot of fun working with Nancy and Emma on PR for Maine Grains’ 10th Anniversary: “We have connected over our shared experience of attending Thomas College and are fostering a relationship that will last far beyond our work together.”
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Kayla is the Sales & Marketing Manager at Maine Grains and is working with Marshall Communications on public relations for Maine Grains’ 10 th Anniversary celebration.
all over the country and around the world, but I am most passionate about the clients we have right here in Maine,” said Emma. “My connection to these organizations is even deeper because I have heard about them, seen them, or visited them, including Maine Grains. When I get to work with businesses that are local to where I live and grew up, I feel like I understand them better because they are part of my community. I also want to help them succeed, thereby strengthening the community overall.”
These alumnae are lucky to work with one another frequently—and are making a name for themselves in central Maine.
Nancy, Emma, and Kayla are prime examples of Thomas College alumni making connections and working well together. We know there are more out there. Emma explains this special connection well: “Thomas alumni are dependable and have a particular drive and passion for their clients and the companies they represent.”
Nancy Marshall M.B.A. ’94 is known across the state as Maine’s PR Maven. She founded her widely successful public relations agency more than 30 years ago and says her Thomas MBA played a part in her success over the years.
“Thomas taught me about business and marketing so I could not only grow my own business but also help clients grow and market their businesses,” said Nancy. She has made a name for herself and Marshall Communications while helping build up other young Mainers, including
several fellow Thomas graduates. For example, Whitney (Moreau) Raymond ’09, M.B.A. ’10 began working for Nancy shortly after graduating from Thomas and is now Vice President of Marshall Communications. Emma Dimock ’19 started as an intern and, three years later, is the Relationship Manager. Student Abbey Violette ’23 is currently an intern at Marshall Communications. And Nancy is helping mentor Kayla Bess ’19 at Maine Grains (one of her clients) in PR skills. Emma attributes her job as Relationship Manager today to Thomas College’s strong alumni network. “It’s fun to work with clients If you work in Maine, there is a good chance you know someone or work with someone who attended Thomas College. Thomas alumni are proud of their education and love meeting other Thomas graduates.
Thriving THOMAS ALUMNI IN CENTRAL MAINE
“When I graduated, I had every intention of working in the sports industry, but sometimes life has other plans for you. Regardless of industry or area of study, Thomas College helped lay the foundation for a successful career,” saidAndKayla.Kayla has thrived so far: “During my first year at Maine Grains, I successfully onboarded more than 30 new wholesale customers and expanded distribution options for our freshly milled grains throughout the Northeast. I have led the charge in planning and organizing various events we have attended over the past year, including some new tradeshows for Maine Grains (i.e., The Big E and Maine Cheese Festival).”
College students from across the globe compete each year.
T HOMAS COLLEGE STUDENTS won top awards once again at this year’s Society for the Advancement of Management (SAM) International Business Conference in April.
DR. RICK SAUCIER
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“The student team demonstrated an outstanding positive attitude and work ethic in representing Thomas College in an international business school competition. Their results show that Thomas College Business students can compete with anyone in the world and that they are receiving a first-class education right here in Maine!” said Thomas College professor and co-coach Dr. Rick Saucier. This is the fifth year in a row that Thomas College students have placed in the SAM competition. Student competitor Addison Landon said, “I decided I wanted to be a part of the SAM competition last year when I read about the success of the 2021 team. The fact that I knew those who competed and won inspired me to take on that goal myself. I am more than honored to have contributed to Thomas College’s legacy of academic scholarship, like those before me, and look forward to continuing to do so in the future.”
Thomas College Students WIN TOP AWARDS AT INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
The full Thomas College team of Daniel Brewer ’23, M.B.A. ’24 of Casco, ME; Gwyn Perlmutter of Springfield, MA; Abbey Violette of Caribou, ME; George Dakin of Stockton Springs, ME; Jake Warn of Winslow, ME; and Addison Landon of Bangor, ME, competed virtually in categories consisting of a case study presentation; a written case study; an extemporaneous speech; a business pitch; and a knowledge bowl.
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COMPETITION“Thestudentteamdemonstratedan outstanding positive attitude and work ethic in representing Thomas College in an international business school competition. Their results show that Thomas College Business students can compete with anyone in the world and that they are receiving a first-class education right here in Maine!”
Jake Warn ’22 finished first place in the Business Pitch competition, and the team of George Dakin ’22, M.B.A. ’23, Addison Landon ’22, Gwyn Perlmutter ’22, and Abbey Violette ’22, M.B.A. ’23 finished second place in the written case study competition.Thisannual series of competitions that reaches back over 40 years is organized by the Society for Advancement of Management, the oldest management organization in the country, and provides an opportunity for students to showcase existing skills and further develop fundamental skills for business success.
George Dakin said, “This experience has opened my eyes to how competitive the business field is and pushed me to see how much I have grown and learned at Thomas throughout the last three years. I couldn’t have been more honored to represent the Business program.”
Thomas College’s H. Allen Ryan School of Business is award-winning and has undergraduate and graduate programs in Accounting, Business Administration, Entrepreneurship, Management, and more.
Amanda Nguyen, Program Director for the Centers of Innovation at Thomas spearheadedCollege,this program by working with students and employers. Nguyen says, “For ten weeks, our students had the opportunity to learn design thinking in order to tackle authentic problems. They were mentored by employer partners and campus administrators who gave feedback and helped the students develop skills that will make them more career ready. Ultimately, they were empowered to share their feedback and recommendations to project hosts and an audience of Thomas students, staff, faculty, trustees, and special guests. In a wonderful end to the day, almost everyone got to hear a commitment from host organizations that their ideas would be Otherimplemented.”employers who were involved with this semester’s Innovation Challenge were the Maine Department of Corrections/Long Creek Youth Development Center, Waterville Creates, and JMG. Employers collaborated regularly with the students throughout the semester, leading up to the pitch competition.
Students Participate and Win Spring President’s Innovation Challenge & Cash Prize
“It felt surreal to win this challenge. We worked so hard for ten weeks on a topic that we are passionate about, and winning the whole competition was an incredible moment,” said Shawnna.
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Another winner, Elisabeth, said, “This challenge helped me feel so incredibly secure in my abilities to change the world and the place I call home. The power and strength that I received from this challenge is unmatched, and I cannot wait to apply it in my professional career.”
Third place winners, who won $250, included Achen Charles ’23; Apiyo Charles ’23; Onyx Emelo ’24; and Luul Hassan ’23. They collaborated with JMG for their project. The next President’s Innovation Challenge will launch in the fall of 2022. n
EAMS OF THOMAS COLLEGE STUDENTS
competed in the President’s Innovation Challenge this spring on campus. Students collaborated with Maine employers and used design thinking for a semester-long project to solve real-world problems.
Second place winners, who won $500, included Evelyn Goulette ’22; Sebastian Holland ’22; Nick Linkel ’23; and Tyler Winchester ’23. They collaborated with Long Creek Development Center for their project.
STATEDIRIGO of Maine state government and create a mock state through experiential learning and by listen ing to elected leaders. They transform their state through town, city, county, and state governance models. Del egates gain knowledge and experience to become better educated citizens and voters. They also learn ‘soft skills,’ through public speaking and interpersonal communication and can effectively deliver an ‘elevator pitch.’ Looking forward, Dirigo State has three strategic goals: to become accredited, giving students college credit for the program; to create a marketing campaign and interactive website; and to achieve
Held CollegeThomasat T HE AMERICAN LEGION and Amer ican Legion Auxiliary Department of Maine’s Dirigo State is the cul mination of Dirigo Boys and Dirigo Girls State, with a 75-year history of providing life-changing experiences for Maine high school seniors. Thousands of participants have become active citizens and acquired leadership positions across the U.S. To give students a more realistic worldview, Dirigo State became the first American Legion and Auxiliary program, nationwide, to fully integrate. Delegates learn the fundamentals
Winners of the Innovation Challenge pitch competition were Shawnna Frost ’23, Griffin Mayhew ’22, and Elisabeth Sanborn ’22. They worked with Thomas College on a mental health project and won $1,000 for their first-place win.
growth.”Collegemorecounts,personalhascomingDirectorleaders.forStatebetter,funding.more-dedicatedWiththis,astrongerDirigowillbeavailablefutureMaineandU.S.NotedDirigoStateMatthewLeClair,“SincetoThomasin2007,thecampusgrownyetstillhasanintimate,feeling.Weenjoylargerstudentdifferentextracurriculars,andinteractiveclassrooms.ThomasisatruepartnerinDirigoState’s n thomas.edu SUMMER 2022 THOMAS MAGAZINE 15
ATHLETICS
B ASEBALL FELL IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC CONFERENCE (NAC) Championship game to Husson after a great run in the tournament. The Terriers got off to a rough start in the tournament, losing to SUNY-Cobleskill 23-4. They were able to bounce back later that same day to beat SUNY-Canton. Thomas followed up their performance against the Roos by coming back to eliminate SUNY-Coblekskill. The Terriers played a great game against Husson, ultimately falling 11-7 in the final. They finished their season 17-26 overall and 8-8 in conference. Their most impressive win was a 2-0 win over NVULyndon, in which first-year Garrison Paillet threw the first no-hitter in the 26 years since Head Coach Greg King has been at Thomas. Paillet ended the season with a team high 40 strikeouts.
Transfer Tony Meza led the Terrier’s offense with a batting average of .348, including six doubles and 26 RBIs. Senior Devin Grindle led the Terriers in home runs with nine and in RBIs with 43. Sophomore Andrew Pruell had a good season on the mound for the Terriers, pitching 29.2 innings and posting an ERA of 3.34, with 24 strikeouts. Softball, like Baseball, lost in the NAC Championship to conference foe Husson University. The Terriers had to play six games in three days for the NAC Championship Tournament, which is double elimination. They dominated NVU-Lyndon in the opener, before falling to Husson by a score of 3-2. With the loss, Thomas entered the loser’s bracket; then bounced back with a big win over SUNY-Canton, before coming from behind to beat Cazenovia College and SUNY-Cobleskill to set up a rematch with Husson. The Terriers played well in the championship but just did not have enough gas in the tank to beat the Eagles. Thomas finished the season 19-17 and 8-2 in conference. Their biggest, regular season win was against Husson in nine innings – they were the only team to beat the Eagles in conference play. Softball had four players named to the NAC East First Team All-Conference. The first player who received all-conference was Senior Bailey Dunphy; she started in all 36 games as a graduate student this year. She recorded a .478 batting average with one home run, 27 RBIs, 33 runs scored, and 23 stolen bases. The second was senior Kasey Champney, who played in 32 games and started in 31. She recorded a .305 batting average with four home runs, five doubles, 19 RBIs, and 18 runs. Next up was Kelsey Currier, who not only played the field but also was the Terrier’s go-to pitcher. She appeared in 35 out of 36 games, recording a .358 batting average with 28 runs and 11 RBIs. In the circle, she posted a 9-7 win-loss record in an incredible 110 innings pitched with
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Wrap-Up Thomas Athletics had an immensely successful spring sports season, with three teams making it to the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) Championship in their respective sports. an ERA of 3.19, 12 complete games, and 84 strikeouts. Lastly, Maddie Rock played in 34 games, recording a .298 batting average, with two home runs, ten doubles, one triple, 33 RBIs, and 21 Bothruns. the Men’s and Women’s Track programs had record-shattering seasons. On the men’s side, Stephen Gray placed sixth in the decathlon at the New England DIII Outdoor Championships, becoming the first Terrier to place in the school's history. Jake Warn set the school record for long jump and triple jump and finished third overall in the triple jump. Owen McQuarrie, Jarrod Hooper, Ryan Beckerman, and Matthew Shea placed eighth in the 4x800 relay; they were the first relay team in program history to place. Hooper also broke the NAC conference record a week early in both the 800- and 1500-meter. The women’s season was just as impressive. Molly Walker was named NAC Women’s Field Athlete of the Year and broke the NAC conference record in the discus. She also finished first in the hammer throw. Mary DiSanto became the first woman in program history to place, grabbing eighth place in the discus. DiSanto also finished second at the discus throw behind Walker at the NAC Championship. Field Hockey stand-out and first-year Julia Reny finished second at the NAC Championship in both the 100-meter hurdles and javelin throw. Men’s Tennis had another terrific season, losing a tight match to SUNYDelhi in the NAC Championship. Thomas played the Broncos three times this season, going 1-2 against them. They beat Delhi at home before falling to them on the road in the regular season and in the Championship Match. The Terriers had a big win at home against
USM after losing to them on the road early in the season. The Men’s Tennis team finished 6-7 overall and 5-1 in conference. Senior Jose Afonso Luis was named NAC Co-Player of the Year. The 2021 NAC Men’s Tennis Senior Scholar Athlete returned for bonus season and notched a 4-2 conference record at #1 singles. He paired with Rookie of the Year Gabe McPhail at #1 doubles for an undefeated conference record of 6-0. McPhail started his collegiate career with an undefeated conference ledger – going 6-0 at #3 singles. Head Tennis Coach Rob Disch was named NAC Co-Coach of the Year for both the men’s season in the spring and the women’s season last fall. Women’s Lacrosse bowed out of the NAC playoffs, losing to the #1 seeded SUNY-Delhi. Despite the semifinal loss, the team had a terrific season and was chosen to finish seventh in the pre-sea son poll but surprised everyone and finished fourth. First-year coach and Thomas alum Jenn Morris helped her season to a 6-9 overall record and 4-3 in conference, which is Women’s Lacrosse’s best record since Morris’s last year as a player at Thomas. Mary LaRochelle and Aubrey Schaeffer were both named to the NAC All-Conference First Team. LaRochelle racked up 46 points and 21 assists in 15 games. She scored the most points for the team since Coach Morris in 2015. Schaeffer had never played lacrosse before this season and was able to score her first collegiate goal against UMaine Farm ington. She also had 28 ground balls and 13 caused turnovers. Anna Chadwick, Alia Chasse, and Lizzy Gotay were named to the All-Conference Second Team. Chadwick not only helped with Thomas’s offensive efforts but also led the team in ground balls and draw controls. Chasse scored the second most goals on the team, with 32; she also had 25 ground balls and 13 caused turnovers. Gotay was the team’s rock in net, playing every minute in goal this season for Thomas. Men’s Lacrosse finished 2-10 overall this season and 2-6 in conference. Their biggest win of the season was a close win over SUNY-Cobleskill. They also had a dominate win over NVU-Lyndon for their second conference win. Max Irons led the Terriers, scoring 21 goals and 11 assists for 32 points in 12 games. Junior Dominic Desimone was named to the NAC All-Conference Second Team. The defenseman played and started in all 12 games for Thomas, grabbing 36 ground balls and leading the team in caused turnovers, with 20. This is the second year in a row that Desimone has been named to the NAC All-Conference Second Team. n
18 THOMAS MAGAZINE SUMMER 2022 thomas.edu
Meredith2005(Arute) Ripley secured a position with athenahealth as its newest People Manager in Customer Success Management.
Kimberly2004Colwell Snow ’04, M.B.A. ’04, owner of Ellsworth Jewelers, celebrated her business’s ten-year anniversary in February. Benjamin Fairclough was hired as an account manager at WSC Sports in NY. John Fullerton was named Director of Ambulatory Operations & Process Improvement for Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, MA.
Jasmine (Carey) White became the new owner of Vintage & Vogue Consignment, LLC, based in Augusta, ME.
Krista2010Specht was named Director of Sales – Digital Commerce at United Natural Foods, Inc. Casey2011(Trask) Collins was named the new Publishing Manager at Inspire Brands. Brandon2012Rolfe was hired as assistant groundskeeper for Portland Sea Dogs. Kayla2013(Giroux) Holt was hired as an information technology project manager with Robert Half. Lynn (Chaisson) Morkeski ’13, M.B.A. ’13 was promoted to Senior Accountant at Sheridan Construction Corporation. Lauren (Bickford) Wentworth M.B.A. ’13, was named Assistant Director of Alumni Relations at Plymouth State University in Plymouth, NH.
Heidi (Vanorse) Neal ’95 Randy Clark M.B.A. ’06 Kimberly Colwell Snow ’04, M.B.A. ’04 Meredith (Arute) Ripley ’05
Randy2006ClarkM.B.A. ’06 was named President at Northern Light Sebasticook Valley Hospital in Pittsfield. Eric French ’06, M.B.A. ’15 secured a new position with Eastern Maine Healthcare as its System Director of Financial Planning. Joy Ireland ’06, M.B.A. ’08 secured a new position as an account executive with Cornerstone Insurance Agency.
Heidi1995(Vanorse)
Neal, founder and co-owner of Loyal Biscuit Company, recentwly raised $12,000 through an annual holiday. roundup-your-purchase fundraiser, which was used to purchase 12,000 pounds of food to donate to eight animal shelters from Trenton to Augusta!
2014 Joseph Caraglia ’14, M.B.A. ’16 accepted a position within the Maine Department of Transportation as a technician with Project Development Bridges. Joshua Clark was hired as Network Administrator with Technology Solutions of Maine. John Little, Jr. was hired as a financial aid counselor at Northeastern University’s Roux Institute. Marquis Mason-Pollard was named Men’s Head Basketball Coach here at Thomas College. Scarlett (Stevens) ’14 and Shawn Ouellette ’13 recently welcomed Henry’s sibling. Their future Terrier was born on January 9, weighing in at 9 lbs., 7oz. Ryan Perry ’14, M.B.A. ’15 accepted a position with The Shyft Group as their new order entry/processing support professional. Danielle Welch ’14, M.S. ’20 was promoted to the position of Cybersecurity Team Lead at Tyler Technologies.
ALUMNICLASSNOTES
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Andrew2009Dimmitt was promoted from account lead to account manager at Unified Parking Partners, LLC.
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Marquis Mason-Pollard ’14 Jessica (Bickford) ’18 and Jack Flynn ’18 Eliezer Vilanova ’17, M.B.A. ’18 Scarlett (Stevens) ’14 and Shawn Ouellette ’13 recently welcomed Henry’s sibling. Leah Kruse ’19, M.B.A. ’20 Ben Carter ’21 Alumni who work at Portland accounting firm Albin, Randall & Bennett, a proud sponsor of Greenlight Maine: Back row - Kyonna Tobin ’21, M.B.A. '22, Danielle Berard ’20, M.B.A. ’21, Holly (Mullen) Ferguson ’95, M.B.A. ’96, Dalton Myers ’15, M.B.A. ’16, Rachel Gillis ’17, M.S. ’20, ’21 Front row - Robin Cyr M.S. ’02, Cassidy Pinkham ’18, M.B.A. ’19
Harrison Mosher ’21, M.B.A. ’22 was promoted to the new dual role of office assistant and insurance representative at MaineGeneral Health. Katrina Pratt was hired by the University of Southern Maine as their Recreation Coordinator.
Callie2015Flood’15, M.B.A. ’16 was promoted to the Clubs Guest Experience Manager at The Seagate Hotel & Spa in Delray Beach, FL. Jonte ’15, M.B.A. ’18 and Lyndsi (Merrill) Roussel ’16 recently got married! Sarah (Peterson) Webster ’15, M.B.A. ’18 was hired by the State of Vermont as their newest Program Coordinator for Law Enforcement Grants and Traffic Records.
Baxter Levasseur was hired by Camden National Bank in Waterville as their Assistant Banking Center Manager. Isaac Salisbury secured a full-time internship with the Portland Sea Dogs as ticket office associate. Austen Schutte was named the new Title III Grant Specialist with Thomas College.
Hunter Hughes secured a position with Camden National Bank in Auburn as their newest retail bank trainee. Jacob Lacroix was hired as a marketing specialist with N’ware Technologies.
Please send your class notes to Bonnie Buckmore in the Advancement Office at devdb@thomas.edu
Hollie2017(Kozlowski) recently married Jonathan Hildreth! Steven Lawrence was hired as a data conversion engineer 1 with Vertafore, based in Houston, TX. Alexis Merrifield was hired by Maine Behavioral Health as a behavioral health professional. Crystal Peatfield secured a new position as primary therapist at The Process Recovery Center in Nashua, NH. Jordyn Taylor ’17, M.B.A. ’18 was hired as an information technology specialist with the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Eliezer Vilanova ’17, M.B.A. ’18 recently earned his DBA (Doctor of Business Administration) from Grand Canyon University. Jessica2018(Bickford) recently married Jack Flynn! Evelyn Swan secured a new position with Rokk Solutions as account executive.
Carina2020Iacozzi was promoted to HR generalist at American Training Inc and was also named Head Coach for the Winchester Girls Lacrosse League.
Joshua Biondo secured a new position as project accountant with SWABACK in Scottsdale, AZ.
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Brendan2019Arsenault was named business development representative at SkillCat. Leah Kruse ’19, M.B.A. ’20 was promoted to human resources and disability professional with Cianbro Corporation. Masee Shahid was promoted to Branch Manager at Enterprise Truck Rental in Bangor, ME. Reid ’19 and Kayla (Chapman) Wallingford ’20 got married this past October.
Ben Carter recently obtained his private pilot license, an instrument rating, and is now working as a professional commercial pilot. He is also pursuing his flight instructor license in his spare time. Kyle Gleason ’21, M.B.A. ’22 secured a new position as an investor services representative with Stone Coast Financial Services in Portland, ME. Caleb Gorey was hired as an insurance representative at MaineGeneral Health. Duncan McDougal was hired by Bangor Savings Bank as a commercial credit analyst 1.
Jarod Maher was hired as a software developer intern with Tyler Technologies in Yarmouth, ME.
Alumni Class Notes
SUBMIT YOURCLASS NOTES
2021 Saige Allard was hired as a background investigator at Peraton.
Zackary2016Groat was promoted to assistant foreman at Bath Iron Works. Katie McAlllister ’16, M.B.A. ’18 was named by The National Association of REALTORS® as one of the Top 30 Realtors under the age of 30 in the country! Katie is the first Maine women to ever win; was one of two honorees from all of New England; and was the only winner from the State of Maine in the last ten years! Blaine Ward was named the new Employer Reporting Manager for the Maine Public Employees Retirement System. Joshua Woodard ’16, M.B.A. ’17 was named Assistant Branch Rental Manager at Enterprise in Augusta, ME.
Kyleigh Murchison, who is currently pursuing her Master’s in Social Work at Smith College, secured a field placement with Belchertown Public Schools. Jacob Rainey secured a new position with Kennebec Savings Bank as information security engineer. Tyler St. Pierre was awarded an internship with Tyler Technologies in Yarmouth, ME, with their Disaster Recovery Team.
Elisabeth Sanborn is working as a summer intern at Albin, Randall & Bennett. Steele Young is working as a management trainee in the Leadership Development program at Copart in New Hampshire.
Ethan2022Barnett is working as a CIP Management Trainee this summer with FW Webb. Jacob Bazinet was hired as a consultant for CGI. Maeghan Bernard is working as an audit internship with Berry Dunn this summer. Lindsey Desmarais was hired as a 5th grade teacher at Williams Elementary School. Samuel Falla ’22, M.B.A. ’22 was hired as a benefits specialist for long-term disability at Unum. Charlie Hippler secured a new position with Bangor Savings Bank in their highly selective Management Trainee program.
Class of 1969 George “Bud” Edward McCormick left his earthly bounds April 29, George2022.wasa graduate of Farmington High School. He was a Korean War veteran, serving in the U.S. Navy, stationed in Kodiak, Alaska. He was a chief aircraft mechanic on planes searching for Russian submarines. He then attended Paul Smith’s College before Thomas College in Waterville, where he attained an Associate degree in 1958, then a Bachelor of Science degree in 1969, and received the Award for Academic Excellence. He worked for Harold Alfond as an accountant. He later taught business at Valley High School in Bingham and coached varsity girls’ basketball, compiling three undefeated seasons. He finally settled into what became his passion, law enforcement, serving 22 years as a state and federal probation officer. In retirement, he became a deputy sheriff for Piscataquis County and was very successful at “herb” interdiction, receiving the Reserve Deputy of the Year Award in 2006 for all of Maine.George was a loving son, husband, father, hisandgreat-grandfather,grandfather,brother,uncle,friendtomany.Heenjoyedgrandchildren,teachingthem to hunt, fish, and play cribbage. He loved taking them to camp at He was a communicant of The Parish of the Holy Savior and a choir member. He was a 4th degree member of the Knights of Columbus. He enjoyed volunteering at their breakfasts, suppers, blood drives, and Tootsie Roll drives. He was a volunteer with the GRAMPS food program. He was also a 61-year member of the American Legion. An avid fan of sports, many of Leo’s proudest moments were sitting on the sidelines or in the bleachers cheering on his grandchildren in their many sporting events. He was also a big supporter for the U.S. Special Olympics.
Class of 1955 David G. Guimond, of Winslow, died June 23, 2022, of natural causes.Hegraduated Winslow High School in 1947 and Thomas Business College in 1955. From 1948, he served in the United States Air Force during the Korean War and was honorably discharged in 1952 with the rank of Staff Sergeant – E5. He retired from the Internal Revenue service with over 30 years of government and military service. He was a lifelong member of the American Legion Post 5. After years of courting the love of his life, Muriel Poulin, they were married in 1955. The family wants to thank the entire staff at Sandy River Center skilled nursing facility Farmington for the wonderful care they provided him during his resident stay. Sandy River honored our dad as a veteran. Also, special thanks to Beacon Hospice Care of Augusta for their care during his end of life, especially to Colonel Angela and her wonderful team who respectfully and spiritually honored our dad as a veteran for his service in the Korean War.
Class of 1954 Leo P. Arsenault, 94, of Rumford passed away January 20, 2022, at Montello Heights in Lewiston after a period of declining health. Leo was proud to serve his country as a Corporal in the U.S. Marine Corps during WWII and the Korean War. He married Mary “Midge” Ferland in 1952; they were married for almost 43 years until her passing in 1995. He was an honor student at Thomas Business College, graduating in 1953. Leo worked as an accountant for the Ethyl and the Boise Cascade Corporations until his retirement in 1988.
Class of 1945 Bernadette (Champine) Massey passed away peacefully on February 12, 2022, at Mount St. Joseph Nursing Home in Waterville. At the age of 95 years old, she was ready and waiting to meet her lord and savior, with prayer beads in hand. She graduated from Lawrence High School and then attended a one-year bookkeeping program at Thomas College. She worked in this profession at the Lockwood Dutchess until 1949, at which time she married her husband John “Steve” Massey. Bernadette became a housewife and mother, as well as part-time booker, supporting her husband’s business ventures, including the Silver Dollar and Steve’s Restaurant. She was a devout Catholic, and her faith became her lifelong support. Her family members were always in her prayers, and her grandchildren always appreciated the fact that whatever their endeavors, Grammy’s prayers were with them. She will also be remembered for her dry wit and sense of humor, her love of dogs, and her strong will and independent spirit.
Stephen H. Lunt, 70, of Winthrop, died unexpectedly April 3, 2022, with his family beside him at Maine Medical Center. Steve graduated from Winthrop Class of 1961 Jean A. Gregoire passed away on March 17, 2022, at Carney Hospital in MA. She was raised in Waterville and attended Mount Merici Academy, graduating in 1958. Upon graduation, she went on to Thomas College, where she received an associate degree. After a period of time, she moved to Massachusetts to pursue a working career, retired, and remained there until her death.
Northwest Pond of Seboeis. He greatly enjoyed following their school activities and athletics.
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Class of 1974 Roxanne Q. Francoeur, 70, of Biddeford passed away peacefully on May 16, 2022, at Maine Medical Center with her family by herRoxanneside. graduated from Biddeford High School in 1970 and from Thomas College in 1974 with a BS in Business Education. She taught in both Vermont and Maine before changing careers and moving into insurance as a customer representative. She married her best friend and beloved husband, Theodore Francoeur, at St. Mary’s Church in Biddeford in 1989. The couple started married life in Gorham, then moved to Biddeford to set up their lifetime home. It was here that their pride and joy Kenny was born. Roxanne loved living in a multigenerational home that included Kenny’s Nana and Aunt Gail next door. She had many loves, especially when it came to animals. Roxanne supported multiple animal welfare organizations, as well as supporting animal food drives and feeding the squirrels and birds. Watching her Patriots and Red Sox meant getting out the sweatshirts and cheering on the teams. She was an avid reader and gardener, enjoying time doing both and then passing on the books to the next reader. Her son found a way to give her a Ladyship in Ireland for owning a small plot of land. One of Roxanne’s greatest joys was watching Kenny perform. She loved traveling to see him in various locations across the country from right here in Maine to as far as Alaska – there was no where she wouldn’t travel to see her boy perform.
High School and from Thomas College in 1974, where he majored in accounting but pursued his passion for building. This passion eventually led to him becoming a certified energy auditor, and he had a knack for making homes as energy efficient as possible. He worked for local companies before retiring in 2019. Not one to sit idle, Steve began helping his friends and family build their homes and camps and working on various home improvement projects of his own. From childhood, Steve loved sports. He played baseball through his college years, then moved to attending games and coaching his children through their various sporting interests. Steve was a huge Portland Sea Dogs fan, loved Led Zeppelin, and never passed up a good haddock sandwich. An avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed all types of fishing, even if it meant braving subzero temperatures on the ice for hours in search of the big one. Some of his fondest memories were captured at the family camp on Sebec Lake; a sacred place to Steve. A stroll down memory lane was a prerequisite for every boat ride on the lake, and he had a story to coincide with every rock, tree, and hill as he made his way to his favorite fishing spot on the far side of the lake. Like clockwork, he would remind any passenger that he was, “born with a tiller in his hand.” Steve was a devoted family man. He dated his wife Colleen (Barrett) Lunt, also from Winthrop, for ten years before marrying in 1979, enjoying 43 years of marriage together. He loved his family with a fierceness few can understand. His favorite pastime, by far, was spending time with his grandchildren. His commanding voice and infectious laugh could make anyone feel at home in a room full of strangers. He was a true pillar of the community.
Class of 1975 Lynn-Del (Edstrand) Bryant, 67, of Stanley Pond in Hiram, died February 16, 2022, surrounded by her loving family, listening to a favorite Robert Frost poem “The Sound of Trees.”
Bob graduated from Winslow High school in 1973 and Thomas College with a Bachelor’s in Accounting. He had several employers throughout the years, including Cottle’s Grocery Store, G-Tech, Sam’s Club, Graham Behavioral Health, and Kennebec Behavioral Health. He recently retired from Direct Community Care of Augusta in 2021, where he had worked as a mental health and rehabilitation technician (MHRT) for many years. Bob enjoyed many activities, such as gardening, bowling, golfing, crafts, and spending time with family Jane Ann (Schlesselman) Pricer died of pancreatic cancer on December 26, 2021, Jane leaves many friends and will be remembered for her kindness, bright smile, sweet disposition, positive outlook, great sense of humor, and humanity. Jane gave the gift of music and an insatiable curiosity to her sons and grandchildren. Jane was born in Minneapolis, MN, but her family moved west, and Jane grew up in Fresno, CA. She married Robert in Fresno in 1963, and after living in MI and ME, they eventually moved their family to Madison, WI, in 1977, where the family resided until Jane’s death. She worked as an ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher and volunteered for several organizations, including Centro Hispano, SERV, and as a docent for the State Historical Museum. Jane was a member of the First Unitarian Society of Madison. With her family, Jane lived in New Zealand, France, and Portugal, and spent extended periods of time in Mexico, and visited 42 countries. Jane spoke and wrote Spanish beautifully and had passion for the music, food, culture, and people of other counties.
Truly one-a-kind, Lynn-Del was a jack of all trades, graduating from Thomas College in Waterville with a degree in Fashion & Retail Merchandising. She began her career designing retail furniture and store windows for Jordan Marsh in Portland, ME. LynnDel enjoyed an eclectic career, including time as a wallpaper hanger when she was known as “The Paper Lady,” and years as a successful real estate agent, business owner, and retail manager. She made friends every step of the way and enjoyed giving back to her community and beyond in a variety of ways, including as a former member of the Rotary Club of Portsmouth and North Conway, NH. Most recently, LynnDel found passion as a kitchen and bath designer with her work family at Country Cabinets in North Conway, NH. After a day at work, she used to enjoy nothing more than a trip around Stanley Pond on her pontoon boat with her dear German Shepherd Tula.
Den mother, Vestry member, a Sunday school teacher at St. Mark’s Church, and a founding member of TOSCA. She was a member of the Waterville Country Club, where she enjoyed playing golf, and she was a member of the Waterville Antique Club. Marg also enjoyed tennis and sailing off the coast of Maine, but – most of all – she was an ardent reader. In her adventurous days before having children, she skied Mt. Washington’s Tuckerman Ravine and rode the Olympic bobsled run at Lake Placid, NY. The family spent many memorable summers at their cottage on Salmon Lake. Eventually, they lived on Snow Pond in Oakland, ME, year-round. When her children were in college, she obtained a bachelor’s degree from Thomas College and returned to nursing, working for several years as an ICU R.N. at Thayer Hospital in Waterville. Prior to moving to Freedom Village, FL, she lived in Waterlefe Golf & River Club in Bradenton (for almost 20 years), where she enjoyed the book club and playing golf and Mahjongg.
Class of 1977 Robert “Bob” R. Giroux, 67 of Winslow, passed away unexpectedly on April 24, 2022, at his home in Winslow.
Laura Jeanne Stocker, 64, of Hopewell Junction, NY, passed away peacefully surrounded by her lovedLauraones.was self-employed offering mortgage and tax preparation as well as bookkeeping services for over 30 years. She had developed many friendships through her business. She grew up in the First Presbyterian Church in Wappingers Falls. She was a graduate of Roy C. Ketcham High School in 1975. Laura received her bachelor’s degree in accounting from Thomas College in 1979. She worked at International Paper Mill in Jay, ME, during the late 1970s. At that time, she was the only woman doing mill work. Always the life of every party, her gregarious personality will proceed her. She will surely be missed by many.
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Class of 1979 Margaret McFadden of Bradenton, FL, passed away on May 22, 2022. Marg went to grammar school in Quebec by a horse-drawn sleigh through fields in the winter and picked up other farm children along the way. After graduating from high school, while still too young to attend nursing school, she taught high school in Rawdon, Quebec, for one year (where many students were older than she was). She graduated with a nursing degree from the Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal. She was married to Dr. Donald McFadden for 62 years, after meeting him on a blind date in Montreal. They raised their family of three children in Waterville, ME, where Marg was a Cub Scout
Academy in 1959. He earned a BS from UMO and returned years later to earn a Certificate of Superintendency. He studied management at Thomas College and was appointed Assistant General Manager of Dunham’s of Maine in 1978. During his years in Waterville, he developed a small sheep farm. Amaziah Farm supplied the meat market. He served in Vietnam in the Army Air Corps, 1969-1970, attached to the 108th Artillery Group as a helicopter pilot. Capt. Hardcastle was discharged in 1974. In the last few years, Tom was very happy to reconnect with many of his fellow helicopter comrades.Lindaand Tom met while traveling back to Bangor on a Concord Coach Line in spring 1997; they married in 2007 at Agamont Park, Bar Harbor. Just prior to meeting, Tom had expanded his third picture framing business, River City Gallery, in Bangor. He established his first at North Conway, NH; his second was in Waterville. He taught himself the craft, becoming very skilled. He expanded his shop to include decorative flags and gift items, until 2004 when a fire broke out, resulting in a total loss. Tom turned his energies towards upgrading, modernizing, and making the 1835 house in which they lived more comfortably. With more time, Tom’s love of gardening flourished. He developed a passion for honeybees and fostered and promoted the species with multiple hives. A member of the Penobscot Beekeepers Association, he put together a library on the care, diseases, habits, habitat, and history of honeybees. Tom also revived his interest in gravely tractors; he founded GEMSGravely Enthusiasts of Maine Society. Raised in the Episcopal tradition, he often warmed to a spirited discussion of religious and spiritual ideas and joined a Bangor group to elaborate on those ideas. Tom valued the large extended family into which he married.
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CLASS OF 1991 S
Steve loved playing Morning Hockey with his loyal friend Gerry Nadeau and awesome teammates at the Family Ice Center in Falmouth, where he was nicknamed “Fireball Freese” or “Freesy” and was famous for his toe drag snap shot. Playing cards was always a great time for Steve, whether it was at someone’s kitchen table or a Vegas casino, accompanied by his amazing lifelong friends Shawn Boulet, Jamie Chapman, Jay Brunetti, Phil Pelletier, and his best friend and brother Rick Freese. Foxwoods will never ever be theThesame!world will be forever changed by the loss of this kind, generous, dedicated, loyal, trustworthy, and genuinely hilarious guy. He enriched the lives of all who knew and loved him and will be sorely missed by everyone. He was just a solid, honest, wonderful man who kept his word; sealed a deal with a handshake; and made the world a better place by being in it.
Thomas Martin Hardcastle Bartlett, “flew West,” February 26, 2022, at the Bangor home he shared with his wife, Linda Stearns, after the sudden onset of aggressive metastatic prostate cancer.Hisyouth was spent in Hagerstown, MD, until the family moved to Fryeburg, ME, where Tom graduated from Fryeburg a degree in business management in 1980. Following graduation, he lived in Skowhegan and worked for Stop ‘n Shop as an assistant manager for several months. For several years, he worked for LaVerdiere’s Super Drug Stores in Augusta and Gardiner as assistant manager, and his last employment was with NRF Distributors as a flooring network manager.
In Memoriam
RobertStephenFreese
TEPHEN ROBERT FREESE grew up in Scarborough, ME, where he went to Scarborough High School. He loved working at Ken’s Seafood with his brother Rick and spent a lot of his time working at his parent’s convenience store down at Pine Point, which sparked his interest in being a business owner. He graduated from Thomas College in 1991 with a degree in Business Management. While there, he excelled in soccer and hockey, forming some of the most meaningful friendships of his entire life, as they lovingly referred to him as “Frame.” In 1997, with the guidance of his wonderful friend and mentor, Fred Forsley of Shipyard Brewing, Steve established Portland Pie Company with his close college friends Nat Getchell and Phil Pelletier. Soon after, they formed their own dough business together “It’ll Be Pizza” in Scarborough. After 20 successful years in the restaurant business, they sold Portland Pie Company and have been devoting their time and energy to It’ll BeInPizza.February 1999, Steve delivered Nora a PPC pizza, and she ordered MANY more pizzas and sandwiches until he finally got the hint that it wasn’t just the food she liked. He married Nora (Colton) Freese in 2002 and became a very proud father to son Colton and daughter Lilah. His love for his children was evident as they were his entire world. From the sidelines of any sport they played, he would be there, cheering them on. He loved to laugh with them and did everything he could to support them in their choices – he was such a devoted dad. His love of animals was proven by all the pets his family adopted over the years – there wasn’t a dog on Earth he didn’t love. They did a lot of traveling with friends and family, from football games to national parks, Ireland, the Caribbean Islands, and many fun places in between. His favorite trip was to Moose Head Ranch in Wyoming – he sneezed so loud he startled his horse, which then threw him off its back, leaving his boot left dangling in the stirrup. He was one of the funniest people on the planet.
Class of 1980 David Daniel Guerrette, 63, of Augusta, passed away on December 9, 2021, following several years of being in a home in Bangor for advanced dementia. He was the youngest of five children who grew up and attended grade school in Frenchville. He graduated from Wisdom High School and Thomas College, with
For alumni questions or updates, please contact Database Director Bonnie Buckmore at (207) 859-1221 or devdb@thomas.edu. who never shied away from a good argument and who felt strongly about many social issues, driven in part by her Catholic upbringing. She loved having the extended family, including all her grandchildren, visit the lake home in Belgrade to enjoy her fabulous cooking, activities on the water, and croquet games on the front lawn.
Class of 1988 Germaine Alice (Michaud) Orloff passed away peacefully on June 8, 2022, at Sentry Hill in York, surrounded by all five of her children.Germaine was raised in Waterville, along with her five siblings. After finishing first in her class at St. Francis de Sales, she attended Mount Merici Academy battle with Alzheimer’s Disease.
Class of 1981 Monique Janet (Potvin) Cote, 60, of Lewiston, passed away peacefully on February 26, 2022, at home with her husband Stephen by her Moniqueside. was the ninth of eleven children. She graduated from Leavitt Area High School in 1979 and from Thomas College in 1981 with an associate degree in Business. She worked at TD Bank for 24 years and retired in March 2016 due to health issues. Monique and Stephen liked traveling, especially to LacMegantic in Canada for poutine and fresh bakery goods. She enjoyed making jigsaw puzzles and watching western movies. Her favorite actors were Sam Elliott, John Wayne, and Willie Nelson. Her favorite movie was “Stagecoach.” She also enjoyed crocheting and spending time with family visiting and playing cards.
Pamela graduated from Lawrence High School and earned a business degree from Thomas College. She married her childhood sweetheart, Raymond, in 1968. They would have celebrated their 54th wedding anniversary this year.Pamela started her career in accounting, working at local businesses in Fairfield. She then joined Central Maine Power Company’s office in Augusta, where she was an administrator and supervisor until her retirement in 2013.Shewas an amazing woman who had a free spirit and lived life with no regrets. Her beloved husband always called her his princess. He regarded her as a beautiful princess because she used “her voice for kindness, her ears for compassion, her hands for giving, her mind for truth, and her heart for loving all her family and friends.” Pamela loved her family and spending time with her sisters. She enjoyed playing cards and getting together for the family’s annual cribbage tournaments. She loved to travel with her husband on weekends, especially to all the coastal Maine flea markets. Antiques, good books, and unique puzzles were her favorite finds.
Class of 1989 Kathleen M. Cancik (nee Thibodeau), 68 of Buckeye, AZ, passed away on March 9, 2022, in Goodyear, AZ. Kathy attended both Skowhegan and Madison school districts growing up. She graduated from Madison High School with the Class of 1972 and later attended Thomas College, earning her associates degree in science. She worked many years in Maine for the Madison Water District and Scott Paper Company, prior to moving to Arizona in 1994 where she eventually retired from the Mohave County Attorney’s Office as the Victim Witness Assistant Director. During her years of work, she was recognized for her numerous accomplishments and commitment to helping others. Kathy enjoyed reading, spending time with her beloved family, and cheering on her favorite football team the Patriots. In all that she accomplished in life, her biggest joy was being called MumMum and G.G. She had a smile that would light up the room and a laugh that was contagious. She will be missed by all that knew her but will forever live on in our hearts. Class of 1993 Bruce Rowe passed away. No obituary was available. Class of 1995 Pamela Couture, 71, passed away peacefully at home on April 1, 2022, following a long, courageous on a scholarship for her freshman year before transitioning to Waterville High School, graduating in 1951. Germaine received her BA in Chemistry from Colby College in 1955, working various jobs throughout her undergraduate years to pay for her education, including a period at Keyes Fibre. After graduating from Colby, Germaine married her high school sweetheart, Paul John Orloff, in 1956. Germaine was a devoted wife and mother of five children, all born and raised in Waterville. On top of raising a large family, Germaine worked as a private tutor for math and science; served as a substitute teacher in the Waterville school system; and eventually received her MBA from Thomas College, where she was appointed assistant professor teaching math and statistics. At various times, Germaine also served as Director of Volunteer Services at Thayer Hospital; led Hospice Services in the Waterville area; coordinated bilingual activities at the University of Maine at Augusta; actively supported the Boys and Girls Club of greater Waterville; and sat on the Waterville City Council. She was always a dedicated and loyal alumna of ColbyGermaineCollege.enjoyed snow and water skiing, swimming, tennis, hiking, boating, croquet, reading and attending Book Club, and, of course, playing bridge with a fiercely competitive edge. Though some of her physical pursuits gradually became more limited following a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis in her late 50s, she never let her illness dampen her determination or zest for life. She loved good food, great company, and fine wine. She and Paul enjoyed the company of many great friends, and they travelled extensively abroad, including trips to Italy, France, Japan, Russia, and Africa.
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Germaine will be remembered as a warm and spirited woman who cared deeply for her family Barbara T. Sinclair, 63, of South Portland, passed away peacefully on February 22, 2022, at the Gosnell Memorial Hospice House in Scarborough.Barbaragraduated from Leavitt High School (1976) and continued her studies at Thomas College where she received her BS degree, in addition to acquiring her master’s degree and CPA. Barb was employed as the CFO with Medical Mutual since 2013. She was a member of the Kappa Delta Phi Sorority NU chapter. Barbara enjoyed reading and family gatherings.
Making Stop by to check out the new building during Homecoming and Family Weekend, October 14-16. Progress Thomas College's new Sports Center is opening this fall!
The Thomas Cup is a free event for Maine high schoolers in which teams of five students compete in science, technology, engineering, and innovation competitions for the chance to win their names on the Thomas Cup and receive scholarships worth up to $10,000 over four years. Competition areas include cyber defense, esports, computer science, and crime scene analysis.
More than 100 Maine high school students gathered on campus this winter for the Thomas Cup, an annual overnight IT and innovation competition.
This 14-obstacle race was held for the first time since 2019 (due to pandemic restrictions). The run is fun for the whole family, with a Mud Puppy Run kids’ race, food trucks, a beer tent, and a DJ. The energy was electric, and the day was a success! Thank you to everyone who participated, and a big thank you to our Mud Run sponsor Central Maine Motors Auto Group and Mud Puppy Run sponsor New Balance Athletics. n
2022 DIRTY DOG MUD RUN
The second-place team was “Winswood” with students from Winslow High School, Marshwood High School, and Lawrence High School, including Miles McIntire, Rylan Richards, Dom Morin, and Sara MacDougall. The third-place team was “Nine teen Eighty-four” with Domonic Piconi, Michael Galvez, Theo Crocetti, Mateu Castell, and Garrett Neal of Watershed School.
ATTRACTS MORE THAN 500 TO CAMPUS
The winners of this year’s Thomas Cup were “The Absolute Units:” Christopher Kusturin, Joseph Poissant, Abel Mitchell, Michael Osgood, and Emmett Shea from Baxter Academy for Technology and Science. Each member of the winning team received a $10K scholar ship to Thomas College. Second-place winners won $8K, and third-place winners won $6K in scholarships.
More than 500 people from all over the state and beyond ran in this spring’s Dirty Dog Mud Run, a 5K obstacle course on campus, with all proceeds supporting recreation for Thomas students.
More than 100 Maine High School Students Participate in Thomas Cup 2022 Thank you to our sponsors:incredible
College College Take a tour of the new Sports Center; catch the Women's Field Hockey game; head over to our first annual craft fair; get your pub crawl on downtown; and enjoy a Sunday fun day with alumni games (and a mimosa bar)! For more info and to register, visit thomas.edu/hf2022. Homecoming & Family Weekend FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14, TO SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2022 YOU ARE INVITED TO HOMECOMING & FAMILY WEEKEND 2022
