Join Mission for the 2023 Sunbeam Award Gala to honor two awardees for their unwavering commitment to provide exceptional care to island residents. On Thursday, August 17 at the Bar Harbor Club, will honor Mission’s former Director of Island Health, Sharon Daley, RN, and the Mission’s Healthcare Partners: the Maine Center for Disease Control (CDC); Mount Desert Island Hospital; Dan Johnson, Ph.D., LCPC, CCS; Brien Davis, APRN-FNP; Scott Schiff-Slater, MD; and Anand Viswanathan, MD, PhD.
When Daley was hired in 2001, she began the telehealth program on the Sunbeam, which connected island residents to mainland providers. During that time, she developed a nascent initiative into a robust program that today includes vaccination clinics, home health, specialist visits, eldercare support network, and more. Through her tireless work, Daley gained the trust and respect of hundreds of her patients. She retired at the end of 2022 and lives on the unbridged island, Islesboro.
The other Sunbeam awardee are the Mission’s Healthcare Partners who provided support, consultations, and telehealth for island residents. “These healthcare partners ensure Mainers receive quality health services and continue to live on the islands they call home,” says Mission President John Zavodny. “Through the Mission’s partnership with these organizations, the Mission continues to support and strengthen island communities.”
Maine CDC will be honored for its partnership in the Mission’s to Covid vaccination effort on outer unbridged islands. The Mission connected to Maine CDC in early 2021 to collaborate on vaccine administration for islanders. By March, the Mission became an official vaccination provider and within three months staff vaccinated 343 residents on seven unbridged islands. The Mission has administered a total of 1,287 Covid vaccines and boosters as of spring 2023.
The Mount Desert Island Hospital has been a strong partner for the Mission providing both in-person specialists, telehealth visits, behavioral health counseling, and pharmacy assistance. In fact, the history of this partnership dates back to the 1920s.
Dan Johnson, PhD, LCPC, CCS, provided both telehealth and in-person behavioral health and addiction counseling. Johnson, the former director of the Acadia Family Center, began working with the Mission in 2014. In addition to counseling, he often traveled to islands for talks about addiction and other mental health issues, which led some residents to reach out for support. He also offered Suboxone clinics for island residents. Johnson says his role fit perfectly with his work, “I really loved it. These are people in my community who I could help and support.”
Brien Davis, FNP, works at Waldo County General Hospital, but formerly ran Hope Health based in Camden. During his time running the practice, he provided telehealth and in-person services to islanders. Daley recalls when Davis made time in his already busy schedule to see two lobstermen who lacked primary care providers and no insurance. Davis prioritized islanders’ health as much as he did the patients in his own practice.
Scott Schiff-Slater, MD, runs the Hallowell Family Practice and started working with the Mission in 2001. He and Daley partnered in the first days of the telehealth initiative. As a summer resident on Isle au Haut, he also uniquely understands the needs of residents living on unbridged islands. “Telemedicine was new and not practiced widely, but it made sense for the islanders to receive services at home without disrupting their lives by traveling to the mainland.” He has provided telehealth appointments, wrote prescriptions, and referred island residents to specialists.
Anand Viswanathan, MD, PhD, a neurologist, and Associate Director of the Mass General Brigham Telestroke Program, has provided consultations and telehealth visits. In addition, he has been a speaker at the yearly Eldercare conference, giving insight and support.
Seats are still available for the event. Contact Development Operations Associate David Snyder at (207) 801-6010 or by email at [email protected] for reservations.
The Mission’s 2023 Davis Maine Scholars have selected their colleges. Through the generosity of Andrew Davis and the Shelby Cullom Davis Charitable Fund, these six students from Washington County and eastern Hancock County have earned full, four-year scholarships and will pursue undergraduate studies at one of three partner colleges: Clark University (MA), University of New England (ME), and Wheaton College (MA).
The Davis Maine Scholarship was created to ensure more first-generation students from rural Washington County and eastern Hancock County pursue and complete undergraduate degrees. This is the second annual cohort of Davis Maine Scholars since the Scholarship’s inception.
Mission President John Zavodny says, “Each one of these deserving young people have already had an inspiring educational journey. The Mission is proud to be a part of supporting them on the next important leg. Our partnership with Mr. Davis and the Fund is grounded by a shared belief in Downeast youth.”
In addition to the extraordinary financial support they receive, Davis Maine Scholars receive guidance during the length of their undergraduate careers to ensure a successful transition to college, guidance throughout their studies, and completion of an undergraduate degree within four years.
The Mission is pleased to congratulate our Class of 2023 high school graduates and Davis Maine Scholars, their families, and their communities.
Step aboard the Mission’s flagship vessel, the 74-foot Sunbeam, during two open houses in the Falmouth-Portland and Boothbay Harbor regions. Visitors can tour the boat and learn about the Mission’s continued commitment to Maine’s outer islands and the Downeast region. Both open houses are open to the public.
The first open house will be held Wednesday, July 26 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Portland Yacht Club in Falmouth. The second open house takes place Saturday, July 29 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Brown’s Wharf in Boothbay Harbor. Hors d’oeuvres and beverages will be served. This is the first time in six years the Sunbeam has traveled to this area of Maine. Visitors on July 26 should plan to shuttle to the Sunbeam via skiff.
“We are excited to sail the Sunbeam to southern Maine,” says Mission President John Zavodny. “The Mission has so many friends living further down the coast. We’re excited to give them a chance to tour the boat and learn more about the difference our programs make in our communities. We are glad to be able to make this journey.”
Islands served by Maine Seacoast Mission programming include Chebague, Cliff Island, Frenchboro, Great Cranberry, Great Diamond, Isle au Haut, Islesboro, Islesford, Long Island, Matinicus, Monhegan, North Haven, Peaks, and Swan’s. In 2022, the Sunbeam regularly visited five unbridged islands and welcomed more than a thousand residents onboard for community and health services.
Director of Island Services Douglas Cornman provides support through counseling, education initiatives, and support to someone who needs to talk to providing movement and yoga classes for students at island schools. Sunbeam nurse Simone Babineaux offers flu and Covid vaccination clinics, leads a network of eldercare facilities, provides healthcare check-ups, and connects residents to mainland specialists and provides.
The Mission also reaches Washington and eastern Hancock communities through its Cherryfield location. This campus is home to a bustling food pantry, a volunteer-supported housing improvement program, and educational programs for children in kindergarten through twelfth grade as well as scholarships for post-secondary endeavors.
“Beacons of Hope” provides highlights of the Mission, from our founding in 1905 to present day. The exhibition at the Great Harbor Maritime Museum in Northeast Harbor is the featured exhibit for this summer season.
The Museum and the Mission will host an opening reception on Thursday, August 10 from 5 to 7 p.m. Visitors can also see the exhibit during the Museum’s normal operating hours, which are Monday through Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“Beacons of Hope” traces the Mission’s history by featuring information and artifacts documenting the seven Mission boats, from sail to diesel, and healthcare services and outreach to islands, lighthouses, and coastal communities. Some of the items on display include models of Sunbeam III and Sunbeam IV,a portable dentist chair bought by the Mission in 1931, and hooked rugs made by the Mission’s Hooked Rug Department in the 1930s. There are also other photos and artifacts that highlight the work done by Mission employees including nurses, boat captains, and more.
Located in the former firehouse and town office, the Great Harbor Maritime Museum celebrates the maritime heritage of the Mount Desert Island region. To learn more, please visit https://www.facebook.com/greatharbormaritimemuseum.
The Mission is pleased to announce 17 new scholarship award recipients from Hancock and Washington Counties. Representing 10 high schools in the Mission’s service area, the 2023 Mission Scholars are:
Simeon Alley, Washington Academy, Washington County
Ellie Anderson, Ellsworth High School, Hancock County
Lydia DeSchiffart, Narraguagus High School, Washington County
Emmalee Ripley, Narraguagus High School, Washington County
Makayla Dorr, Narraguagus High School, Washington County
Emily Fletcher, Machias High School, Washington County
Matthew Haire, Narraguagus High School, Washington County
Ayda Holyoke, Bucksport High School, Hancock County
Anna Li, Calais High School, Washington County
Caroline Mazgaj, Ellsworth High School, Hancock County
Daniela Myers, Washington Academy, Washington County
Madison Napoli, East Grand High School, Washington County
Addison Nelson, Ellsworth High School, Hancock County
Mercedes Owen, Calais High School, Washington County
Braden Richard, Woodland High School, Washington County
Madison Warnock, Jonesport-Beals High School, Washington County
Taylor Wiberg, Deer Isle-Stonington High School, Hancock County
These Mission Scholars join an existing 58 Scholars who renewed their applications for the coming academic year. For the 2023-2024 school year, $211,500 will be awarded to 75 college students. Since 2000, the Mission has awarded over $2.6 million in scholarships to support the college and career aspirations of youth in Washington and Hancock counties and select outer islands.
This year’s recipients have diverse academic interests including mechanical engineering, civil engineering, large animal vet, biology, art, electrical certification, and business. The application review and interview process revealed Mission Scholarship candidates’ talent, dedication, academic achievement, and aspirations.
“During the application process and in their everyday lives, Mission Scholars show an inspiring commitment to solving complex problems in their communities and around the world,” says Mission President John Zavodny. “We are excited to support their educational goals and watch them grow and change the world.”
This year’s awardees are enrolled at Bates College, Carnegie Mellon University, Clark University, Husson University, Maine Maritime Academy, Smith College, Washington County Community College, University of New England, University of New Hampshire, University of Southern Maine, and University of Maine campuses at Machias, Presque Isle, and Orono.
Mission offers committed, ongoing support and mentoring to Mission Scholars throughout their four-year college journey. These services help them achieve their goals and aspirations, which includes monthly check-ins and a peer-to-peer network. In addition, Mission Scholars are eligible to renew their scholarship for up to four years totaling $12,000. In 2022, 99% of Scholars renewed their award and returned to school for an additional year of study. 74% of Scholars attended a school in Maine while 50% attended a University of Maine or community college campus.
In addition to the Mission Scholarships program, Maine Seacoast Mission proudly partners with the Shelby Cullom Davis Charitable Fund to offer the transformative Davis Maine Scholarship. In its third year of supporting students, the Davis Maine Scholarship supports fully funded, four-year scholarships to select students each year. Davis Maine Scholars attend one of three partner schools, Clark University, University of New England, or Wheaton College. In June, the new cohort of Davis Maine Scholars include Cadence Braughton of Calais High School , Riley Crowley of Sumner Memorial High School, Brisa Ortiz Garcia of Narraguagus Jr/Sr High School, MacKenzie Schors of Machias Memorial High School.
