Maine Seacoast Mission is pleased to announce 23 Mission Scholars for the 2022-2023 school year. These new scholarship award recipients hail from Hancock and Washington Counties and will pursue college degree programs from a diverse number of schools. Representing eleven high schools in the Mission’s service area, the 2022 Mission Scholars are:
Lauren Beal, Jonesport-Beals High School, Washington County
Bella Brown, Mount Desert Island High School, Hancock County
Dakota Brown, Machias Memorial High School, Washington County
Noah Carver, Washington Academy, Washington County
Taylor Dube, Ellsworth High School, Hancock County
Madeline Henry, Ellsworth High School, Hancock County
Mileena Sylvia, Machias Memorial High School, Washington County
Rebecca Muise, Sumner Memorial High School, Hancock County
Alexa Kennedy, George Stevens Academy, Hancock County
S. Ellen Larabee, George Stevens Academy, Hancock County
Ava Lawson, Mount Desert Island High School, Hancock County
Wilder Noyes, Mount Desert Island High School, Hancock County
Kahlysta Morris, Shead High School, Washington County
Henry Penfold, Deer-Isle/Stonington High School, Hancock County
Luna Perry-St. Peter, Deer-Isle/Stonington High School, Hancock County
Mia Richardson, Sumner Memorial High School, Hancock County
Moira Sankey, Sumner Memorial High School, Hancock County
Kobe Saunders, Calais Middle/High School, Washington County
Tristan Seavey, Calais Middle/High School, Washington County
Eliza Schaad, Sumner Memorial High School, Hancock County
Johanna Stiles, Bucksport High School, Hancock County
Zachary Wentworth, Calais Middle/High School, Washington County
Logan Wilbur, Mount Desert Island High School, Hancock County
The 2022 Mission Scholars join an existing 59 Scholars who renewed their applications for the coming academic year. For the 2022-2023 school year, $222,000 will be awarded to 82 college students. Since 1918, Maine Seacoast Mission has awarded almost $3 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 athletic training, psychology, secondary and elementary education, engineering, nursing, political science, music, theatre and costuming, English, environmental sciences, and history. Upon review of applications and a rigorous interview process, Downeast Director Melvin D. Adams III, Ed.D. praised Mission Scholars for their vast amount of talent, dedication, academic achievement, and aspirations.
“Mission Scholars have grit, resilience, and enthusiasm regarding their higher education and career goals. This year’s class includes future artists, educators, musicians, mechanics, nurses, and scientists,” said Dr. Adams. “They exhibit a deep commitment to solving complex problems and challenges that exist in their communities in Maine and around the world. Still, many of these students are committed to living and working in Downeast Maine. We are excited to support their decision.”
This year’s awardees have enrolled at University of Maine schools, Husson University, Bowdoin College, Bates College, Emerson College, Eastman School of Music, Maine Maritime Academy, and Johnson and Wales University amongst others.
Maine Seacoast 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, cohort group meetings, and care packages throughout the year. In addition, Mission Scholars are eligible to renew their scholarship for up to four years totaling $12,000.
To learn more about our Scholarships program, please visit the Scholarships page.
On April 25th, the Maine Seacoast Mission will welcome Erica Hutchinson as its new Director of Development. She comes to the Mission with experience in fundraising and relationship management gained at respected Maine institutions. Erica’s primary responsibility will be to continue uninterrupted financial support locally, regionally, and nationally for the Mission’s vital programs and services.
In January, the Mission’s Search Advisory Committee began a ten-week search process and recommended Erica from a diverse pool of highly qualified candidates. She brings a wealth of knowledge gained from the nonprofit sector. Her in-depth experience of donor relations, grant management, and strategic planning will help meet the Mission’s fundraising and organizational goals. Erica also possesses a successful track record of grant awards with private foundations, federal contracts, and corporate grant programs.
President John Zavodny shares, “We are delighted to bring Erica Hutchinson aboard. She has a contagious authenticity and innate ability to connect with people. Mix in her planning and operational acumen, and Erica is a perfect fit for Maine Seacoast Mission.”
“Understanding an individual, an organization, and even a community is key in supporting the work to be accomplished,” Erica explains. “Supporting and guiding development activities for an integral nonprofit like Maine Seacoast Mission is where I belong. Listening to donors express the desire to create an impactful gift and how to provide that opportunity for them is purely a joyful experience and one I have always treasured.”
In her role as Dean of Advancement and Executive Director of EMCC Foundation, Erica met fundraising and enrollment goals by nurturing giving through endowment and annual funds. As Unity College’s Chief Advancement Officer, she led efforts to recruit students, raise funds, and increase the national awareness of the Institution. Prior to that, Erica served as the Development Director for the Charlotte White Center.
John Zavodny adds, “Throughout her career, Erica has been drawn to service-oriented work. I think she’ll love being a part of an organization whose very purpose is to build community and help people realize their best selves.”
Erica is community-minded in her hometown, too. She has offered her time and energy to multiple organizations including the Maine School Board Association, Rotary, and is an active member of her family’s church.
“I am thrilled to join a nonprofit organization where the mission is the guiding force,” Erica says. “Humble service is the foundation of creating stronger families, stronger communities and ultimately a more joyful world.”
Seated at his desk in the Ed and Connie Greaves Education Center, EdGE Director Isaac Marnik builds registration forms for this year’s summer camp schedules. “We expect to return to pre-pandemic attendance, so we’re opening in full force,” he explains. On April 19, Maine Seacoast Mission will open registration for enrollees.
Come summer, EdGE will offer five weeks of camp to students in kindergarten up to 8th grade. Summer camps will run from June 27 and July 29. “This year, the program is trying something different,” Isaac says, “We’re excited to offer three locations for EdGE families and students. The intent is to make camps more convenient to get to.”
Two existing afterschool partners will host camps, including D.W. Merritt Elementary in Addison and Milbridge Elementary. Maine Seacoast Mission welcomes a new partner through the University of Maine at Machias. Rose M. Gaffney Elementary School in Machias is closed this summer for construction, so the University has graciously offered use of its grounds.
Managed by the Mission’s EdGE Site Coordinators, part-time afterschool staff, and community members, Isaac explained, EdGE staff, and the program as a whole, always likes to offer a variety of adventures and subjects for students to enjoy.”
Activities will engage students physically, mentally, and creatively through STEM-based topics as well as the arts. Over the summer, campers will have multiple opportunities to visit the ropes course on the Mission’s Downeast Campus in Cherryfield. “Students have different options and experiences throughout the day. It’s a great time,” he continued, “We’re looking forward to a great summer.”
Summer camps are $30.00 per student per week with available scholarships. Students sign up by the week and register for as many weeks as they wish. EdGE summer camp registration opens April 19 on the EdGE web page.
Families who live in Columbia, Columbia Falls, Addison, Jonesport, and Beals should select D.W. Merritt Elementary School for their student’s camp location. For students in Harrington, Cherryfield, Deblois, Beddington, and Milbridge, families should select Milbridge Elementary School as their child’s camp location. Students attending Rose M. Gaffney Elementary in Machias should attend the University camp location.
Nationally-acclaimed author Gigi Georges has created the Downeast Exploration Fund to support rural, Downeast youth. In 2021, Ms. Georges published the non-fiction book, Downeast: Five Maine Girls and the Unseen Story of Rural America with publisher Harper Collins. Following the first edition printing, Ms. Georges expressed interest in establishing a scholarship with Maine Seacoast Mission to honor the continued strength and resilience residing in the young populations of the Downeast region of the state. Beginning in spring 2022, the Fund will provide financial support to eligible applicants who wish to explore their own passions and pursue experiences not otherwise available to them.
Any student in grades 6 through 12 within the Mission’s service area, including rising 6th graders and just graduated seniors, may apply. The Downeast Exploration Fundwill pay for awardees’ participation in camps, outdoor learning experiences, and lessons in music, art, sports, or equestrian pursuits. Additionally, the scholarship covers registration fees for enrichment activities or programs as well as materials, equipment, or supplies. Accepting applications on a rolling basis, the Fund will award up to $5,000 annually.
Mission President John Zavodny said, “The Downeast Exploration Fund is a result of Gigi’s generosity of spirit and her continued recognition of the aspirations Downeast youth harbor. We’re excited to hear about and fuel their interests and activities. The Mission’s existing work in this area as well as education make the Fund a perfect fit.”
The Fund was created in honor of the book’s five young women. “They played a central role in developing the fund’s objective and defining its scope: to help expand opportunities beyond the classroom for other Downeast kids.”
Lanie Perry, depicted under the pseudonym McKenna Holt in the book, explained, “We recognized that there are so many kids who want to pursue their dreams are set back by financial issues as well as by other issues. Through the Fund, we wanted to see Downeast youth push for their dreams and start out on the right foot. I hope people living Downeast stay determined and don’t give up on who they are or who they want to be. There are always ways around the obstacles you face. You can do what you want to do by being consistent and keep pushing forward.”
Kelli Kennedy is portrayed as Audrey Barton in Downeast. When asked about the anticipated impact of the Fund, she said, “I guess it’s no secret that there are children and teens and people Downeast who struggle with financial well-being. I was very fortunate in what I was able to do as a child. My family could support me to play basketball year-round and that set me up for so many things in life including life lessons. My hope is that others can experience the same. This scholarship can help push them toward that. My hope is that everyone can find something to drive them.”
Sophia DeSchiffart, depicted as Josie Dekker, grew up attending EdGE summer camps. She also served as an EdGE mentor during her teenage years. She shared, “I hope the Fund allows young people to try new things or pursue something they haven’t had the financial ability to pursue. Expression through art is important, but it can be expensive. Playing on a traveling sports team also has a lot of associated costs. I grew up in a privileged position by visiting extended family in Canada. My 8th grade class went to Boston and it was the first time for many to leave the state. I would like the Fund to expand their attraction to the world. I hope the Fund continues to grow and the public feels compelled to contribute to it.”
The Downeast Exploration Fund is available for anyone to donate to. “The Fund will honor the leadership, creativity, intellectual curiosity, and passion for a range of pursuits exemplified by the five remarkable young women portrayed in the book,” explained Ms. Georges. “What I discovered in Downeast Maine runs counter to the conventional narrative about rural hopelessness and that young people must flee to succeed. Yes, there are significant challenges, but there is also much to celebrate.”
Maine Seacoast Mission accepts applications for the Downeast Exploration Fund on a rolling basis. Interested applicants ages 11-18 in may apply through this website or a school guidance counselor. Eligible students are grades 6-12 including just-graduated seniors and must live in the Mission’s service area of Hancock and Washington Counties as well as the outer islands. Applications will begin the review process on April 1.
To donate to the Fund, donors should click the gold Donate Now button on our Donate page.
To learn more about Ms. Georges and the book Downeast: Five Maine Girls and the Unseen Story of Rural America, or to secure an interview, please visit the author’s website https://gigigeorges.com/downeastbook. The soft cover edition will release in early June 2022.
From the desk of Douglas Cornman, MA, BC-DMT, Director of Island Outreach
A few years ago, someone dear to my heart, introduced me to a creative way of measuring emotional energy. I had never heard of this particular method for gauging how a person is feeling, but, once I did, it dramatically helped me understand where their emotional barometer was at any given moment. They measured their daily allotment of energy with “spoons” much in the same way a baker measures dry ingredients for a cake. In response to my asking, “How was your day?” They might answer, “Today was rough. It took most of my spoons. I am not in the mood to talk about anything of consequence at the moment.” Conversely, doing something they enjoyed, replenished spoons. “I spent the morning painting,” they once told me. “My drawer is filled with spoons. I’m so glad that I made some time to do that.” Spoons work in both directions. We use them, but we can also get them back. I have my own set of emotional measuring spoons now. I use them to gauge how much energy I have in reserve and how much energy I think I might need to do any given task. Measuring helps me to know when to take a break and when I can keep moving along.
Being, simply put, is the active practice of not doing.
– Douglas Cornman, MA, BC-DMT
I sense that most of us are using a lot of spoons lately. Winter can sap our emotional energy in ordinary times. Facing into cold temperatures, the inability to get outside, and the lack of sunshine use up spoons that we usually need for things like getting along with others or doing the dishes. And as well we know, these are not ordinary times. I am loath to remind us, that March marks the beginning of our third year living with COVID-19. Remember back at the beginning, when we said that the pandemic would be a marathon and not a sprint. How about a double marathon, or even a triple? Continued social distancing, mask wearing, not hugging our friends, and never-ending Zooming gatherings often require our full set of spoons and then some, leaving us wondering where we are going to find the spoons needed to get us through the everyday grind.
Last week, I met with Dr. Dan Johnson, a clinical psychologist, with whom I chat on a regular basis. Dan is an advocate for using mindfulness and meditation practices as effective ways of adding spoons to one’s collection. He mentioned the concepts of “doing” and “being” during our talk. Doing is just like it sounds. It is the act of completing a task. Doing is essential to functioning because it gets things done. We fundamentally know that we don’t function as our best selves unless we accomplish things, like attending to work or our families. We often feel better once we tick a few things off our to-do lists. Being, simply put, is the active practice of not doing. Being is spending time with our body, mind, and spirit. It is sitting with one or more aspects of ourselves and remaining present with wherever we are, at that moment in time. Being is equally essential to functioning because it allows space for clarity, which, in turn, provides us an opportunity to adjust how we behave and interact with everything around us. For better or worse, most of us are better at doing than being. Being can sometimes be seen as frivolous. It can also be scary. Given time, however, the practice of being does evolve and our feelings change. It is possible to become companions with our fears, and also ourselves. I am in no way saying that it is an easy practice. Neither am I saying that it will always be a comfortable practice. All I am saying is that it is possible.
If, like many of us, you seem to be lacking enough spoons to make it through your day without feeling completely exhausted, try spending a small portion of it just “being.” Find a comfortable place to sit, stand, or lay down (I like sitting in the sun if its shining) and breathe. Really, that is all you have to do – just sit and breathe. Try not to think about what you are making for dinner or the Zoom call you have later in the day – just sit and breathe. Focus your attention on your breath or a bird chirping or the sound of the breeze, if you cannot clear your mind of racing thoughts. Sit and breathe. Try not to force clarity and peace and replenishing your spoon drawer. If your practice is anything like mine, those things will come in their own time. All you need to do is sit and breathe. Peace and love, my friends. May your drawer always hold enough spoons to get you through your day.
To learn more about Douglas Cornman and his programmatic work, please visit the Mission’s Island Outreach program.
Aboard the Sunbeam, Mission programs often take center stage. Yet crew members always have fascinating stories and interesting reflections to share. This month, we plumbed the minds of Captain Mike Johnson and Steward Jillian for some of their ruminations on life and work aboard our beloved Sunbeam.
From the pilothousewith Captain Mike Johnson
In extreme weather, the Sunbeam is occasionally asked to break sea ice in protected harbors. This can be as simple as helping a single lobster boat out of an icebound shipyard, or as major as freeing the Isle au Haut Thoroughfare to allow the ferry to continue her runs. The Maine Seacoast Mission has a long history of this service. Beginning with Sunbeam III in 1939, the design of the hull was adapted to include sheathing to protect the wooden hull from ice damage. The decision to switch to a steel hull on Sunbeam IV and V was undoubtably influenced by the need to operate in ice.
Sunbeam III breaking ice in the 1940sSunbeam V breaking ice in 2020
I came into my position on the Sunbeam as an experienced warmer weather captain, and I give full credit to former captain David Allen for teaching me the artistry of controlling a vessel in these conditions. First of all it is LOUD! – disconcertingly loud. Furthermore, the boat has limits with ice depth, and serious changes in maneuverability that are sometimes only apparent after the fact. Do I charge full steam ahead to punch through the eight inches, or do I subtly let the bow rise onto the ice sheet to allow the weight of the vessel to sink down? It is a nervous moment when I choose the latter and it takes thirty seconds for the bow to crunch down through. Drama aside, there is no threat to the safety of the boat or crew, only a loss of pride if we were to get stuck and eat Jillian’s cookies until the Coast Guard breaks us out!
Hopefully good weather is right around the corner and we can share these stories together on a nice summer trip to Frenchboro.
From the galley with Jillian
Although familiar with cookie baking, I had little experience of being on water and using nautical terminology when I applied. I prepared for my job interview with Captain Mike by studying a simple illustration of a ship’s anatomy. Starting at the basics—port, starboard, bow, stern. I said these words along with a handful of others to myself while driving to the beloved Sunbeam for the first time. Bathrooms on a boat are called heads and a kitchen aboard is a galley, it was all new to me. And after eight years it is still new. It has been fun hearing and learning the language of mariners, the words and expressions said in proximity to water.
For example, I just love the word fo’c’s’le. The fo’c’s’le on the Sunbeam is my pantry. It is forward of the galley beyond Sharon’s office. It has great shelving to keep groceries and cookware stable in rough seas. Fo’c’s’le, I’ve never known a word with three apostrophes before. Fo’c’s’le is even fun to say, the way it moves around the mouth. The apostrophes reflect sailors’ pronunciation of the word. It is short for forecastle and describes the structure at the front of a vessel, used as a shelter for stores or as quarters for sailors.
The term dates back to the 1300s, when in the early days of ship warfare, ships were built with castles on the front and back. The forecastle and aftcastle initially would house archers protecting the ship. Although the use of the castles changed over time “castling” remained a significant feature on ships for hundreds of years. The Mayflower, a ship most of us can see in our mind’s eye is a good example of a historic ship with prominent castles.
Incidentally, although we still say fo’c’s’le, the term aftcastle has morphed simply to aft to describe the rear of the boat.
