Promptly at 7PM on Thursday, May 24, the capacity crowd in the Westbrook High School Auditorium stood for the posting of the colors by the students of the Public Safety Honor Guard, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Director Todd Fields welcomed the students, families and friends to the annual awards night of the Westbrook Regional Vocational Center. The program continued with short speeches by two student speakers - Westbrook student Isabelle Harvey of the Medical Applications program and Gorham Student Derek Kuusela of the Automotive program.
Next, teachers presented outstanding student awards by program. Each program could spend up to $200 to purchase a program-appropriate gift for their chosen student. Sixteen different programs were represented, including Culinary Arts, Electrical and Building Trades. The gifts selected lined the front of the stage during the event.
Chef Limoggio presenting award to top Culinary
student Domonic Masselli
Much of the evening was spent awarding a wide variety of scholarships and toolships. The top CTE (Career and Technical Education) student was Omer Khalil from Business Studies who received a $2000 scholarship. Idexx awarded several $1000 scholarships. Many other organizations awarded $500 scholarships including the DECA Award presented by Mike Foley, Westbrook/Gorham Chamber of Commerce Scholarship/Toolship, Cumberland County Credit Union Scholarship, Westbrook Women’s Club Award, and Saco Biddeford Saving Scholarship, among others, and in addition to several memorial and family scholarships. There were also awards named after or founded by former instructors like Dave Moon, Mike Kane and Richard Plaistead.
The final awards were presented by Pat Pummer on behalf of Westbrook Gorham Rotary. She was proud to present 3 toolships and 20 scholarships totaling $11,500. When Pat announced the number of scholarships, there was an audible gasp from the audience.
Pat Plummer presenting one of 23 Rotary Awards
The event continued with the presentation of program certificates to the students who walked across the stage to receive a handshake from Todd Fields. Immediately following the program, Chef Limoggio and several of his first-year students put on a reception in the lobby and front courtyard of the WRVC. The wide variety of savory and sweet treats were well-received by the crowd.
Congratulations to all of the graduates. As Todd said in his closing remarks: If you do what you love and love what you do, you will never work a day in your life.