Event Archives
2005 Mitchell Institute Fall Gala
On October 14, 2005, the Mitchell Institute hosted its fifth annual Fall Gala. With nearly 500 attendees including the Governor and other elected officials, as well as business, education and community leaders from around the State of Maine, the Gala gave the Mitchell Institute a wonderful opportunity to honor its scholars and supporters.
The evening's keynote speakers were Senator Mitchell and Maryland Senator Barbara Mikulski. Also addressing the attendees of the Gala were Mitchell Scholars Kelly Cyr and Myra Cyr, who graduated earlier this year as co-valedictorians at St. Joseph's College of Maine.
Mary Mitchell Friedman, the president of the Mitchell Institute Board of Directors, announced the recipients of the 2005 Pioneer Scholar Awards:
- The 2005 Paddy Frank Walsh Pioneer Scholar Award which recognizes a Mitchell Scholar who has overcome tremendous obstacles to achieve success, went to Xiomara Hernandez, a graduate of Falmouth High School now attending Southern Maine Community College. Xiomara is not only the first member of her family to attend college — she's also the first to graduate from high school!
- The 2005 Leon and Lisa Gorman Pioneer Scholar Award which recognizes a Mitchell Scholar who has demonstrated strong qualities of leadership, character, and hard work, went to Chris Rogeski, a graduate of Fort Fairfield High School now attending Thomas College.
- The 2005 Bath Iron Works-Buzz Fitzgerald Pioneer Scholar Award which recognizes a Mitchell Scholar who is a child or grandchild of a BIW employee and who embodies the characteristics of leadership and compassion for which Buzz Fitzgerald was known, went to David Clifford a graduate of Carrabec High School now attending the University of Maine.
- The 2005 Casella Pioneer Scholar Award which recognizes a Mitchell Scholar who is entering the field of environmental studies, went to Amelia Fiske, a graduate of Camden Hills High School now attending Bowdoin College.
- The 2005 George and Mintaha Mitchell Pioneer Scholar Award which recognizes the Mitchell Scholar from Waterville High School, was awarded to Henry Murphy Beck, a student at Colby College.
- The 2005 Morton K. & Jane Blaustein Pioneer Scholar Award honoring the life of Morton K. Blaustein, which recognizes first-generation college students and students from recently immigrated families, was awarded to Man Ho, a graduate of Portland High School now attending the University of New England.
- The 2005 Sam L. Cohen Pioneer Scholar Award which recognizes the Mitchell Scholar from Biddeford High School, was awarded to Chris Gagne, who now attends Stonehill College.
- The 2005 Senator George J. Mitchell Pioneer Scholar Award which recognizes a graduating or alumni Mitchell Scholar who possesses qualities of leadership, character, and perseverance, was shared by the unsuspecting and very surprised Kelly Cyr and Myra Cyr.
The Sam L. Cohen Foundation was honored with a Pioneer Award, the Mitchell Institute's highest honor. Because of the commitment and support of the foundation, a permanent Pioneer Scholarship has been created in honor of the life of Sam L. Cohen. This scholarship will recognize the late Mr. Cohen's love for his hometown of Biddeford by annually supporting the Mitchell Scholar from Biddeford High School.
The final award of the evening was given in recognition of a true group effort. Nearly one hundred members of Senator George Mitchell's Former U.S. Senate Staff came together to raise more than $130,000 toward the naming of a scholarship in honor of Senator Mitchell's service and their collective efforts on behalf of the people of Maine and the nation. The Mitchell Senate Staff Pioneer Scholarship will memorialize Gayle Cory. Gayle was the heart and soul of the Senator's office — a woman whose love for the State of Maine, belief in public service, faith in people and dedication to the greater good were a model to all who knew her. The scholarship will be given annually to a student who shares Gayle's ideals, her commitment to public service, her open mind, and her big heart.
Special thanks to our Prime Sponsor, UnumProvident, our Leadership Sponsor, the Gulf of Maine Research Institute, and other generous sponsors including: Bangor Daily News, Bangor Savings Bank, Boston Red Sox, GHM Insurance Agency, Lee Auto Malls, Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority, Swardlick Marketing Group, Time Warner Cable, Bath Iron Works, KeyBank, and the Goldfarb Center for Public Affairs and Civic Engagement at Colby College . Our gratitude also to 480 Digital for providing us with a video presentation during the gala.
We are especially grateful to Tom and Linda Walsh and the Mariott Hotel at Sable Oaks for their continuous generosity in underwriting our annual Gala.
< go back
News Archives