Our Maine Street's Aroostook Issue 20 : Spring 2014 | Page 34

Saving Our

Aroostook
Part3
By Sandra Gauvin

college and careers, internship opportunities to help them
better understand their chosen career path and create
networking opportunities for the future, an entrepreneurial
program to encourage new business creation, and a gala to
celebrate and showcase their success and show them that
But, as I’ve stated in my last two articles, we have a problem the community is behind them.
– our economy is sinking while the outmigration rate of our
youth is growing. Fortunately, as I also stated, leaders from In addition to having its own program, the Aroostook
all walks of life in The County are coming together to solve Aspirations Initiative is working closely with the Aroostook
Partnership for Progress, under the leadership of Bob
this problem before it’s too late.
Dorsey, who has created a program entitled Education to
In the last edition, The Aroostook Aspirations Initiative Industry, also designed to boost the economy of The County.
(AAI) was introduced as an endeavor created by County For the first time in many years, education and business
people to help The County. The mission of the AAI is to communities throughout The County are being brought
help young people earn a college education in Aroostook together to address the issues of educational attainment,
County, thus stemming the outmigration of our youth, and outmigration, and economy.
boosting the economy.
As Education to Industry strives to promote early awareness
While the initiative begins with a $1,000 scholarship for a of career opportunities and the importance of a college
graduating senior in each of the high schools in Aroostook education, Aroostook County educational and corporate
County who plan to attend one of the four colleges in entities are coming together to create methods and
Northern Maine, the intention is to grow the fund to reach opportunities that will best accomplish this goal. They are
discussing topics such as how to craft school curriculum to
more students for more years.
meet the needs of future employment and how to implement
But the Aroostook Aspirations Initiative is not only a programs such as Junior Achievement and Jobs for Maine
scholarship. As previously defined, the AAI has four other Graduates into educational programming. In addition, job
elements: an aspirational weekend to help students learn shadowing and internship opportunities are being created
skills and information to help them be successful in both and developed. In partnership with these activities, The
Aroostook County is a unique place. Not only is it beautiful,
but it is a great place to raise a family. The people are kind,
the work ethic is envied throughout the state and even the
country, and ther H\