2021 990 MBCSF Public Disclosure Copy
Click the link below to review the Maine Blue Collar Scholarship Foundations 2021 990
2021 990 MBCSF – Public Disclosure Copy
Maine Blue Collar Scholarship Foundation Annual Report 2022
Click on the link to view the 2022 Maine Blue Collar Scholarship Foundation Annual Report
Mateja Group of Keller Williams donates $2500
A BIG thank you to Danni with the Mateja Group of Keller Williams for promoting the Maine Blue Collar Scholarship Foundation during the month of August through their Mateja Gives program. 100% of these funds will go back to Mainers pursuing a career in the trades!
MBC Scholarship Recipient – Cory Jandreau
Cory Jandreau was awarded the Maine Blue Collar Scholarship in 2018 to use for his career path in Auto Collision Repair. Although Cory always had an interest in cars, it was when he attended Caribou Technology Center during his junior and senior years where he was taught full collision repair on vehicles that he had the opportunity to really increase his skills and knowledge. He credits his instructor, Ken Westin, who saw Cory’s potential and encouraged him. Cory had real life experience at the CTE school, as he purchased and rebuilt two of his own cars, an ‘07 BMW 5 Series his junior year and an ‘85 BMW 3 Series his senior year that he still owns.
Knowing he was headed to college, encouraged by his instructor and Tracy Corbin, Student Services Coordinator at Caribou Tech, Cory applied for the MBCS to assist in the costs of purchasing tools and furthering his education at Norther Maine Community College in auto collision. While at NMCC he participated in an internship at Moody’s Collision Centers during his winter break. After completing his education, he was hired by Moody’s as a paint technician.
Cory offered some advice to future tradespeople. He stated, “There is still that stigma around the trades that it is dirty work and smart people do not go into the trades. That is furthest from the truth, you will meet a lot of very smart people in the trades.” He offered, “It is an enticing option, there is always a need for trades people so you have real job security and the compensation & benefits are competitive with many other jobs.”
Best of Luck to Cory as he continues his career in Auto Collision!
Supporting CTE Instructors
Meet Michael Parent, Electrical CTE Instructor at Capitol Area Technology Center. Mike was awarded the MBC Instructor Scholarship affording him the opportunity to spend a week learning the latest products, processes and best practices in the electrical technology field. The experience is significant in the effort to ensure our instructors are providing relevant instruction and curriculum to students that is creating value to both the students and Maine employers.
After spending a week working at Lanco Mike stated. “I now have a much better understanding of how to guide students in preparing themselves professionally in order to have a shot at one day working for such an organization. I will integrate my experience at Lanco into my class in order to get 17–18-year-olds excited about electrical technology and various areas of employment in the electrical field.”
Mike shared, “the real benefit of working in the electrical field is the variety of jobs. Everything runs on electricity. I went from house wiring, to industrial, to troubleshooting, to automation/robotics to power plant superintendent. There are so many electrical careers out there and more every day.”
Mike has taught for the past seven years and has found an increased interest in those pursuing the electrical field. In the past, his classes had room for more students, he now has a waitlist of 20! While the stigma of going into the trades continues to be persistent, Mike said it best, “They relish the fact that they can do what their parents or peers cannot, and they can make a living doing it.”
Firefighter/EMS Shelby Adams Shares Her Experience
What led you to pursue this career?
Shelby: As cliché as it sounds, my love for helping people and the adrenaline rushes. A 9 – 5 job never interested me. Every day at the fire house is different, and you never know what you are going to be doing until the tones drop and you find yourself running half a million-dollar apparatus.
As a woman did you find any specific challenges in choosing a career where women are underrepresented?
Shelby: The entry requirements are the same for all firefighters, regardless of their gender. As a female firefighter, though, you may need to exercise more and focus on building up your upper strength as the male population tends to strive more in the physical fitness than the female population.
For the most part, everyone has been welcoming. No matter where you go, you are going to find some individuals that do not support females being in the fire service. With my experience, more fire departments are changing their outlook on females and promoting females into the chain of command these days. With this, you will still have some bitter firefighters tell you that you cannot do something because of your gender. Take the anger and strive every day to be better. One of those days, those bitter firefighters will look at you and say, “you’re not bad”. In the fire service, those three words are gold. It means you have gained their respect and they trust you with their life. It takes a lot to get there, but when you do, it is worth all the blood, sweat, and tears.
What piece of advice would you offer to a young woman interested in pursuing a career in your trade?
Shelby: Do it. Join a department. Get involved. You can’t do this job alone. Find mentors in your department and learn from them. Do not be afraid to put yourself out there but know your boundaries. Show your leadership. Help with chores. Cook chow with your company. Sit around the chow table and not in your room. You can take as many classes and attend as many trainings that are offered, but you will not learn as much as when you sit around the chow table and talk to the firefighters that have been doing this career longer than before you were born. While they drink their coffee thick as motor oil, take every piece of information in. Whatever they are telling you, it is probably because it is important. I learned a lot about the fire service from these “table talks” as what they are called within the department. Aside from running calls, the kitchen table is one of the reasons I joined the fire service – to be part of the brotherhood/sisterhood, the war stories, and the friendly teasing of those within your company. Regardless of your gender, you’re the next generation and you want to make those retiring feel like they are leaving the future of the fire service in good hands
