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.”