Mary Lou Thibodeau
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College for ME-Androscoggin Excellence Awards
December, 2009
Two
CMCC students were honored recently at the College for ME- Androscoggin
annual awards luncheon. They were selected for their great success in
overcoming odds and excelling in their college studies.
Alicia Webber of Lewiston was described by her nominator as “an
engaged and motivated student . . . who has an enduring thirst for
knowledge.” While in her teens, Alicia was homeless for a time
before becoming a resident of New Beginnings in Lewiston. While
there she pursued completion of her high school diploma so she could
apply to college.
While at CMCC Alicia has blossomed and has successfully balanced her
academic load with work responsibilities. A liberal arts student
who has been awarded high honors in four of her eight semesters at
CMCC, Alicia is modest about her achievements. She helps other
students in the college’s TRiO support program, and has convinced
her advisors that she will continue to “grow personally,
academically and professionally.”
Mary Lou Thibodeau of Auburn is a second year student in the
Medical Assisting program. A first-generation college student in
her family, she is described as an “extremely dedicated and hard
working student . . . who went from being poor and unemployed to
being an outstanding college student.”
Before coming to CMCC, Mary Lou worked at a telemarketing firm but
was laid off due to the slowing economy. When she enrolled at CMCC,
she had to count every penny and struggled to find enough money for
her studies and household expenses. Despite these challenges, she
earned honors in her first semester and has since become very active
with the TRIO Program and currently works as a student mentor and
tutor in Medical Terminology. Her advisor describes her as “a very
caring person who has become a role model to many students.”