Skowhegan to award Aubin scholarship
Copyright © 2003 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.
SKOWHEGAN — The first scholarship in memory of Maj. Jay Thomas Aubin will be awarded this year to a Skowhegan Area High School senior who emulates service above self.
Aubin, 36, died in the second day of the Iraq war when his CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter crashed while lifting off in Kuwait. The crash also killed three other U.S. Marines and eight British Marines on board.
In the days after Aubin's death, friends and former classmates who remember him as a warm and fun-loving teen, set up the scholarship to bring some good out of a tragedy.
Donations have rolled in from former classmates and teachers and from people living as far away as Brooklyn, New York and Lake Placid, Florida, according to Jane Bigelow, secretary in the Skowhegan Area High School guidance department.
Bigelow said Monday that a little over $3,200 has been donated. Organizers hope to raise between $8,000 and $9,000 so the fund will become self-perpetuating, with the interest paying for the yearly scholarship.
The scholarship will be awarded to graduating seniors who have been accepted to a post-secondary school in Maine. The winner will have high moral character, outstanding citizenship and a positive attitude.
Kim Richards, who was in band with Aubin in high school, said friends of Aubin gathered together following his funeral last month to share stories about the fun-loving, easy going boy who used to go "mud running," and sit in front of the library and tease his friends as they passed by.
One girl wore socks of two different colors to the funeral because Aubin used to tease her about her habit of wearing different socks to school.
Richards said that someone remarked that if Jay had been present he would have asked "Why are you guys making such a fuss."
Beneath the fun-loving teen, Richards said there was always a person who wanted to help others and give of himself.
After high school, that side came out in his devotion to his family and to his career as an aviator who trained helicopter pilots as part of the Marine Aviation and Tactics Squadron in Yuma, Arizona.
Aubin first joined the Marine Corps out of high school and then went to the University of Southern Maine and rejoined after graduating.
"He went back in because he felt like they needed him," Richards said.
Alan Crowell — 474-9534, Ext. 342
acrowell@centralmaine.com