Capital Area Technical Center in Augusta has announced its February Professionals of the Month.

Everett Blair of Whitefield is a senior from Erskine Academy in South China, enrolled for the second year in the Law Enforcement Academy program. He has enjoyed the opportunities he has had in the program. He feels he has benefitted from a variety of guest instructors that have come into the program.

He has been receiving instruction from two members of the Augusta Police Department, Derek Daley and Donald Whitten in Mechanics of Arrest, Restraint and Control. Because of COVID-19 restrictions, this training has been possible with the use of training dummies. His instructor, Peter Couture said, “Everett is a great asset to the Law Enforcement Academy as he has strong leadership qualities. He arrives for class daily with a contagious smile and a positive attitude. He is always willing to motivate and help his peers. His work ethic and integrity is outstanding,” according to a news release from the technical center.

Blair credits ride-alongs with the Maine State Police that his instructor was able to set up for him as solidifying his intentions to pursue a career in law enforcement. When he is not in school, he likes to be outside hunting, fishing and hiking. He has enlisted in the Maine Army National Guard and after completing basic training he plans to attend the University of Maine at Machias to study wildlife biology with the goal of becoming a game warden.

Adrianna Morley of Augusta is a senior from Cony High School in Augusta enrolled in the Certified Nursing Assistant program. Last year she completed the Medical/Veterinarian Terminology program at the center and feels that gave her a strong foundation for the CNA program. She describes the programs at CATC as fun. She has liked the teaching methods her instructors have used, incorporating games and projects into the lessons. Although because of COVID-19 restrictions, they have not been able to go out to clinicals, she feels she has obtained good experiences in the nursing lab setting.

Her current instructor, Deborah Belanger-Warnke, said, “While at CATC, Adrianna focuses on the important work that a nursing assistant performs at the bedside each and every day. Her eagerness to learn, caring gestures, and display of quality clinical skills are just a few of her positive attributes that the health care profession desires and demands. Moving to college, I have no doubt that Adrianna will excel in the career of her choosing,” according to the release.

Morley recently watched the movie “Patch Adams” and aspires to be like that type of person when working in health care. After graduation, she plans to attend Kennebec Valley Community College with the goal of becoming a nurse.

The center’s Alumni Spotlight this month shines on Morgan Ross of Whitefield. She completed the Culinary Arts program at CATC and graduated from Hall-Dale High School in 2019. She said the Culinary Arts program was not the same as a home economics class. The Culinary Arts program prepared her to go to work in the industry. She had always been interested in cooking and discovered in the Culinary Arts program that she really loved being in the kitchen.

Ross is employed as a baker by Sheepscot General Store and Farm in Whitefield. In this position, she enjoys baking everything from fresh pizzas to brownies. She has discovered that businesses need to keep up with what customers want. At Sheepscot General Store, this has meant expanding its pizza line to include gluten-free and vegan cheese options.

Her supervisor at Sheepscot General Store and Farm, Shauna Brackett, said, “Morgan came to Sheepscot General at a very challenging time, when the pandemic had just begun to really effect the United States. Luckily for us, she came equipped with the foundational skills required to learn, grow and succeed in a commercial kitchen setting. Since joining us, she had demonstrated a desire to advance her skills, as well as the critical thinking necessary to troubleshoot challenges often encountered in this type of work. She’s a great asset to our team,” according to the release.

 

 

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