Page 24 - Fall 2019 Newsletter

Association Undertakes Two New Projects

By Jon A. McLaughlin ’73

The Houlton High School Alumni Association has become known for its outstanding work in providing scholarships to
students graduating from Houlton High School.

From time to time, the Association undertakes funding for projects that benefit the school. In fact, several hundred thousand
dollars have been given to projects at the school from Alumni Gymnasium, Soccer Field Lighting, Smart Boards for classrooms
to Science Labs to name a few.

This spring the Association Board of Directors voted to fund two important projects that affect the lives of its students and
community.

It voted to donate $3500 to a pilot trades program being created by alum, David Harbison, Jr. ’72. Mr. Harbison is a well-
known local businessperson and entrepreneur that owns Harbison Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning in Houlton.
Dave’s business has been expanding and like all businesses he has been having a hard time finding employees - plumbers for
his business. The trade schools are not producing many new plumbers and there is a shortage. Houlton has a Regional Trade
High School, but there has to be a significant number of students applying for a particular course so you can prove to the state
that there is a need for funding for a course and the course curriculum has to be approved by the local school board. Dave
worked closely with the school and made a commitment that he would teach a course to local students interested in becoming
a plumber and this pilot program could be used to get the course established and approved by the state and the school board.
Mr. Harbison got many vendors to support the program and he created a classroom in his business and opened the class this
fall with 12 students. The course has been accepted by the state and Region Two School of Applied Technology Board of
Directors approved offering the class next year.

To help support this entrepreneurial spirit that in turn helps Houlton High School students, the board provided (note - we
didn’t present the funds to Dave, but to the program) $3500 to help fund the pilot program which will allow the students,
upon completion of the class, to transfer credits if they continue in the program at Northern Maine Community College –
Thanks Dave.

The board also approved an expenditure of $12,000 to purchase a lighting electrical board for the lighting system at the
Houlton Community Arts Center. The Center is the creative backbone for the community and a fully operational lighting
system is crucial for its success. The high school rarely asks for the Association’s specific help on projects. We simply volunteer
if the project is in keeping with our mission statement. In this case, the school asked the Association if it could help with this
project as it hasn’t been budgeted for. The board unanimously voted to help pay for 50% of the the new circuit board to bring
the Center back up to 100% functionality.

Dear Alumni Members,

We would like to extend a sincere Thank-you for your recent donation to the Mechanical Systems Technician Pilot
Program that started their first class this fall in Houlton at Harbison Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning,
Inc. This class of 12 students is being offered to any student attending Houlton, Hodgdon, Southern Aroostook,
Katahdin and Danforth High School. We feel this is one way for us to help introduce the students to a trade that
is in desperate need of licensed technicians. We could not offer this program if it wasn't for your support!! You
should be receiving a formal Thank-you from Region Two in the near future. Thank-you again and we will keep you
updated as the class continues.

Sincerely,
David A. Harbison, Jr - Chair/Facilitator Mechanical Systems Technician Program

www.houltonalumni.com PAGE 24