Page 8 - Fall 2019 Newsletter

SPOTLIGHT

ON ALUMNI

Kim Trickey Larkins

Class of 1976

By Nancy Ketch ‘82

Kim Trickey Larkins ’76 didn’t move to Houlton until she was 6 years old, but it has become her home. She credits Houlton
High School with giving her a good foundation for her professional life as a Licensed Social Worker in private practice in
Houlton and a recently published author.

Kim shared that her main focus during High School was athletics. She played basketball, volleyball and softball during this
time. She also worked for the Houlton Rec Department
where she taught tennis and coached Pee Wee basketball.
Her athletic experiences are also her favorite memories of
High School.

The sports continued during her Freshman year of college
playing volleyball and basketball at the University of Maine
Presque Isle (UMPI). She transferred to the University of
Maine Orono then returned to UMPI. She majored in
Liberal Studies and Behavioral Science. Kim said she really
realized in college what a good foundation she had received
at HHS and that it had really prepared her well for the
experience.

Kim’s professional life has focused on Social Work and
included time working for the Maine Department of Health
& Human Services, Community Health & Counseling
Service and for Head Start at the Aroostook County Action
Program (ACAP),

Earning her Master’s Degree was a goal Kim wanted to
accomplish for many years. The opportunity came about
when the University of Maine offered a weekend cohort in
Aroostook County so Kim went back to school in her 50’s
earning a Masters in Social Work.
The illustrated cover for Kim's book Emma Lou the Yorkie Poo
Most recently, Kim has been doing Social Work in schools
through a contract with Southern Aroostook Community
School and the Katahdin School District. She has also worked in the East Grand School District. Her work with the students
focuses on mindfulness which is shown to improve attention, emotional regulation, compassion and overall well-being.
Photo courtesy of Penny Nevers ‘61
To help teach her mindfulness programs, Kim recently published a book called “Emma Lou the Yorkie Poo: Breathing in the
Calm” which introduces parents, therapists, educators and children to some of the many benefits of mindfulness. In the story,
the main character, Emma Lou, enjoys playing with her best friend Pearl, but Pearl doesn’t always pay attention to Emma

www.houltonalumni.com PAGE 8