Page 10 - Newsletter_Spring_2019

U.S. Cellular representative Stacey York, who presented the $10,000 award spoke directly to Williams saying, “ e diff erence
you make, not only here at the high school, but also at the middle and elementary levels, did not go unnoticed by this
community or our program judges. e impact that you have made by connecting to the good in everyone is what we have
noticed most about you.”

e U.S. Cellular’s Most Valuable Coach contest gave
people the opportunity to nominate, vote for and honor
current coaches of K-12 school-affi liated sports teams.
People nominated thousands of coaches across the country.
ose who nominated Williams described her as a key asset
to the community and a role model to her team. e top
50 fi nalists were selected and put out for public vote before
that fi eld was narrowed down to the fi nal 15.

A panel of judges, including Green Bay Packers wide
receiver, Randall Cobb, and WNBA All-Star, Maya Moore,
helped determine the winning coaches. Along with online
voting, the judging panel evaluated the fi nal 15 coaches
based on the positive impact they have on their teams,
school and city, as well as their leadership qualities.

Sarah shared with the Houlton Pioneer Times after placing A U.S. Cellular representative presented Hodgdon softball coach
3rd that, “It’s really been a very humbling experience. I Sarah Williams, fourth from left, a $10,000 award on November
never imagined myself in a position like this and the way 30th for finishing third in the company’s nationwide “Most Valuable
Coach” contest. Taking part in the presentation are, from left,
everyone came together to support Hodgdon really says a Hodgdon Middle-High School Principal Steve Fitzpatrick ’73, SAD
lot about who we are as a community. We have certainly 70 Superintendent Scott Richardson, Stacy York of U.S. Cellular,
put Hodgdon on the map, showed how we support one Williams, students Kora Lambert and Allison Winship, and U.S. Cellular
representatives Luci Royal, Lori McNutt, Tracey Austin, Matt Kasper
another here, and most importantly, created a positive and Jeff Brown. (photo courtesy of Joseph Cyr ’89, Houlton Pioneer
experience and outcome for the students.” Times)

Sarah indicated that the $15,000 her 3rd-place selection garnered for the Hodgdon schools would be targeted towards youth
programs. She envisioned them providing fi nancial assistance for students attending camps or clinics and helping those
who may need equipment for their chosen sport. A group was meeting the day after our interview to work on a process for
distributing the funds.

Sarah’s family growing up and time at Houlton High, all helped shape the person she has become. In addition to her parents,
her brother Jonathan is a 2004 Houlton grad who has also stayed in the area and works at the family business with their father
at Harbison Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning. When asked to refl ect on her time at HHS, Sarah remarked that all of
her teachers were great. She singled out Mike Powers as a teacher who had a signifi cant impact on her. She noted that her
coaches from high school, including Shawn Graham and Bruce Nason, had a huge infl uence on her, as well. “I learned a lot
from them,” she said, adding that her success as a coach was partly because of them. Sarah said she often uses a phrase that
Coach Nason used when she was a student – “If you show up on time, you’re late.”

Sarah mentioned a unique situation that she is currently experiencing as she gets to work with Wayne Quint who is now the
athletic director at Hodgdon High School. Wayne worked at Houlton High School for many years and was also a great friend
of her grandparents. She remarked that, “Wayne was my athletic director at Houlton when I attended as a student and now
we are in Hodgdon together and he is my athletic director as a coach.”

Some of her favorite memories of high school were of her sophomore year when both the soccer and softball teams made it to
the state championships. at same year, the show choir, under director Patrick Moore, was very successful.

Sarah is now married to Tim Williams and they have a daughter, Paisley, who is 2.

We are very proud of Sarah and are glad to claim her as an alum. We wish her continued success as she molds the students of
this region and contributes to our community.

Segments of this story were taken from stories by Joseph Cyr ’89 that appeared in the Houlton Pioneer Times.

www.houltonalumni.com PAGE 10