WATERVILLE – Each year, Central Maine
Community College in Auburn recognizes outstanding students from every
technical school in Maine.
This year, Mid-Maine Technical Center selected Keith Gilbert of Winslow High
School as their Career and Technical Education (CTE) Student of the Year.
Gilbert is a senior at Winslow High School completing his
second year in MMTC’s Computer Technology program with instructors Reggie
Grenier and Michael Campbell.
An inductee to the National Technical Honor Society, Gilbert
demonstrates a commitment to excellence in his work, has been recognized for
perfect attendance, and has earned Computer Technology’s Outstanding Student
Award.
He is also an active member of SkillsUSA who won a Gold medal
for MMTC in the category of Computer Maintenance Technology at this year’s
state SkillsUSA competition in March. He will represent Maine in the
prestigious national competition in Kansas City, Missouri June 19-23 in the
same category.
SkillsUSA is a national nonprofit organization serving
teachers and high school and college students who are preparing for careers
in trade, technical and skilled service occupations. It was formerly known
as VICA (Vocational Industrial Clubs of America).
Gilbert has also earned National Certification in A+ Hardware and A+ OS
technologies, as well as Network+ certification.
The faculty at MMTC describe Gilbert as a unique and
promising student.
“There are no holes in Keith’s game,” Student Services Coordinator Peter
Hallen said of Gilbert. “Any opportunity he’s had, he’s taken full advantage
of it.”
Mark C. Powers, director of the technical center, said it is a measure of
Gilbert’s commitment to his work and fellow students that he canceled a trip
to Europe he was scheduled to take this summer in order to represent his
school at the national skills competition.
“I think there are a lot of kids who in that situation would
have made a different choice,” Hallen said.
For his part, Gilbert said he is pleased to have been selected for the CTE
award.
“Obviously it was a great honor,” Gilbert said. “I was picked
out of about 300 students from the school, and being from Winslow I was also
recognized at my home school through the Board of Education and again
through the Waterville Board of Education.”
He is focused now on doing his best at the national SkillsUSA
championship after winning Gold in Maine, though he realizes the competition
will be fierce.
“Hopefully I’ll be able to carry that on to the nationals, but it should be
fun out there in Kansas City,” Gilbert said.
MMTC has always performed exceptionally at the nationals
despite competing against much larger schools from around the country.
The school captured its first Gold medal in the 2004
competition, when Jenny Bragg of Winslow High School beat all competitors in
the category of Preschool Teaching Assistant.
Other national medalists included Scott Libby of Lawrence
High School with a Silver in Graphic Communications in 2001, and Nick
Ouellette of Messalonskee High School with a Bronze in Computer Maintenance
Technology in 2000.
Alicia Morgan of Waterville Senior High School placed 6th at
the nationals in the rigorous Related Technical Math competition in 2005
after winning a Gold at the state level.
“Our kids hold their own,” Powers said. “They’re always in the top tier.”
Gilbert is the son of Janine Stewart and Paul Gilbert of Winslow.