Sanford Alumni Association members, pictured in 2021, from left: Shane O’Connell (president), Lisa Blanchette (secretary), Theresa Salls (treasurer), Kendra O’Connell, Beth Letourneau, Kristie Blanchette, Aaron Tremblay and Amy Sevigny.
Ambitious Alumni Goal Met
Courtesy photo
By Laura Snyder Smith
Sanford Legacy Foundation
Starting seven years ago, the Sanford Alumni Association made a big promise – to raise more than a quarter of a million dollars to name Alumni Boulevard, and later Alumni Stadium, in honor of generations of Sanford graduates. Now the association has made its final payment on that promise to the Sanford Schools Legacy Foundation.
“This achievement is truly remarkable,” said Kendra Williams, outgoing president of the foundation. “This bold decision demonstrated their courage and commitment to the school’s future. Through their belief in themselves and their community, and with hard work and determination, they accomplished something extraordinary.”
Aaron Tremblay, a Sanford High School vice principal and Alumni Association member, said community support has made all the difference. “We have a lot of alumni that still live here, and many now have their own kids. When we put out the call, they are quick to respond.”
The 2024 Spree of Trees, for example, raised nearly $70,000 in just four days during its sixth year. The concession picnic table sponsorships at Alumni Stadium sold in a few weekends, as did the fundraising effort to buy the new $10,000 inflatable helmet for football games.
“We’re a small group, but the support is unbelievable, between business and community members and alumni,” Tremblay said.
The association chose some key projects, such as the Alumni Stadium ticket booth, the new metal archway, and a patio of memorial pavers. Only scaled-down versions would have been possible without private funding.
“The new stadium isn’t just a facility,” said Williams. “It’s a symbol of what can be achieved when people come together. It’s a testament to the power of community spirit and collective action.”
Now that they’ve completed their pledge to the Legacy, the association plans to focus more on finding and fostering connections between alumni and current students. “The Spree of Trees will continue to be our major fundraiser, but we’ll have other things going on throughout the year too,” said Tremblay.
For now, the final piece of the ambitious Alumni Association project is the installation of a donor sign this spring. Surrounded by many pieces of other alumni projects there, the sign will stand just inside the stadium entrance, recognizing some key contributors, among them Mike Gallo, Morris Hebert, John Roux and Roland Cote.
“Many of the amenities now enjoyed at the stadium are direct results of their efforts,” said Williams. “From state-of-the-art facilities to enhancements that benefit both students and the broader community, their contributions have left a lasting legacy.”
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