Benjamin Terril, senior at Sanford High School, was chosen to receive the 2025 Principal’s Award.
Photo: Sanford High School
Compiled by Carolyn Cadigan
SHS student awarded for excellence and leadership: Benjamin Terril, a senior at Sanford High School, has been selected to receive the 2025 Principal’s Award. Principal Tracy Gibson noted, “Throughout his years at Sanford High School, Benjamin has distinguished himself in the classroom, in the theater program, on the playing field, and as a leader in the school and the community.” Terril and Gibson will join other award winners and their principals for an Honors Luncheon on April 5. At the luncheon, award winners are recognized with the presentation of an individual plaque and 10 recipients are chosen by lottery from those in attendance to each receive a $1,000 scholarship. The Principal’s Award is presented in more than 100 Maine public and private high schools by member principals of the Maine Principals’ Association. Congratulations, Benjamin!
SRTC instructor honored at Mariners’ First Responders Night: Captain Harold Smith, longtime fire science instructor at Sanford Regional Technical Center (SRTC), has been named the 2025 recipient of the Captain Joel Barnes Community Service Award, recognizing his decades of service and commitment to training future firefighters across Maine. The award, jointly presented by the Maine Mariners and the Berwick Firefighters Union, honors the legacy of Captain Joel Barnes, a Berwick firefighter who lost his life while saving fellow firefighter Mitch Manfredonia during a 2019 fire. Smith, who was selected from three finalists, formally received the award on March 8 at the Maine Mariners’ First Responders Night game. This marks the sixth year the award has been given out.
During his 12 years at SRTC, Smith built the fire science program from the ground up. His teaching philosophy centers on preparing the next generation. According to Matt Petermann, SRTC director, students gravitate toward him. In fact, it was a former student who nominated Smith for the award.
Smith’s impact is evident throughout the region’s fire services. “The new game that I play now is when I go to mutual aid calls, I count how many former students are here fighting the fire,” Smith said. During a recent fire in Acton, six of the 12 responding firefighters were graduates of his program. Congratulations, Captain Smith! Read the full story here.
Young journalists at SMS develop a nose for news: Sanford Middle School students have launched a new student newspaper, called The SMS Times. Their debut issue, published in February under the guidance of Chambree Kumka, shared what’s happening at the school through news stories, club spotlights, sports and arts updates, and more. Their investigative reporting covered a broken water fountain in the Grade 5 wing. Students are learning valuable skills in writing, interviewing, and meeting deadlines while reporting on issues that matter to them. Read the February issue here.
Do you know an early childhood educator who deserves the spotlight? Nominations are open for the 2025 Outstanding Early Childhood Professional Spotlight, an annual recognition program from the Maine Department of Education (DOE) in collaboration with the Department of Health and Human Services. The program recognizes early childhood professionals working with children (birth to 8 years old) and celebrates the foundational role they play during this critical stage of growth and development — whether it be in a childcare program, public school, private school, or home-visiting setting. The nomination deadline is March 21, so don’t delay. FMI, and to submit a nomination, go here.
Teens, tap into your funny bone and improve your improv: Nasson Community Center and Little Theatre is offering a five-week Improv for Teens course with Tyler Paterson beginning April 17, from 6 pm to 7:30 pm, with a showcase scheduled for May 16. The course, for students ages 13 to 18, will teach the tenets of improv comedy. Participants will get plenty of stage time and productive feedback inside of a safe learning environment. At the showcase, they will perform alongside veteran improvisers from the local troupe Stranger than Fiction. The cost for the course is $154. FMI, and to sign up, go here.
Sanford school happenings: For more news from the Sanford School Department, including student achievements and the recent Spring Sing concert, read the latest edition of the Sanford Spotlight Newsletter here.
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