Eastern Maine Community College

Nate Douglass, a nursing student here, is walking from Bangor to Boston. 240 miles, 15 miles a day, 16 days, to raise money for families who make the trip to Boston Children's Hospital for their kids' care.

He knows the drive. He made it himself in his early 20s . Every dollar he raises for the Extraordinary Needs Fund helps cover hotels, parking, and gas for New England families outside Massachusetts whose kids are receiving treatment there.

A few of us, two nursing faculty and one marketing director who learned that there's no such thing as too much stretching, joined Nate today for this stint of his journey. Already 1/4 of the way through his walk he's helped so many families. Nate said, "You don't have to be part of something big to make something happen." He set out to raise $2,000. He's past $19,000.

If you'd like to chip in: http://secure.childrenshospital.org/goto/DouglassBrothers

Tuition gets the headlines. Tool bills don't. For a lot of students headed into the trades, that's the number that decides whether they start at all. Being a Metallica Scholars school means we get to take that number off the table. Proud to be part of this work again alongside All Within My Hands Foundation and the American Association of Community Colleges

Now in its third year as a partner school, Eastern Maine Community College uses its grant to develop an affordable tool program. Students in EMCC’s skilled trades programs will gain easier access to the equipment required for their training, and they’ll carry those tools with them as they begin their careers.

Kat will tell you they're from away, Pennsylvania, where they were studying psychology and working full time before moving to Maine a few years ago. What they found here was something smaller and closer, a campus where people know your name and truly care to sit and talk with you about the little things like your adorable Siamese cat.

This summer, Kat is serving as EMCC's AmeriCorps VISTA. This fall, they begin the nursing program, arriving by way of our Career Studies health science pathway.

The through line is helping people. Kat loves science, anatomy and physiology especially, and has a particular interest in researching tick-borne illness, a subject Mainers know well. Nursing is the next step. The long game is a master's in public health.

You'll also find Kat helping in the campus food pantry, tutoring fellow students, and making art. And talking about cats.

Progress begins when people have the space, support and opportunity to keep moving forward.

It can start with a conversation, a new skill or the confidence to try something unfamiliar. Through hands-on learning and real-world experience, each next step becomes a chance to discover what is possible.

No one has to have the entire journey figured out. Sometimes, moving forward simply means being willing to learn, explore and take the next step.

A generous donation of a HoverMatt is giving EMCC Nursing students another opportunity to practice the skills that protect both patients and caregivers.

The air-assisted transfer system helps move and reposition patients with less physical strain, reducing the risk of injury while supporting safer, more comfortable care. In the classroom, students can build confidence using equipment they may encounter in clinical settings while strengthening communication, teamwork and proper patient-handling techniques.

We are grateful for this investment in our students and the care they will provide throughout their careers.

The most effective learning happens through experience.

Early Childhood Education students put their knowledge into practice by designing developmentally appropriate toys for infants and toddlers, then observing how children explored, handled and responded to their creations.

Students learn to connect child development theory with thoughtful, responsive teaching. They are learning how play supports curiosity, growth and connection during a child’s earliest years.

Our Electrical and Automation Technology program gives students the chance to work with the kinds of systems that power everyday life and industry. From paper roller systems to street light controls, students learn by building, wiring, troubleshooting and refining projects that reflect real applications in the field.

It is hands-on education with purpose. Students develop skills in electrical systems, automation, controls and problem-solving while working closely with faculty and equipment that mirror what they will encounter on the job. The work happening in this program is practical, technical and rooted in preparing students for the careers waiting for them.

Eastern Maine Community College will be closed Friday, July 3, in observance of Independence Day.

We wish our students, employees, alumni, and neighbors a safe and meaningful Fourth of July.

We are proud to recognize the students named to Eastern Maine Community College’s Spring 2026 Honors Lists.

This distinction honors the persistence, focus, and hard work it took to reach this milestone. Your efforts have not gone unnoticed. Congratulations on this outstanding achievement.

See the full list here: https://www.emcc.edu/discover-emcc/emcc/news/item/spring-2026-honors-lists/

Each year, one student from each EMCC program is recognized with an Excellence in Technology award, honoring the skill, perseverance, and commitment they have shown in their field.

This year’s recipient in Welding Technology is Chris MacLean.

Chris began his college journey studying engineering at the University of Maine, but after two and a half years, he realized he wanted a career that would allow him to work with his hands. His interest in cars led him to explore welding, and at EMCC, he found a passion he had not expected.

Chris credits much of his success to instructors Kevin, Chris, and Roland, who created an environment where he could learn, grow, and build confidence in his abilities.

Welding has opened a new world of opportunity for Chris, allowing him to combine his engineering background with his love of building and hands-on work.

After graduation, Chris joined Helical Drilling for a project at GE Vernova in Bangor. He also plans to continue developing his skills through automotive projects and hopes to start his own company in the future.

Chris’s story is a reminder that changing direction can lead to the place where your skills, interests, and purpose come together.