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BIDDEFORD, Maine

Mayor Alan Casavant honors UNE students for commitment to serving the community

As a way to recognize University of New England (UNE) students for their outstanding volunteer efforts to help create a better Biddeford Community, Mayor Alan Casavant will present three students with the City of Biddeford UNE Student Volunteer Award on Tuesday, May 5 at 7 p.m. in the second-floor council chambers of Biddeford City Hall.

The City of Biddeford UNE Student Volunteer Award not only recognizes individuals who demonstrate integrity and high quality of character, but also strengthens the connection created between the University and the City of Biddeford. This year’s recipients are: Samantha Cottone, Laura Groomes and Shayne Toohey.

Samantha Cottone is a junior in UNE’s Health, Wellness, and Occupational Studies program. In addition to volunteering weekly at the Seeds of Hope Community Center in Biddeford, she founded a branch of the Food Recovery Network on campus called, “The UNE Hunger Initiative,” which serves to collect and donate food from the UNE dining facilities to the Bon Appetit meal program. Cottone also received a small grant after attending The Maine Hunger Dialogue in October that she used to create a community vegetable garden at UNE, contributing even more resources for donation to local food pantries and meal programs.

Laura Groomes, a second-year student in the College of Osteopathic Medicine has been integral to UNE’s relationship with the Biddeford Community through her service in the Center for Excellence in the Neuroscience’s K-12 outreach program. Not only does she take on leadership roles, building meaningful relationships with the more than 280 students she engages with through this program, but she also was one of the most consistent volunteer tutors for the first annual Maine Brain Bee this past spring. She has donated significant hours volunteering as a pharmacy tech at the Biddeford Free Clinic, participates in game nights at the McArthur home and shared her personal struggles with Epilepsy at the UNE Brain Blast Pecha Kucha style event in an effort to raise awareness and eliminate negative stigmas surrounding brain conditions.

Shane Toohey, a senior medical biology major, serves as the UNE Hockey Community Service Coordinator. He has donated hours at the York County Food Bank and the Old Orchard Beach Food Pantry, in addition to volunteering at several events including the Ever After Mustang Rescue and Rotary Crutches for Africa. Toohey has coordinated bottle drives, helped community members with chores and served as a liaison and volunteer coach for youth athletics. He also participated as an ALDO Fights AIDS volunteer in Montreal, Quebec.

“I am continually impressed by the caliber of students here at UNE,” commented UNE President Danielle Ripich. “Samantha, Laura and Shayne demonstrate unparalleled leadership and integrity; we are honored to foster such remarkable individuals at our institution.” 

About the University of New England

The University of New England is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible, accredited online degrees. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.