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BIDDEFORD, Maine

UNE student Reba Shapiro named Biddeford Volunteer of the Year

Reba Shapiro and Biddeford Mayor Alan Casavant
Reba Shapiro and Biddeford Mayor Alan Casavant

Reba Shapiro '17, a student in the University of New England’s Health, Wellness, and Occupational Studies program, was recently recognized by the City of Biddeford as Volunteer of the Year.

Biddeford Mayor Alan Casavant stated, “Reba has been an active mentor for four years with UNE's College Community Mentoring Program(CCMP). CCMP supplies 50 mentors to schools in Biddeford, Saco, Old Orchard Beach and the Kennebunks. In total, the program serves about 110 local youth with one-on-one and class mentoring.

"Reba was president of CCMP for three years. As president, she initiated the Annual Mentoring Field Day, where UNE student mentors and their mentees are invited to campus for a day of fun games and activities together. She has been instrumental in bringing together the UNE mentors to work on projects such as making fleece blankets for their mentees at holiday time, creating handmade cards for mentors to give to their mentees at the end of the school year and organizing bake sales and other fundraising projects to support the mentoring program. This year she stepped into the role of the program coordinator. In this capacity, she has been in charge of all aspects of operation for CCMP.

"Reba has also been an active mentor in our Diversion to Assets Program for first-time, non-violent juvenile offenders. In addition, she is and has been involved in the UNE College Aspirations Program, which brings middle school youth to the UNE campus for tours and programs.”

Shapiro is graduating from UNE this May with her Bachelor of Science in Health, Wellness, and Occupational Studies and minors in Psychology and Medical Biology. She is a member of both the Psi Chi and Alpha Chi Honor Societies. After graduation, Reba plans to attend a Physician Assistant program with the ultimate goal of working in Pediatric Neurology.

To learn more about the University of New England’s Westbrook College of Health Professions visit www.une.edu/wchp

To apply, visit www.une.edu/admissions

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.