Student Spotlight
Devyn Vermette, Student of the Year
Devyn Vermette didn’t have a clue what she wanted to study when she first arrived at SMCC. Now, not only has she charted a future path, she’s also SMCC’s Student of the Year.
Devyn initially wanted to attend a private four-year college in Maine after graduating from high school in 2016. But when saw the price tag, she decided to attend SMCC instead and major in Liberal Studies.
Besides maintaining quality grades, she has volunteered for the Captain’s Cupboard food pantry and worked for college security. She went so far as to organize a food drive within the Security Department to benefit the Captain’s Cupboard.
For that and more, the Maine Community College System last month named her SMCC Student of the Year.
Devyn plans to transfer to USM this fall and study behavioral science with a focus on counseling. Eventually, she hopes to earn a master’s in educational psychology.
“I really figured out what I want to do in the future here at SMCC. I don’t think that would have happened if I’d gone anywhere else.”
Student Spotlight
Jen Conrad,
Jen Conrad juggled it all this past year as a full-time student, a mother of two and a basketball All-American — all while commuting more than an hour to classes and working 20-30 hours a week.
After high school, Jen attended the University of Maine at Augusta before taking some time off. While substitute teaching at Monmouth Academy, a “light bulb went off” and she realized that teaching was her passion and her future.
She came to SMCC because it was affordable and had the academic program she sought while allowing her to play basketball. This past year, she led the team in scoring and rebounding and was named a USCAA All-American player.
Now that she’s earned a degree at SMCC, Jen plans to work as an educational technician before going on to earn a bachelor’s degree and become a teacher. For her, the long days — getting up at 6 a.m. and not getting home until 10 or 11 p.m. — have been worth it.
“I have to do it for my family — getting a degree, becoming an ed tech and becoming a teacher. It’s about building a bright future for my family.”