Alumni Spotlight
Amy Meuchel, serving veterans
A Navy veteran, Amy Meuchel served as president of the SMCC Veterans Club while attending SMCC. This year, she became Maine’s first-ever female district commander and post commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars organization.
While in the Navy from 2001-2012, Meuchel was deployed four times aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, the USS John C. Stennis and the USS Carl Vincent aircraft carriers.
After enrolling at SMCC in 2012, she studied Culinary Arts, Hospitality Management and Liberal Studies with a focus on Psychology. She was also active in the Veterans Club, serving as president for a time, and the Student Senate.
She is now working toward a degree in Social Work at the University of Southern Maine.
Meuchel has remained active in veterans issues since leaving SMCC, and in June became commander of VFW Post 6859 in Portland and commander of the VFW’s Maine District 10, which includes posts in Portland, South Portland, Gorham, Windham, Fryeburg, Naples, Windham and Harrison.
“After I earn my degree in Social Work, I hope to continue working with veterans. I’m not exactly sure in which way, but I want to stay with veterans.”
Student Spotlight
Michael Marino, Ireland-bound
Michael Marino has already earned a Construction Technology degree and a certificate in Heavy Equipment Operations. He’ll cap off his SMCC career with four months of study in Ireland after earning a prestigious George J. Mitchell Peace Scholarship.
Michael attended the University of Maine after high school, but took off time after a year to figure out what he wanted to do. Finding SMCC’s Construction Technology program was the answer, so he enrolled in 2015 and graduated with high honors last spring.
He now works for a company that specializes in maritime construction, with plans to eventually earn a bachelor’s degree in construction management and own his own construction firm.
In January, he will attend Cork Institute of Technology in Ireland for a semester, studying construction management. Tuition, fees and most expenses are paid for through the Mitchell Scholarship, named for former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell, a native of Maine.
“I’m going to Ireland with no expectations. It will all be new and a great experience.”