Thomas Students and Staff Participate in Initiative to Connect Students with Community

WATERVILLE, Jan. 17 - A group of students and staff from Thomas and individuals from other colleges around Central Maine have joined a newly formed Student Advisory Committee working with Waterville Main Street to improve town-gown relations. Student leaders and staff members from Thomas, KVCC, Unity and Colby College have decided to take an active role in connecting with the Downtown Waterville community with the objective of establishing more meaningful relationships.

Waterville Main Street is a group aimed at advancing efforts to develop the Downtown area into a thriving, energetic, commercial, social, cultural and entertainment destination. The organization realizes the current role that college students play in Central Maine's revitalization process and hopes to serve as a conduit by bringing community minded students from local area colleges together with a simple goal in mind: to develop Downtown into an attractive destination for students.

Shannon Haines, Waterville Main Street's Executive Director said, "Central Maine is blessed with many young, bright and civic minded college students that understand the importance of rejuvenating our Downtown. It is our vision to help organize projects where students and the community can mutually benefit." Some new and exciting projects of interest include developing a business plan for a Downtown Cooperative, as well as facilitating student rush tickets at the Opera House.

Thomas students and staff involved with the Student Advisory Committee are Ashley Cust '10, Nickole Demerritt '09, Adam Hart '08, Tyler Simpson '08 and Thomas' Director of Student Life, Hannah Gladstone.

For more information on Waterville Main Street's Student Advisory Panel, please contact Raffi Der Simonian at (207) 680-2055 or raffi@watervillemainstreet.org.

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