On Saturday, Mates of the Homer Public Library celebrated the annual Lifelong Learner occasion. This 12 months’s award went to Samantha Cunningham. The Youth Learner Award went to Thea Individual.
The objective of the celebration is to seek out and acknowledge native people who deliberately search challenges and alternatives all through the adventures of life.
Attendees on the occasion obtained appetizers from Purple Fowl Kitchen served by Homer excessive College college students. The occasion additionally featured a gap reception of music from the Spit Metropolis Slickers, a Trivia Tree contest with host Kathleen Gustufson, silent public sale with objects accessible to browse, a live-action role-playing (LARP) introduction and demonstration with Homer youth, and at last, the presentation of awards.
Michelle Borland launched Individual to entrance of the room to obtain her award and current an acceptance speech.
“Thea is an individual who’s authentically engaged in her schooling. She’s not simply on the lookout for the solutions to a take a look at or in finishing homework, is genuinely within the topic issues in our lessons and I actually respect that,” Borland stated. “She offers thorough consideration to how politics and authorities have an effect on folks and the communities we stay in.”
Individual accepted her award with thanks and informal commentary.
“What studying means to me is one thing that I’m nonetheless studying. However I feel I do know why I study, what drives me to study and why I take pleasure in it. It’s as a result of in a group like Homer it’s form of unattainable to not.
“On this group for each child who desires to study one thing there are 100 artists and professionals and academics who need to cross on their expertise. And my friends and I are all lifelong learners as a result of in a spot like this, it’s form of unattainable to not be,” she stated.
The occasion additionally featured poetry recitations from Homer Excessive College college students and music with the Homer Excessive College Swing choir. Andy Haas additionally offered data on BOB the Bookmobile.
Kate Meyer launched Lifelong Learner Samantha Cunningham, specializing in her substantial coaching hours in first-aid instruction for all age ranges and group capacities of Homer regional residents.
She additionally spoke of Cunningham’s contribution to creating LARP alternatives for youth. Serving as a mentor, instructor and position mannequin, Cunningham is an energetic LARP character herself.
She additionally invested in firefighter coaching on the age of 52, a undeniable fact that obtained substantial viewers applause.
Meyer stated Cunningham can also be “a self-taught grasp in quilting, gardening, catastrophe response drills, farming, butchering and cooking.”
“She has taught herself to be an adventurous culinarian, usually utilizing components she has raised on her personal farm. The record doesn’t cease; she has her personal drive for excellence.”
The occasion program offered further data.
“Samantha has devoted a long time to serving her group as a volunteer Paramedic and CPR/ First Support Teacher to hundreds of individuals within the Homer space,” this system stated. “She was a mentor for younger adults as a bunch for World Vast Alternatives on Natural Farms for 26 years and invested her time and power in native youth as a founding father of the IceFire Bay Dwell Motion Position Play group. Although she didn’t attend formal college till highschool, Samantha turned a voracious reader at an early age. Samantha continues her quest for data by taking over new challenges, together with Hearth Fighter I coaching and sharing her ever increasing life-saving and life-changing experience.”
Cunningham completed the night presentation with a few of her personal tales.
Dwelling in Homer, she stated, is an “wonderful” expertise.
“After I moved right here it very a lot felt like I used to be coming house.”
Born in Vermont, Cunningham stated that within the early ‘70s her people packed up every thing they owned right into a Ford pickup, headed to the border and drove all the way in which as much as Cape Breton, Nova Scotia — the top of the street.
“And that ought to sound acquainted to us right here!,” she stated. “My household set about doing homesteading stuff!”
Dessert for the occasion was later offered by Purple Fowl Kitchen.
Mates of the Homer Public Library created the chance for the Lifelong Learner award in 2009. The primary recipient was Daisy Lee Bitter. The youth learner award was added to the native achievement in 2011.
Emilie Springer will be reached at emilie.springer@homernews.com.
