NMCC celebrates graduation of 2024 MLOFT cohort, highlighting future of Maine’s logging industry
FAIRFIELD — Northern Maine Community College, in partnership with the Professional Logging Contractors of the Northeast, is proud to announce the graduation of 10 students from the 2024 Mechanized Logging Operations & Forest Trucking program. This milestone marks the culmination of 20 weeks of intensive, hands-on training at the woodlot and eight weeks of commercial driving preparation, setting these students up for success in Maine’s critical logging industry.
The graduation ceremony took place on November 7 in a woodlot near Kennebec Valley Community College’s Alfond Campus, the same location where students trained during the summer and fall. The MLOFT program equips students with the skills to safely operate heavy machinery and haul logs, making them valuable contributors to Maine’s forest economy.
LOGGING GRADS — MLOFT graduates and faculty at the 2024 graduation ceremony. Front, from left, are Dakota Sutherland (Ashland), Chance Tibbets (Mercer), Coltran Austin (Norridgewock), Connor Ennis (Millinocket), Daniel Higgins (Masardis), Ryan Bean (Troy), Andrew McDonough (Palmyra) and Benjamin Smith (Dexter). Back, Donald Burr, MLOP coordinator; Hugh Porter, forestry instructor; Jeff Rowe, loader instructor; Sam Shook, CTL instructor; Dennis Dyer, commercial driving instructor; and Nate Kinner, CDL range/road instructor.
Graduates of the 2024 cohort include Coltran Austin of Norridgewock; Ryan Bean of Troy; Connor Ennis of Millinocket; Daniel Higgins of Masardis; Andrew McDonough of Palmyra; Nick Rowe of New Vineyard; Benjamin Smith of Dexter; Dakota Sutherland of Ashland; Chance Tibbetts of Mercer; and Aliya Cox of Montville.
A special acknowledgment goes to Bean, who was awarded the Axe Award for being the most improved student throughout the program.
“This ceremony represents the hard work and determination of our students, the dedication and expertise of our faculty, and the collaborative effort of our partners,” said Leah Buck, Northern Maine Community College’s assistant dean of Continuing Education.
The MLOFT program is made possible through a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration. NMCC collaborates with the PLC of the Northeast and Kennebec Valley Community College to provide students with unparalleled training opportunities.
NMCC is now accepting applications for the 2025 cohort of the Mechanized Logging Operations & Forest Trucking program that will begin on June 23, 2025. For more information about the Mechanized Logging and Forest Trucking program, please visit NMCC’s MLOFT page at www.nmcc.edu/industry-customized-training/mechanized-forest-operations.
Founded in 1961, the Northern Maine Community College is an accredited two-year public community college located in Presque Isle, Maine. The College is committed to excellence in learning and offers over 30 innovative associate degree and certificate-level programs both online and in-person. NMCC is one of seven colleges in the Maine Community College System. To learn more about the College visit www.nmcc.edu or call NMCC Admissions at 207-768-2785.