Great News!!! After Years of Hard Work, the Diploma is in Hand

Master's Degree in Public Policy & Management

from the Muskie School of Public Service

I went to the post office in town today to pick up my mail. I got a yellow slip so I went to the window to claim my mail. As always, the post office employee on shift provided excellent customer service and presented me with my package. It must be noted that the post office staff here in Rumford are some of my favorite people in town because they are just so pleasant. Little do they know that the service that they provide to us is invaluable. We don't have to worry about people "hacking" into our post office boxes and we can count on them to deliver our mail, which is one of those things in life that often get overlooked and taken for granted.

Today, I received two pieces of mail that I wanted to share. I FINALLY got my Master's Degree Diploma! And, I got a notice from the Community College of the Air Force that I have also been awarded an Associate's Degree in Emergency Management. YEAH!!! But, I think the best news of all is learning that the University of Southern Maine granted me my Master's Degree the year that I was actually finished with classes, which was the Spring of 2005.

Unfortunately because I was so busy with my military career and the new love in my life, it was difficult for me to find the time to complete the thesis required for the degree in Public Policy and Management. For those of you who have ever done a thesis, it is not an easy feat. I had to take an incomplete in the course because the research required to complete the thesis was time consuming and difficult to accomplish when you are working full-time. But, I finally got it finished in 2007 and because I was so damn proud of myself for finally getting it done, I chose to attend the graduation ceremony in 2008.

I am so happy that I wanted to share this news with the world! As always if you have something significant that you would like to share with Rumford or the River Valley for that matter, please feel free to submit it and it won't cost you a dime. We would love to share all of your good news, too!