Achievement Hall of Fame 2025

Stephanie Bernier, Class of 1991, Jennifer Brockway, Class of 1991, Larry Bull, Class of 1985, Woody Littlefield, Class of 1949, Chris McLaughlin, Class of 1992, Laura Sanborn, Class of 1966, David Wight, Class of 1966, Laura Amar-Dolan, Class of 2002

Stephanie Bernier, Class of 1991 ,  CEO for Canyon Ridge Hospital in Chino, California.

Stephanie Bernier attended Lewis S. Libby Elementary School in Milford and graduated from Old Town High School in 1991.  After high school, she attended the University of Maine, where she studied Secondary Education and earned a B.S. in Education.  Upon graduation, she then attended the prestigious Teachers College, Columbia University, where she earned a Master of Arts in Education.  Several years later, Stephanie went back to school at the University of Maine to obtain a Master’s Degree in Social Work, graduating in 2011 with honors.  

After leaving Maine for New York City, Stephanie was a graduate assistant coach for the Columbia University Women’s basketball team.  She loved sports in her childhood and has attributed many of her leadership skills to her growing up playing baseball, specifically as the first girl to make the Old Town Little League baseball league in 1982. Her father, William, advocated for her participation along with a few coaches who stepped in to grant her membership as there was no girls’ softball program in the city at that time.  While Stephanie excelled at baseball and softball, basketball was her true love.  She coached locally at Orono High School, where she was the assistant coach in 1994 when they won the girls’ state basketball championship.  She also coached an AAU team that won the state championship in 1995 and subsequently participated in the national tournament.  Many of the girls on the AAU team received full college athletic scholarships. 

Stephanie has always been a champion of education, as evidenced by her advanced degrees in the field. She started her professional career as a history teacher and continued in that vein by opening and operating two Sylvan Learning Centers in Northern California after graduating from Teachers College.  After selling those companies, Stephanie moved back to New York City and owned several real estate properties before the tragic events of 9/11 brought her back to Maine. While navigating those life-changing events, she met the Executive Directors of Northeast Occupational Exchange (NOE).  They offered her an opportunity to open a school for children with emotional disabilities, including Autism.  

After three years of working with the Maine Department of Education, NOE was granted designation as a Private Special Purpose Private School for children grades K-8.  It was during her tenure as School Administrator that she was given multiple opportunities of oversight in social work programs at NOE and decided to pursue her MSW.  Since that time Stephanie went on to work at Acadia Hospital as their Administrator of Pediatric Services, which included oversight of inpatient and outpatient child and adolescent services.  In her 5 years at Acadia, she started several programs targeted at helping Maine youth.  Those accomplishments included establishing a Summer Treatment Program, which grew to serve over 130 kids per summer who had mental health diagnoses along with several on-site school behavioral health programs located from Bangor to Rockland.

In 2015, Stephanie was recruited by Universal Health Services (UHS) as a Chief Operating Officer for Canyon Ridge Hospital in Chino, California, and was promoted to CEO in 2017. UHS is a Fortune 200 company and operates hundreds of medical hospitals, residential facilities, and psychiatric hospitals worldwide.  Canyon Ridge Hospital is one of the largest psychiatric hospitals in California, with 157 inpatient beds and an outpatient program that serves hundreds of patients.  Stephanie has earned top awards at UHS, such as the Chairman’s Council Award (4 times) for the highest patient outcomes and satisfaction, along with the highly esteemed Top-Quality Award, which is awarded to only one hospital annually for having clinical outcomes better than the national average.  

Stephanie lives in Los Angeles with her wife, Laura, and has two adult children, Gabrielle and Gavi,n who pursue their passion in film and political science.

Jennifer Brockway, Class of 1991 , Executive director of Somerset Woods Trust

Jennifer Brockway, a 1991 OTHS graduate, has worked with Somerset Woods Trust since 2020, first through her conservation planning business and, more recently, as full-time executive director.

Before joining Somerset Woods full-time, Jennifer had the opportunity to work with Somerset County landowners as an outreach coordinator for the Soil & Water Conservation District. Previously, she worked as executive director at Sebasticook Regional Land Trust in Unity, Maine for more than 12 years after starting her land conservation career with Pemaquid Watershed Association in Midcoast Maine. She is a past member of the Maine Land Trust Network Steering Committee and a Better Selves Fellow at Knoll Farm in Vermont. 

Outside of Maine, Jennifer worked for three years with Battelle, an environmental consulting group, where her primary clients were the US EPA and US Army Corps of Engineers. She also worked on matters related to the Farm Bill and Clean Air Act with the Union of Concerned Scientists in Washington, D.C. 

Jennifer spent her youth canoeing and exploring the Maine outdoors before leaving for Duke University in North Carolina. She completed her undergraduate studies in Environmental Science & Policy, graduating with honors in 1995, with time spent at the Duke Marine Lab, American University, and field studies in Kenya. Additional studies include graduate coursework in Ecology & Environmental Science at the University of Maine and a writing intensive at Salt Institute for Documentary Field Studies in Portland, Maine. Jennifer has worked in the New England conservation community for more than 25 years, helping to forever conserve and manage nearly 10,000 acres of wild and working lands.

Jennifer recently began exploring how to adapt the conservation practices she has used for decades to expand – rather than deny – Wabanaki land access and stewardship. Her continued learning with First Light, a collective of non-native land-oriented organizations working toward a future of nature and people thriving in Wabanaki homelands, has her reflecting on her childhood in Old Town and her conservation career with a new perspective. 

Outside of Somerset Woods Trust, Jennifer is Central Maine Program Manager for Ag Allies, a statewide grassland bird conservation program. She lives in Waldo County with her husband and two children.

Larry Bull , Class of 1985 , Actor

Larry Bull graduated from Old Town High School in the class of 1985. The small town of Old Town did not deter Larry from having big dreams, and he has accomplished a tremendous amount in the field of theater and acting. 

Larry Bull is a seasoned American actor whose career spans over three decades, encompassing theater, television, film, voice acting, and audiobook narration. He is recognized for his versatility and depth in a wide range of roles. 

Larry has an extensive background in theater, with performances on Broadway, Off-Broadway, and in regional productions. Notably, he appeared in Tom Stoppard’s  The Coast of Utopia trilogy on Broadway, portraying characters such as Alexandre Ledru-Rollin and serving as an understudy for the role of Karl Marx. His regional theater work includes roles in Rough Crossing and Vaudeville at the Virginia Stage Company. Additionally, he played King Henry IV in the Utah Shakespeare Festival’s Henriad Series, where he discussed the character’s evolution from an optimistic leader to a more introspective and panicked figure. 

Larry has performed in television and film to round out his acting career. On screen, Larry has appeared in several television series. His credits include roles in FBI: Most Wanted (2020), New Amsterdam (2018), and The Blacklist (2013). These roles have showcased his ability to adapt to various genres and character types. 

In voice acting, Bull provided voice and motion capture for the character Horley in Red Dead Online, a significant supporting role in the game. He is also an accomplished audiobook narrator, bringing stories to life through his voice work.  Beyond traditional acting roles, Larry has been active in the community theater and cabaret. He co-organized the REACH Cabaret in Cedar City, Utah, a variety show that found a new home at OFF the Cuff, a venue specifically designed for performances. 

Larry is affiliated with professional organizations such as the Actors’ Equity Association (AEA) and the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA).  

Woody Littlefield, Class of 1949, Educator

Elwood R. Littlefield, better known as “Woody”, was a 1949 graduate of Old Town High School whose name has been synonymous with vocational education in this region of Maine for decades.

Woody was born in Old Town on November 21, 1930, and raised with his 5 siblings on the family dairy farm in Stillwater.  Working on the farm and delivering milk helped shape Woody’s character and instilled in him a solid work ethic.  In his formative years, he became a Boy Scout and learned both self-reliance and valuable leadership skills.  As a teen, he attained the rank of Eagle Scout, Scouting’s highest honor.

Woody’s school years at OTHS were filled with numerous extracurricular activities that included playing 3 sports, serving on social committees, and participating in school clubs.   Most notable of these, he was vice president of his senior class, captain of the basketball team, and editor-in-chief of the yearbook, then known as the Sachem.  The caption below his photo in the yearbook reads, “This ‘personality guy’ will always be on top.” 

Post-graduation from OTHS, Woody attended and graduated from Maine Central Institute with plans to attend the University of Maine and play football that next fall.  The outbreak of the Korean War influenced his decision to put his education on hold and join the United States Navy.  Woody served his country on active duty for 2 years.  At the end of the Korean War, he served in the Navy Reserves for 2 more years while resuming his studies at the University of Maine.  He graduated with a degree in Agricultural Economics and Farm Management in May 1957

On September 7, 1957, Woody married the love of his life, Janice A. Conrad, in Ship Bottom, NJ. After spending the early part of his career employed by the University of Maine, the Farmers Home Administration, Augusta State Hospital, and the Doris Duke Estate in New Jersey, Woody and Jan moved their family back to Old Town.

It was back in Maine that Woody shifted his career focus and developed a passion for vocational education. He was hired as the vocational education coordinator at Old Town High School and served in that capacity in the early 1970s while simultaneously earning a master’s degree in vocational education administration at the University of Southern Maine.  In 1974, Woody became the first director of Maine Vocational Region #4 and was instrumental in the conception, approval, and eventual construction of the Southern Penobscot Vocational School in Bangor, now known as the United Technologies Center (UTC).  A former OTHS student, George Bergeron, whom Woody later hired as a teacher at SPVS, recalls Woody taking him and several other newly hired teachers to see the “school” when it was just a cement slab.  Woody pointed out to each where their classrooms would be.  The new school opened its doors for the 1979 – 80 school year.  George commented that Woody was a very fair administrator, and he had the highest respect for him. He further related that as an administrator, Woody would attend the annual town meetings of all sending districts to ensure the budget for the vocational school passed each year.  Woody remained a member of the Board of Directors at the UTC after he retired as its administrator and never tired of enthusiastically sharing stories about his students’ successes and triumphs with anyone who would listen.

The UTC, Maine Vocational Region #4, is now the largest career and technical region in Maine.  Thirty-one local communities have a vested interest in the UTC, and the support of these communities assures that it remains a premier technical high school.  The UTC faculty offers 19 Career and Technical Education programs for Maine high school students and a wide variety of continuing (adult) education programs in the evening.  While it has grown and changed in significant ways during the past 5 decades, the UTC administration and staff proudly express their appreciation for Woody and the other visionaries who laid the foundation for this highly successful institution.

Woody died on March 29, 2023, at the age of 92.  By his own admission, he lived a very full, rewarding, and happy life.  He left behind his beloved wife Janice and children Kathy Reynolds and her husband Doug, Lisa Cummings and her husband Mark, Daniel Littlefield and his wife Dolly, Sarah Downey and her husband Heath, and their respective children and grandchildren.  While Woody considered his family his greatest legacy, he would likely agree that his passionate work in bringing secondary vocational education to generations of students in Region #4, and the positive impact doing so had on their careers, a very close second.

Chris McLaughlin, Class of 1992, Provider of Behavioral Health Services for students and families.

Chris McLaughlin, MSW, LCSW is a 1992 graduate of Old Town High School. While at OTHS, Chris was the Secretary of his class and an active member of the Yearbook Staff, Pep Club, Debate, Key Club, Representative Assembly, Student Council, Band, and Stage Band.

A lifelong resident of Maine, he obtained both his BA in Psychology(1996) and his MSW (2001) from the University of Maine. Chris is currently enrolled in the Doctor of Social Work (DSW) program at the University of New England with a 2028 anticipated graduation date. Chris has spent more than 25 years as a provider and a leader in behavioral health services for youth and families across a variety of clinical settings, including treatment foster care, residential treatment facilities, public schools, private practice, community-based programs, and psychiatric hospital-based services. Chris has a passion for teaching and is an adjunct faculty member at Husson University as well as with the schools of social work for the University of Maine, the University of Southern Maine, and the University of Maine at Presque Isle. He served for five years on the Maine Board of Social Work Licensing and is a member of both the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and the Society for Social Work Leadership in Health Care (SSWLHC), where he served as the Maine Chapter President and as a member of the National Board of Directors for three years. A lifelong learner in leadership, coaching, and mentoring, he is a graduate of the Disney Institute Leadership Program and the Daniel Hanley Health Leadership Development Program in Maine.

Chris holds two certifications in Diversity and Inclusion and Building a Diverse Workforce from Cornell University. He currently serves as Treasurer for the Diversity Hiring Coalition Board. Chris is the developer and instructor of the “Inspired Allies” certificate program, which is designed to support professionals across different industries in increasing their confidence in providing affirming services to members of the LGBTQIA+ community.  He is the Executive Director of the Maine Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and owner and lead consultant of Inspired Consulting Group, LLC.  He is also the co-host of the “Inspired Insights” podcast, a podcast dedicated to reducing the stigma in talking about wellness and mental health. Chris has served on various community boards and was elected to public office in 2022 as a School Committee member in his town. Nationally, Chris was the SSWLHC’s 2019 recipient of the Eleanor Clark Award for Innovative Programs in Patient Care for his work in youth suicide prevention. In Maine, Chris was recognized in both 2019 and 2023 for his advocacy and lifelong commitment to LGBTQ+ youth and was named Health Care Social Worker of the Year in 2019 by the Maine Hospital Association and the Maine Chapter of the SSWLHC for his leadership role on the award-winning “Acadia CARES” youth suicide prevention curriculum. In the spring of 2020, Chris was named the University of Maine School of Social Work’s Alumni of the Year. The Maine Education Association (MEA) honored Chris in May of 2023 as the first-ever recipient of the “Friend of Education” award, which recognizes an individual in elected office for their commitment and advocacy for public education. In December of 2024, Chris was honored with a Giraffe Award from the Maine Children’s Alliance. 

Chris and his husband live in Hermon, Maine, with their three dogs, Anna, Becky, and Sawyer, and are avid fans of many types of recreation and leisure.

Laura Sanborn, Class of 1966, Public Servant

Laura Sanborn is not your average woman. Married for 54 years to her husband, Harry, together they raised two children, Jon and Laurie, and were blessed with four granddaughters: Phoebe, Norah, Julia, and Amelia. They are the heart and soul of her life, always her greatest pride and joy. But Laura’s legacy extended far beyond her family.
Her journey into public service began in Alton, where she broke barriers as the second woman ever elected to the Board of Selectmen and the first in the town’s 143-year history to hold the title of First Selectperson in 1987. This pioneering spirit was a constant theme in her life. Years later, Laura became only the second woman elected to the Penobscot County Commissioners Court, and in 2017, she shattered another glass ceiling by becoming the first woman elected Chair as the county celebrated its 201st anniversary.

Laura’s contributions to her community were myriad. She was deeply involved in the consolidation of Alton, Bradley, and Old Town into RSU 34, serving as the Vice Chair from its inception. She has sat on various boards and committees, including the Cemetery Committee and the School Board in Alton, consistently advocating for the needs of her town.
Her dedication extended to legislative roles as well, representing District 137 in the 118th and 119th Legislative Sessions, where she made significant contributions to the Local and State Government Committee and the Transportation Committee. Laura’s influence has also been felt through her work with the Penquis CAP, the Eastern Maine Development Corporation, and the Save-A-Life organization in Lincoln, where she served as President of the Board of Directors.
Not only has Laura been recognized for her efforts, earning Eastern Maine Development Corporation’s “Community Partner of the Year Award,” but she has also led the Juniper Ridge Landfill Advisory Committee and passionately advocates for solid waste management and recycling.

Laura’s commitment to community service began early and has never waned. She was an enthusiastic Girl Scout Leader, teaching young girls the importance of education, leadership, and standing up for their rights and the rights of others. Her professional life saw her retire in 2001 after 34 years in the family-owned business, yet she never stopped working for the betterment of her community.

In the quiet town of Alton and beyond, Laura’s legacy of service, leadership, and dedication has left an indelible mark on everyone she touches. She is a trailblazer, a mentor, a leader, and above all, a loving wife, mother, and grandmother. Laura Sanborn is proof that one person’s dedication can indeed change the world.

Dave Wight, Class of 1966, Maine Forest Service.

David Wight, a 1966 alumnus of Old Town High School, was an active member of the football and varsity basketball teams. He captained the varsity basketball team during the 1964/65 season, scoring 36 points in his final home game against Fort Fairfield. Additionally, he was part of the championship summer basketball team and the Hi Y Club. 

In 1970, Dave graduated from Paul Smith College of the Adirondacks in New York, majoring in Forestry. He was a member of the Woodsmen’s Team and Forestry Club. While attending college, Dave worked for J.W. Sewall Company as a timber cruiser, gaining experience in both Maine Forests and the Maritimes. He then joined H.E. Sargent Inc. as a Grade Foreman, working on interstate and secondary highway construction. During the off-season, Dave worked for White Sign Company in Old Town. 

In 1973, Dave began his career with the Maine Forest Service as a Forest Ranger stationed in West Forks Plt. He patrolled the area from the junction of the Kennebec and Dead rivers to the US and Quebec boundary north of Jackman. After a brief stint in the Farmington area, he was promoted and relocated to the Dover-Foxcroft area as a Supervisor. Dave served as the Regional Training Officer for the Western Region of the Forest Service. In 1983, he transferred to the Regional Office in Greenville, where he was promoted to Regional Forest Ranger, supervising Western Maine. During his tenure with the Maine Forest Service, Dave worked with the U.S. Forest Service on multiple wildland fires in California, Montana, and Idaho. He also worked with FEMA during major flooding in the Richmond, Virginia area. After 28 years of state service, he retired in 1998 and joined the City of Old Town’s Public Works Department, initially as Airport Manager and later as Public Works Director. He retired after 13 years and accepted the position of Economic Development Director with the City before fully retiring in 2013.

Throughout his career, Dave has served on numerous committees, boards, and commissions, lending his expertise and unique perspective. In 1998, Governor Angus King appointed him to the Northeast Forest Fire Protection Commission, representing all New England states, New York, and the Maritime Provinces. Dave was reappointed by each subsequent Governor until he stepped down in 2023. 

A former Rotarian, Dave currently serves on the Old Town-Orono YMCA Board of Directors, having held positions as President and Vice-President. He is also a member of the Old Town-Orono Heritage Club, Old Town Museum Board, and Downtown Old Town Committee, and is serving his second term on the Old Town City Council. He is a member and deacon of the Stillwater Federated Church.  

Dave resides at Pushaw Lake in Old Town with his wife, Anne.

Laura Amar-Dolan, Class of 2002, Physician

Dr. Amar-Dolan is an Attending Physician in Pediatric Critical Care at the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital at Maine Medical Center. She is the Director of Quality for the Pediatric ICU and Medical Director for Pediatric Transport. Dr. Amar-Dolan is also an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the Tufts University School of Medicine. Her work aims to improve care for critically ill children throughout Maine.

While at Old Town High School, Laura was a member of the soccer, swimming, and cross-country teams. She also performed in multiple theater productions for the Pokeberry Players, was French Club president, was a National Merit Finalist, and was a member of the JETS team.

In the fall of 2002, Laura became the first OTHS student in 18 years to attend Harvard University. At Harvard, she was a member of the water polo team and sang with the Low Keys a cappella group. She also helped struggling families connect with resources within Boston Medical Center, tutored high school students as part of the Gear Up program, and spent two weeks in Madagascar studying biodiversity. Laura graduated in 2006 with a concentration in neurobiology and a citation in French.

Before starting postgraduate education, Laura spent the 2006-07 academic year as a 1st-grade teaching intern at the American School in London. In the fall of 2007, Laura enrolled at Dartmouth Medical School. While at Dartmouth, she established the Swim CHAMPS program as an Albert Schweitzer Fellow, which provides children with swim lessons and tools to help with the management of chronic health issues. Upon graduation, Laura was awarded the Dean’s Medal as the top overall medical student in the Class of 2011.

Laura began her career in pediatrics with the Boston Combined Residency Program in Pediatrics at Boston Children’s Hospital and Boston Medical Center. She won the BMC Siegel Award for Excellence in Teaching Medical Students upon graduation in 2014.

Dr. Amar-Dolan worked as a pediatric hospitalist at Lawrence General Hospital and Tufts Medical Center from 2014 to 2016, winning the LGH Faculty Excellence Award in 2016. She then returned to Boston Children’s as a Fellow in Pediatric Critical Care Medicine. Laura participated in a Pediatric Health Services Research Fellowship during which she earned herMPH from the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health in 2020 and performed research focused on optimizing care for children with medical complexity.

Laura lives in South Portland, Maine, with her husband and two daughters. She enjoys hiking, skiing, kayaking, and exploring the Maine coast.