Please Be a Pillar In Will's Future
Donation protected
When Will was twelve, he was known as the kid who hauled his lawn mower around behind his bicycle through the streets of Bar Harbor. All on his own he started a business mowing lawns and repairing small engines. His clients included both private homes and B&Bs. During his second year in business, he had earned the respect and trust of local business owners, including one who was kind enough to allow him to leave his store with a brand new lawn mower putting 50% down and a payment plan that they had worked out. He designed a larger trailer to haul more of his gear and commissioned a local welder to build it for him. He also created a float promoting his business for the fourth of July parade. 
By the time Will was 15, he had saved enough money mowing lawns and fixing things that he was able to buy his first lobster boat and start his second business. Again, all on his own. The boat was small and needed work, but that didn’t stop him. Named after his grandparents, F/V “Sherman’s Skiff” was purchased in early March and was ready to be launched by late May. Will hadn’t actually lobster fished before, but that was just another challenge he was ready to take on and learn about.
“Sherman’s Skiff” was a great first boat, but she didn’t take the seas well. With mixed emotion he sold her and purchased an old 19’ Seaway that he later rebuilt from the hull up and fished from until the engine died late last summer.
When not fishing Will spends nights and weekends doing odd jobs anywhere he can; mowing, snow removal, moving furniture, helping move an organ from one church to another, you name it, he’ll do it. He often does things to help others out of the kindness of his heart too. I had a mom come up to me a year or so ago and tell me that she had gotten a flat tire in the rain and the only person who stopped to help her was Will. He also is a Junior Firefighter for Mount Desert and Tremont Fire Departments. The chiefs of both departments always have good things to say about him and we couldn’t more proud.
Academically, Will has always done well in school when he puts his mind to it, but certainly gets more out of hands on learning. He has always taken college track classes and has also enjoyed playing the saxophone, robotics, drafting, welding, 3D printing, boat building, Habitat for Humanity, and more. During his senior year, Will will be taking part in the Hancock County Technical Center’s Marine Service Technology Program that will be offered at the high school. The program will help him prepare for a career in the marine industry and hopefully an education at Maine Maritime Academy. Will has been thinking about attending MMA since the 8th grade and attending Envision’s National Youth Leadership Forum: Engineering and Technology this summer, should help prepare him in making that dream a reality.
Like so many of us, life hasn’t always been easy for Will. This winter was particularly challenging and the invitation to attend Envision’s National Youth Leadership Forum: Engineering and Technology couldn’t have come at a better time. Will was nominated by one of his teachers and based upon his leadership potential and interest in engineering related fields, was selected to attend the program in San Francisco this summer. He will have the opportunity to gain valuable insight from industry professionals as well as hands-on experience with 3d printing, robotics, building a helicopter, and more. He will learn skills for critical thinking and conflict management. During the cultural extension portion of the program he will visit Golden Gate Park, explore exhibits at California Academy of Sciences, tour Alcatraz Island, Fisherman’s Wharf, and Ghirardelli Square. Additionally, he will attend workshops to help prepare him for college.
Will rarely asks us for anything. He has borrowed money from us in the past and has always paid it back. Most things that he owns he has paid for himself, including his truck, which he also pays for the fuel for and all maintenance expenses. He works probably as much as most adults, probably too much, while still being a full-time student. Again, Will doesn’t ask for much, but he does need our help attending the conference this summer. We have signed up for the payment plan and have put those payments on a credit card. The cost of the program is as follows;
Tuition and fees - $3,084
Cultural Extension - $1,195
Transportation - $730
Tuition and Travel Protection - $139
Suit and Professional Attire - $500
Total = $5,648
Will will also be missing 12 days of work while away for the program.
I have mixed emotions about writing this campaign for Will, as we had great plans for fundraising events. It should be apparent however how hard he works and that juggling two homes, school, multiple jobs, volunteering with the fire departments, and having parents who are incredibly busy this time of year, it is nearly impossible to find another way to raise the funds needed to attend the conference. Two nights ago, when I started writing this appeal, Will spent the night on his captain’s lobster boat, so that he could be at work at 3am. I just don’t know what more I could ask of this young man.
We very much appreciate you taking the time to read this and any contribution would be helpful. Thank you.
Visit envisionexperience.com for more info on the program.
By the time Will was 15, he had saved enough money mowing lawns and fixing things that he was able to buy his first lobster boat and start his second business. Again, all on his own. The boat was small and needed work, but that didn’t stop him. Named after his grandparents, F/V “Sherman’s Skiff” was purchased in early March and was ready to be launched by late May. Will hadn’t actually lobster fished before, but that was just another challenge he was ready to take on and learn about.
“Sherman’s Skiff” was a great first boat, but she didn’t take the seas well. With mixed emotion he sold her and purchased an old 19’ Seaway that he later rebuilt from the hull up and fished from until the engine died late last summer.
When not fishing Will spends nights and weekends doing odd jobs anywhere he can; mowing, snow removal, moving furniture, helping move an organ from one church to another, you name it, he’ll do it. He often does things to help others out of the kindness of his heart too. I had a mom come up to me a year or so ago and tell me that she had gotten a flat tire in the rain and the only person who stopped to help her was Will. He also is a Junior Firefighter for Mount Desert and Tremont Fire Departments. The chiefs of both departments always have good things to say about him and we couldn’t more proud.
Academically, Will has always done well in school when he puts his mind to it, but certainly gets more out of hands on learning. He has always taken college track classes and has also enjoyed playing the saxophone, robotics, drafting, welding, 3D printing, boat building, Habitat for Humanity, and more. During his senior year, Will will be taking part in the Hancock County Technical Center’s Marine Service Technology Program that will be offered at the high school. The program will help him prepare for a career in the marine industry and hopefully an education at Maine Maritime Academy. Will has been thinking about attending MMA since the 8th grade and attending Envision’s National Youth Leadership Forum: Engineering and Technology this summer, should help prepare him in making that dream a reality.
Like so many of us, life hasn’t always been easy for Will. This winter was particularly challenging and the invitation to attend Envision’s National Youth Leadership Forum: Engineering and Technology couldn’t have come at a better time. Will was nominated by one of his teachers and based upon his leadership potential and interest in engineering related fields, was selected to attend the program in San Francisco this summer. He will have the opportunity to gain valuable insight from industry professionals as well as hands-on experience with 3d printing, robotics, building a helicopter, and more. He will learn skills for critical thinking and conflict management. During the cultural extension portion of the program he will visit Golden Gate Park, explore exhibits at California Academy of Sciences, tour Alcatraz Island, Fisherman’s Wharf, and Ghirardelli Square. Additionally, he will attend workshops to help prepare him for college.
Will rarely asks us for anything. He has borrowed money from us in the past and has always paid it back. Most things that he owns he has paid for himself, including his truck, which he also pays for the fuel for and all maintenance expenses. He works probably as much as most adults, probably too much, while still being a full-time student. Again, Will doesn’t ask for much, but he does need our help attending the conference this summer. We have signed up for the payment plan and have put those payments on a credit card. The cost of the program is as follows;
Tuition and fees - $3,084
Cultural Extension - $1,195
Transportation - $730
Tuition and Travel Protection - $139
Suit and Professional Attire - $500
Total = $5,648
Will will also be missing 12 days of work while away for the program.
I have mixed emotions about writing this campaign for Will, as we had great plans for fundraising events. It should be apparent however how hard he works and that juggling two homes, school, multiple jobs, volunteering with the fire departments, and having parents who are incredibly busy this time of year, it is nearly impossible to find another way to raise the funds needed to attend the conference. Two nights ago, when I started writing this appeal, Will spent the night on his captain’s lobster boat, so that he could be at work at 3am. I just don’t know what more I could ask of this young man.
We very much appreciate you taking the time to read this and any contribution would be helpful. Thank you.
Visit envisionexperience.com for more info on the program.
Organizer
Joe Renault
Organizer
Seal Harbor, ME
