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V O L . X X I N O. X X I I I O C T O B E R 5 , 2 0 1 5 22 W hen Laurie Lachance, who grew up in a working class family in Dover- Foxcroft, arrived at Bowdoin College, she realized she'd enrolled "for all the wrong reasons. I didn't know anything about the college. I was a fi rst-gen- eration student, from humble roots, and I'd never seen that kind of wealth before. I was a bit overwhelmed." Soon, though, she "realized the power of higher education," and its ability to transform lives. Yet she's never forgotten how diffi cult it can be for students to get through college and fi nd their way in life — and that was true even before student loan debt became a big issue. Lachance was much better prepared for her current job, president of omas College, even though she'd never taught in a classroom or been an educational administrator before she was hired three years ago. omas, located in a rural set- ting in Waterville, is a growing business and liberal arts school than now has 815 undergraduate and 200 post-graduate students, a record enrollment that's doubled over the last decade. Lachance has worked in a wide variety of business, government and nonprofi t settings, most of which P H O T O / T I M G R E E N WAY The power of higher education Laurie Lachance tackles issue of student debt B Y D o u g l a s R o o k s We're very personal, yet affordable, relevant to today's economy, with a guarantee. Laurie Lachance President Thomas College, Waterville www.momentumconvention.com Tuesday, November 10 9:00am–4:00pm | Augusta Civic Center I N T E R E S T E D I N PA R T I C I PAT I N G ? Call Donna Brassard at 207.761.8379 x327 FOLLOW US @MBEVENTS #MOCO15 Be part of Maine's largest business-to-business event and network with customers and prospects. Don't wait to reserve a booth — 75% sold out! Reserve your exhibit space now! M O M E N T U M C O N V E N T I O N 2015 E XCL USI V E V E ND ORS: Affordable Exhibit Displays Best Western | Broadreach PR Electricity Maine | Green Tree | Headlight AV Time Warner Cable | W.S. Emerson Company ME DI A SP ONS OR: HR Power Hour radio show BUSINE S S LOUN GE SP O NSOR: Portland International Jetport PAV IL ION SP ONS OR: TD Bank AC A DI A SP ONS OR: SE BAGO SP O NSORS: Laurie Lachance, president of Thomas College, talks with students in the library at the Alfond Academic Center at the college.

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