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Producer/Host: Ron Beard Project Launch and Deer Isle-Stonington High School—supporting high school graduates and their families with the transition to post-secondary education and the world of work What led to the creation of Project Launch in 2012? The transition from high school to post-secondary education can be challenging… what were you observing about the differences and similarities of those challenges to students of Deer Isle-Stonington High School and their peers in other parts of Maine? What were the key elements of Project Launch originally and how is it set up now? Support to students planning for post-secondary education, transition and ongoing support Support for students not immediately planning to attend college or technical schools, seeking local employment, internships, apprenticeships What is the perspective from Deer Isle/Stonington High School? What is the partnership between Project Launch and the school? How do you track success? What support and challenges do you face in keeping the program thriving? What are your hopes for future (individual and for Project Launch)—Each Guest responds as we wrap up the conversation… Guests: Kim Hutchinson, Director, Project Launch (PL) Saige Brages is a fourth-year UMA student, and PL office manager and social media guru! Rachel Shepard recent graduate Deer Isle-Stonington High School Kaitlynne Harrison second-year college student, Dennis Duquette, DISHS principal, PL Advisory Committee Board Member Chelsea Brown, current DISHS guidance counselor, Kathy Githens, PL Advisory Committee Member, Haley Robbins McDonald, owner/operator of Island Daycare, past PL advisory committee member About the host: Ron Beard is producer and host of Talk of the Towns, which first aired on WERU in 1993 as part of his community building work as an Extension professor with University of Maine Cooperative Extension and Sea Grant. He took all the journalism courses he could fit in while an undergraduate student in wildlife management and served as an intern with Maine Public Television nightly newscast in the early 1970s. Ron is an adjunct faculty member at College of the Atlantic, teaching courses on community development. Ron served on the Bar Harbor Town Council for six years and is currently board chair for the Jesup Memorial Library in Bar Harbor, where he has lived since 1975. Look for him on the Allagash River in June, and whenever he can get away, in the highlands of Scotland where he was fortunate to spend two sabbaticals.