"You are here today because you are the champions of each of your home counties, and getting here was not easy. It took hard work, determination, and – to get up in front of your classmates, your teachers, and your entire communities – a lot of guts," Senator Collins said in opening remarks. "You all have accomplished a great thing by getting here, but I'm sure you know you didn't get here by yourselves. You got here because you have great teachers and great parents. They encourage you to excel. They push you ahead when you're ready and they lend a hand when you need one. I am thankful to the teachers and parents who lit the 16 bright fires here today. You are all champions, and I wish you all good luck."
County champions who competed Saturday are:
Androscoggin County, Shane Nichols – 8th Grade – Minot Consolidated School, Minot;
Aroostook County, Marina DiMarco – 6th Grade – Houlton Southside School, Houlton;
Cumberland County, Marshall Kelloway – 8th Grade – Brunswick Jr. High School, Brunswick;
Franklin County, Samuel Cohen – 8th Grade – Mr. Blue Middle School, Farmington;
Hancock County, Meghan Cooper – 8th Grade – Bucksport Middle School, Bucksport; Kennebec County, Michelle James – 8th Grade – China Middle School, China;
Knox County, Adrienne Horne – 7th Grade – Appleton Village School, Appleton;
Lincoln County, Anna MacInnis – 7th Grade – Jefferson Village School, Jefferson;
Oxford County, Brayden Richards – 8th Grade – Oxford Hills Middle School, Oxford Hills;
Penobscot County, Thomas Guthrie, 6th Grade – James F. Doughty School, Bangor;
Piscataquis County, Paige McGuinness – 8th Grade – Penquis Valley School, Milo;
Sagadahoc County, Cooper Jones – 7th Grade – Mt. Ararat Middle School, Topsham;
Somerset County, Danielle Summers – 8th Grade – Skowhegan Area Middle School, Skowhegan;
Waldo County, Colby Blanchard – 6th Grade - Troy Central School, Troy;
Washington County, Susan Ames – 8th Grade – Calais Middle School, Calais;
York County, Frankie Azzaratta – 8th Grade – Massabesic Jr. High School, Waterboro.
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