Unity Foundation and UNITEL Offer Generous Support for Student Scholarship at Unity College 

Unity, Maine – March, 2008 — Recently when the Unity Foundation and UniTel Incorporated hosted a reception of thanks for Unity College faculty and staff at the Unity Centre for the Performing Arts in Unity, Maine, guests were delighted to simply enjoy the warm sense of community at the event. The reception took an unexpected but most welcome turn for the extraordinary when a special surprise unfolded.

     Unity Foundation Chairman and CEO Larry Sterrs and Laurie Osgood, President and Chief Executive Officer of UniTel, both located in Unity, stood side-by-side at the front of the centre auditorium.  They spoke of the close connection between Unity College and their organizations, citing the common connection they shared through the work and vision of the late Bert Clifford.  It was Clifford who helped to found Unity College in 1965, serving also as President of UniTel and founding the Unity Foundation.

Larry Sterrs (left) and Rob Constantine

     The crowd was both surprised and delighted when Sterrs and Osgood called Unity College President Mitchell Thomashow to the front of the auditorium.  Osgood presented Thomashow with a check for $10,000, while Sterrs offered a check for $70,000.  The donations will fund the Bert & Coral Clifford Founders Scholarship at Unity College.

     “We could not be more thankful to the Unity Foundation and UniTel,” stated Thomashow.  “There is a strong sense of community present in Unity.  This generosity is deeply appreciated by the entire Unity College community, and it will help young men and women who wish to pursue careers in service to the natural world to attain their dreams.”

     Thomashow stressed his hope that in the future, the strong bonds between Unity College, the Unity Foundation and UniTel would become even stronger.

     “We hope to visit your organizations and learn more about you,” said Thomashow.  “We also invite you to visit our campus and see how we are striving to become one of the best known and most well respected among all small environmental colleges in the United States.  Our goal to be a champion for sustainability and attain a national voice concerning environmental issues is attainable.”

Mitch Thomashow and Laurie Osgood

     Thomashow also spoke of his personal friendship with Sterrs, calling the Unity Foundation leader a mentor.

     “Our relationship with Unity College has been a long and fruitful one. We have many exciting opportunities ahead of us and having UniTel as a corporate sponsor will only enhance the possibilities,” said Sterrs.

     “As Unity College’s telecommunications services provider, UniTel is pleased to assist the college to meet its long term goals. Our commitment to them has been central to UniTel’s commitment to the community,” said Osgood.

     The Unity Foundation donated books from its library to Quimby Library at Unity College, which also serves several area communities.

    “Quimby Library’s unique role as combined academic and public library reflects the close, mutually supportive ties between the College and the town,” said Melora Norman, Librarian at Quimby Library.  “We are delighted to receive this donation of books from the Unity Foundation as evidence of that continued relationship, which benefits all library users.

     Unity College is a small private college in rural Maine that provides dedicated, engaged students with a liberal arts education which emphasizes the environment and natural resources.  Unity College graduates are prepared to be environmental stewards, effective leaders, and responsible citizens through active learning experiences within a supportive community.