NMCC Celebrates Graduation of 2024 MLOFT Cohort, Highlighting Future of Maine’s Logging Industry
MLOFT graduates and faculty at the 2024 graduation ceremony. Front Row Students (from left): Dakota Sutherland (Ashland), Chance Tibbets (Mercer), Coltran Austin (Norridgewock), Connor Ennis (Millinocket), Daniel Higgins (Masardis), Ryan Bean (Troy), Andrew McDonough (Palmyra), and Benjamin Smith (Dexter).
Back Row, Instructors (from left): Donald Burr, MLOP Coordinator; Hugh Porter, Forestry Instructor; Jeff Rowe, Loader Instructor; Sam Shook, CTL Instructor; Dennis Dyer, Commercial Driving Instructor; and Nate Kinney, CDL Range/Road Instructor.
FAIRFIELD, ME — Northern Maine Community College (NMCC), in partnership with the Professional Logging Contractors (PLC) of the Northeast, is proud to announce the graduation of ten students from the 2024 Mechanized Logging Operations & Forest Trucking (MLOFT) program. This milestone marks the culmination of 20 weeks of intensive, hands-on training at the woodlot and eight weeks of commercial driving preparation, setting these students up for success in Maine’s critical logging industry.
The graduation ceremony took place on November 7th in a woodlot near Kennebec Valley Community College’s Alfond Campus, the same location where students trained during the summer and fall. The MLOFT program equips students with the skills to safely operate heavy machinery and haul logs, making them valuable contributors to Maine’s forest economy.
Graduates of the 2024 cohort include Coltran Austin of Norridgewock; Ryan Bean of Troy; Connor Ennis of Millinocket; Daniel Higgins of Masardis; Andrew McDonough of Palmyra; Nick Rowe of New Vineyard; Benjamin Smith of Dexter; Dakota Sutherland of Ashland; Chance Tibbetts of Mercer; and Aliya Cox of Montville.
A special acknowledgment goes to Ryan Bean, who was awarded the Axe Award for being the most improved student throughout the program.
“This ceremony represents the hard work and determination of our students, the dedication and expertise of our faculty, and the collaborative effort of our partners,” said Leah Buck, Northern Maine Community College’s Assistant Dean of Continuing Education.
The MLOFT program is made possible through a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration. NMCC collaborates with the PLC of the Northeast and Kennebec Valley Community College (KVCC) to provide students with unparalleled training opportunities.
NMCC is now accepting applications for the 2025 cohort of the Mechanized Logging Operations & Forest Trucking (MLOFT) program that will begin on June 23, 2025. For more information about the Mechanized Logging and Forest Trucking program, please visit NMCC’s MLOFT page at 1ku7.hrfjk.com/industry-customized-training/mechanized-forest-operations.