Emilia Baker, left, and Jocelyne Coombs are recipients of 2023 Mingo Grants.
Two young women, two different career paths. However, there are many similarities between Jocelyne Coombs and Emilia Baker, winners of the Mingo Grant this year. Both grew up in Harpswell and love their close-knit community. Both worked very hard to get where they are.
In addition to winning academic awards, Baker was active in the National Honor Society and PALS, short for Peers Assisting and Listening to Students, at Mt. Ararat High School, as well as the girls hockey and soccer teams. She also worked part time during the school year and full time during the summer.
An honor student, Coombs was in the Student Senate her freshman and sophomore years. She spent her last two years of high school at Region 10 Technical High School so she could study welding. During her senior year, her dedication led to her selection as Student of the Year.
Coombs and Baker both grew up lobstering, and Coombs plans to make her livelihood fishing. She wants to do her part to ensure Harpswell remains a lobstering community by fishing from her bright yellow boat.
Coombs is cognizant of the ways fishing is changing, however, and even though she’ll use her grant to pay for her commercial lobster license, she hopes to acquire additional fishing licenses so she doesn’t rely wholly on lobstering.
Welding is another avenue she’s pursuing. “Welding and lobstering complement each other,” she said. “I wanted to become a welder so I could fix the stuff my dad or I break.” Because she’ll be self-employed, she plans to pursue an online associate degree in business administration.
Although Baker doesn’t intend to make lobstering her career, it’s possible her interest in environmental studies at Lafayette College might lead her to study how environmental changes are affecting the waters of the community she loves.
Baker has “a passion” for the environment that she credits to growing up in Harpswell, “spending time by the water and on the many beautiful trails.” She hopes to be able to travel and educate students and communities about the environment. She’s already produced a beach cleanup guide.
Originally founded to support Library Hall on Bailey Island, the Mingo Club has expanded its mission in education and literacy. In addition to sponsoring one or two annual grants, the Mingo Club also donates money for books to the teachers and students at Harpswell Community School.
