CALAIS – It’s an international venture and one that should prove successful for two community colleges – one in St. Andrews, New Brunswick, the other in Calais.

Today, the Washington County Community College and the New Brunswick Community College in St. Andrews plan to unveil a binational educational articulation agreement.

The two colleges have developed a program that will allow students from Maine to continue their studies in New Brunswick that will lead to a diploma and ultimately to an associate degree.

WCCC currently offers a one-year certificate program in culinary and baking. Students who graduate from that program will now have an opportunity to enter into the second year of the NBCC hospitality and tourism management department’s culinary arts two-year diploma program offered in St. Andrews.

The announcement was not unexpected.

Last year, during the International Festival Parade, which celebrates the long history between Calais and neighboring New Brunswick, students dressed in black graduation gowns promoting WCCC and NBCC were smiling and waving from atop a float.

Alan Gray, a coordinating instructor at NBCC, said at the time that the float symbolized the strong relationship between the two colleges. The New Brunswick educator said he believed this program was unique to these two border community colleges.

Speakers for today’s ceremony include Calais Mayor Vinton Cassidy and St. Andrews Mayor John Craig. Also on board are William Cassidy, president of WCCC, and Diane Burt, principal of NBCC.

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