Celebrating Our 2026 Gulf of Maine Wayfinder

The Gulf of Maine Wayfinder Award

Our vision for the Gulf of Maine is that its ecosystem, economy, and communities thrive amid rapid change. Achieving that future depends on people who bring science and community together — fishermen, educators, scientists, local leaders, and neighbors who partner with us year after year.

The Wayfinder Award celebrates those partnerships. It spotlights the individuals and organizations whose leadership and collaboration with GMRI have created lasting impact and whose stories demonstrate what's possible when science and community work together.

Meet Jennifer LaBonte, 2026 Gulf of Maine Wayfinder

Jennifer LaBonte is the Instructional Specialist for Math and Science, K-12, for Lewiston Public Schools, where she supervises science and math coaches and works to integrate hands-on science into classrooms across the district. Over the course of her career, she has brought together students, teachers, and community members to explore the world around them.

"I first met Jennifer last fall,” said GMRI President and CEO Glenn Prickett as he introduced Jennifer as the award recipient at our Annual Leadership Reception this spring. “She spoke with genuine passion about the importance of investing in the next generation and the power of partnership in creating opportunities for students. Her unwavering dedication to students and educators truly exemplifies the spirit of the Wayfinder Award."

Expanding opportunities for hands-on science, computer science, and community-based learning requires an advocate like Jennifer—someone willing to build partnerships, secure resources, and help great ideas become reality.

"It's definitely my favorite part of my job. Finding ways to make sure that Lewiston kids have all the opportunities that they should have," said Jennifer. "One thing I do is I always say yes to ideas. It's always: we can do it. We'll figure it out. We'll find the money, we'll find the sources, we'll find the materials for whatever teachers want to do. I just make sure I put people in front of each other, and we make it happen."

One Yes at a Time

Lewiston Public Schools has partnered with GMRI’s LabVenture program – our flagship, free, hands-on science experience for middle school students – since its very first year in 2005. Under Jennifer's leadership, that relationship only deepened, and today every sixth grader in Lewiston takes the trip to Portland to investigate real data about the Gulf of Maine and the changes our scientists are seeing.

LabVenture is only one example of Jennifer's partnership with GMRI. She has collaborated on National Science Foundation-funded research alongside our Learning Scientist, Amanda Dickes, helped bring computer science into Lewiston classrooms, introduced field investigations at Thorncrag Bird Sanctuary, and supported student-led maple tree research that culminated in presentations at GMRI's Findings from the Field Symposium, where students present their observations to professional scientists and each other.

She is quick to give credit to the many partnerships and collaborators that enable these experiences, recognizing they cannot be achieved alone.

"Amanda Dickes at GMRI has an incredible ability to make teachers believe that anything is possible. Educators are full of big ideas, and Amanda consistently helps us see those ideas as opportunities rather than obstacles. She has truly been my partner wayfinder."

The Importance of Accessibility

For many Lewiston students, the programs Jennifer has shepherded have provided their first experiences with the ocean, of conducting real science, or presenting original research. Jennifer has spent her career making sure that access becomes the standard, for every kid in her district, every year.

"For the past two years, and again this year, every Lewiston sixth grader has the chance to participate, regardless of background. That access matters. It ensures every student feels that they belong in these spaces of science, discovery, and possibility."

From exploring vernal pools to collecting maple tree data, Jennifer has created opportunities for students to experience science in their own back yard.

“Children are natural scientists,” Jennifer LaBonte likes to say. “They are curious, observant, and constantly asking questions about the world around them.”

Looking to the Future

The impact of partnership is exactly what the Wayfinder Award was created to recognize. It celebrates the people who connect science with community, open doors for others, and inspire lasting change.

Jennifer's leadership reminds us that the future of the Gulf of Maine will be shaped not only by groundbreaking science, but by the people who make that science meaningful in classrooms, communities, and everyday lives. We are honored to recognize her as our inaugural Gulf of Maine Wayfinder and look forward to celebrating many more partners whose leadership helps advance our shared vision.