Adam Cote, a 1995 Colby College graduate who served in Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan and runs an alternative-energy company in Maine, received Colby’s Distinguished Alumnus Award June 6 during the College’s Reunion Weekend in Waterville. Given nearly every year since 1980, the award is presented to an former student who has achieved unusual distinction in a profession or avocation.
Cote served with the Maine National Guard in Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan, earning Army Commendation Medals in Iraq and a Bronze Star Medal in Afghanistan, where he was commander of the 150th Engineer Company. Awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service in a combat zone, the Bronze Star is the fourth highest military award overall.
In civilian life, Cote is cofounder and CEO of Thermal Energy Storage of Maine, providing affordable heating solutions to Maine families. In 2013 the Obama administration named him a Champion of Change for advancing clean energy and climate security.
“I want to thank Colby for this incredible honor,” Cote said. “I received a solid education growing up in Sanford and I had a wonderful family to help prepare me for the rigors of Colby….what Colby did for me was to prepare me for the next level of life: to broaden my perspective on the world and to think
Comments are not available on this story. Read more about why we allow commenting on some stories and not on others.
We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others.
We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion.
You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs.
Show less