The ShineOn Saturday event was held Sept. 24 at Messalonskee Middle School in Oakland. Submitted photo

OAKLAND — The Messalonskee High School girls soccer team welcomed a record 46 girls, pre-K to grade five, to the seventh annual ShineOn Saturday event, held Sept. 24 at Messalonskee Middle School.

Girls came from 10 different local elementary schools to be mentored by the Lady Eagles, playing field games, learning new skills, and receiving autographed posters from the players.

Kennebec Montessori kindergartners Emery Pell, center, and her twin sister Shea, learn new soccer skills under the guidance of their mentor Brooke Landry at ShineOn Saturday. Landry, now a freshman on the Messalonskee girls soccer team, was a former youth participant at ShineOn Saturday. Submitted photo

ShineOn Saturday was created seven years ago to honor former Messalonskee student Cassidy Charette. Charette was a leading Eagle mid-fielder and a youth mentor before she was killed in a hayride accident on Oct. 11, 2014, according to a news release from Monica Charette, of the ShineonCass Foundation.

Players also received a Cassidy bracelet, which allows them to receive a special snack and recognition at the team’s home games this season. ShineOn Saturday is sponsored by the Messalonskee girls soccer teams and the foundation.

The foundation was created to educate, inspire and empower youth to shine their own light through acts of kindness and volunteer charitable activities.

For more information about the foundation and upcoming ShineOnCass initiatives, visit shineoncass.org or email shineoncass@gmail.com.

Second grader Allie Pelletier, right, looks on as Caroline Westhoff and her teammates from the Messalonskee girls soccer team sign autographs as part of the seventh annual ShineOn Saturday. Submitted photo

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