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Schools

Project Graduation

BANGOR – The Project Graduation Committee at Bangor High School is holding a variety of events to fund activities on graduation night.

Basket bingo will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday, April 6, at Bangor Parks and Recreation, 647 Main St. The cost is $12 for 12 games, with prizes of 15 baskets and items of pottery. For tickets, call 947-1697.

Project Graduation also is offering raffle tickets, with prizes including a $2,000 travel voucher, an Otter kayak with life vest and paddle, a 27-inch Akai flat-screen color TV, a $100 gift certificate for fuel oil, and a pair of adult tickets to the Bangor Symphony Orchestra.

The raffle tickets are $10 each. Call 947-1697 or 942-5494. The drawing will be held May 23.

On March 29, Project Graduation held Comedy Night at Peakes Auditorium with Joe Bennett, Norbert Twitchell and Clyde Folsom entertaining.

State chess champs

ORONO – The 32nd annual Maine Scholastic K-12 Individual Chess Championships were held Saturday at the University of Maine. Hosted by UM, the tournament returned to its roots and the very rooms at the Memorial Union where the late George Cunningham originally held these events. One hundred nine eager young chess players from across the state gathered to play in elementary, junior high and high school divisions.

The elementary section of 31 players saw two previously unrated players, Drew Fahey of All Saints in Bangor and Zach Maloney of Perry, record perfect 4-0 scores and become the 2002-03 Elementary State Co-Champions.

After the tiebreakers, Maloney took home the first-place trophy and Fahey the second place. Fahey is just in the first grade. Seven players scored 3 points, tying for third place: Andrew Babbit, Jay Boyce, Hayden Ciomei, Greg Hood, Nickolai Renedo, Keji Xu and Mathew Saunders. Andrew Babbit, on tiebreaks, received the third-place trophy.

The junior high section had 26 competitors, with Bryant Ciomei of Deer Isle-Stonington scoring a perfect 4-0 and becoming the new State Junior High Champion.

Seven players scored 3 points to tie for second place: Gabe Borland, James Ouellette, Shane Eaton, Collin Ciomei, Mike Zhang, Jon Eaton, and Alba Briggs. On tiebreaks, Gabe Borland of Orono took home second place, while James Ouellette of Sydney received the third-place trophy.

The high school section of 52 players was one of the largest in recent memory. Fierce play was the order of the day and several games went down to the last few seconds on the clock.

Zening Chen of Orono HS defeated Seth Yentes, of Belfast HS, to become champion.

Four players scored 3.5 points to tie for second place. They were Nicholas Ciomei, Vassil Kakaradov, Cullen Edes, and Caitlin Foster. On tiebreaks, Nicholas from Deer Isle-Stonington took home the second-place trophy, and Vassil, from Camden Hills Regional HS, took the third.

The tournament organizer was Ron Lewis and the tournament director was Lee Doucette, representing the Maine Chess Association. They were assisted by Steve Wong, Kathy Richards, Tom Sandford, Fred Irons, Jonathan Fulford and other coaches and parents.

Contra Dance for Hope

ORONO – A benefit Contra Dance for Hope, with music by Nat Hewitt and Larry Unger of the Reckless Ramblers, will be held April 4 at Stewart Commons, University of Maine. Beginners’ warm-up starts at 7:30 p.m. and the dance at 8 p.m., with Joe Dupere calling.

Proceeds benefit La Esperanza Granada. Door prizes will be offered by local businesses such as the Chocolate Grille, Governor’s Restaurant, Margarita’s and Pat’s Pizza. Refreshments will also be available.

Support for the event has been given by Student Government, the Dance Club, the Spanish Language Club, the Panhellenic Council, the Latin American Student Organization and the International Affairs Association. University Inn has donated a room for the band members and will have rooms available for dancers who are staying after the event.

The suggested donation is $5. Proceeds will be donated to the nonprofit organization, La Esperanza Granada – Granada’s Hope.

UM student Sarah Kennedy became involved in the organization last year when she studied in Central America.

“I found the poverty in some areas very shocking and became determined to try to do something about it,” Kennedy said. “I was most touched by the many street children I met in Nicaragua who were struggling to survive without basic needs. Most of these kids come from single-parent – or no-parent – families that are unable to afford the $1 a month school tuition costs.”

By providing opportunities and resources for the long-term educational advancement of two Nicaraguan pueblos, La Prussia and Las Camelias, La Esperanza Granada hopes to brighten the future of the children and empower the pueblos to improve their current living conditions. The organization has been able to provide 200 schoolchildren with scholarships and basic school supplies.

Stillwater Montessori School is going to be working with La Esperanza Granada as part of the Sister School Project, Kennedy said. Pupils will be writing letters, learning about their neighbors in Latin America and donating books to fill a library Kennedy hopes to build this summer when she return to Granada with another University of Maine student, Julia Monley, for a few months.

For information or volunteer opportunities, contact Sarah Kennedy at 581-6958, or www.ormium.de/la-esperanza-granada-nicaragua.

Pendleton Street School

BREWER – Along with five of her students, Laurie Richards, a first-grade teacher at Pendleton Street School, showcased an award-winning technology project for Maine’s governor and officials in Augusta.

Richards and her students were part of “Celebrating Technological Innovation in Maine Schools,” held at the Capitol in Augusta. The Center for Educational Service’s SEED project – Spreading Educator to Educator Developments – and National Semiconductor co-hosted the event to give legislators an opportunity to meet Maine educators who are integrating technology into the classrooms.

Last year, five teachers-teaching teams in Maine won National Semiconductor’s $10,000 Internet Innovator Award. Three of them, and several teachers whose ideas were harvested by SEED, were on hand, complete with students and laptops, to show off their award-winning ideas.

The event drew several hundred visitors, including Gov. John Baldacci and his wife, Karen. Maine’s new first lady is a teacher and did her student teaching under Richards.

Richards and her students introduced them to her Global Garden project, which landed her $10,000 last fall through National Semiconductor’s Internet Innovator Award.

African storytelling

ORONO – The University of Maine’s Hudson Museum will hold an African storytelling program for children at 10 a.m. Thursday, April 24, in the Bodwell area.

Oscar Mokeme, director of The Museum of African Tribal Art in Portland, will present “African Storytelling through Art” using African masks. He will introduce children of all ages to the storytelling traditions of sub-Saharan Africa.

“I believe that art is the doorway to understanding peoples and their culture,” Mokeme said. “This program will give participants an on-the-spot explanation of different masks that will be on display, witness a mask figure in motion, observe its performance and appreciate the power of its message.”

The cost of the program is $5. Preregistration is required. To register, call 581-1901.

Teens Who Care Award

BREWER – Brandon Libby of Brewer is one of six teenagers who will receive a 2003 Teens Who Care Award at a 7 p.m. ceremony Monday, April 7, at the Portland Museum of Art in Portland.

Libby, a student at Brewer High School, is an emergency medical technician and firefighter with Orrington Fire and Rescue Squad. Recently, he developed and implemented a public health project at Pendleton Street School in Brewer.

Each of the teens will be honored with a short, documentary-style profile, which will debut at the event and be televised on WLBZ in the “Teens Who Care 2003” show at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 19. Each honoree will receive a $1,000 scholarship from SuperLoan, sponsor of the Teens Who Care Award. Each will be the focus of 30-second “salute spots” on WLBZ in May and June.

Hosts for the awards ceremony are Lee Nelson and Jennifer Rooks of WLBZ-TV. Gov. John Baldacci will give the keynote address.

Youth leadership forum

BANGOR – Stephanie Chase, a junior at Bangor High School, will attend the National Youth Leadership Forum, July 20-29 in Boston.

Bangor High guidance counselor Laura Angelo nominated Chase for the 10-day program because of her academic excellence, leadership potential and plans to pursue a career in medicine.

Forum officials said the organization is dedicated to helping prepare the country’s most-promising future physicians for the opportunities and responsibilities that lie ahead.

Some 350 high school students from throughout the United States will attend activities at several medical institutions. Activities will include daylong concentrations enabling students to examine state-of-the-art diagnostic tools and medical specialties.

Participants will study with medical leaders, research pioneers and medical students. Topics range from global epidemics to medical ethics, cures for life-threatening disease, life as a resident physician and primary care.

Chase is the daughter of Deborah and Ronald Chase Jr.

Several students from Bangor High have attended past programs hosted by NYLF.

NYLF also offers programs on law, medicine, technology, and defense, intelligence and diplomacy. To obtain information, check www.nylf.org.

Bangor Christian Schools

BANGOR – Aimee Putnam was the first-place winner in the Modern Woodman of America School Speech Contest held March 21. Ashley Booker placed second and Katie Thompson third. The contest was developed to offer students an opportunity to develop skills in clear thinking and public speaking and helps students research topics and organize material.

Hermon Elementary School

HERMON – Hermon Elementary School has received $1,586 from the Hannaford Helps Schools Program, which was conducted in area Shop ‘n Save stores last fall. Richard Danforth of Hannaford Stores delivered the check to Principal Barbara Libby on March 25.

Libby credits the success of the Hannaford program in the school to PTA member Donna Burgess, who worked to collect the “school dollars” coupons received by customers who purchased certain General Mills products.

In addition to the funds raised by parents and community members, the check includes a $1,000 education grant as an award for the school’s high participation rate. This is the second year that Hermon Elementary School has earned that distinction.

Colleges

All-Maine Academic Team

AUGUSTA – Nine technical college students were named to the All-Maine Academic Team, which recognizes the academic achievements of two-year college students, at a recent ceremony in Augusta. The team is sponsored in part by Phi Theta Kappa, an international honor society for two-year colleges.

Selected for the team were:

. Melissa Nute of Hermon.

. Tina Gagnon of Bangor.

. Matthew Petrie of Fairfield.

. Richard Boudreau of South China.

. Chris Cole of Windham.

. Jared Rackliff of Portland.

. Erin Klentzman of Eastport.

. Christopher Ike of Old Orchard Beach.

. Judy Langlais of Sanford.

“These students represent the best of Maine and our colleges,” said Jana Lapoint, chair of the Maine Technical College System board of trustees. “We are proud to honor them, not only for their academic achievements, but for their extraordinary contributions to their colleges and communities.”

Each student received a $500 scholarship through a grant from KeyBank of Maine. Kathryn Underwood, president of KeyBank of Maine, and Maine Senate President Beverly Daggett gave remarks recognizing the students’ achievements.

The All-Maine Academic Team was introduced in 1997 to recognize two-year college students who have achieved academic distinction. It is a division of the All-USA Academic Team for community and technical college students, an international program sponsored by Phi Theta Kappa, USA Today and The American Association of Community Colleges. The students are eligible for selection to the All-USA Academic Team.

The All-Maine Academic Team program is sponsored by KeyBank of Maine, the Bangor Daily News, Creative Awards of South Portland and the Maine Technical College System.

Emory College

ATLANTA – Stephanie Jenkins, daughter of Michael and Patricia Jenkins of Bangor, was named to the dean’s list of Emory College, the undergraduate, liberal arts college of Emory University in Atlanta, fall semester.

Gettysburg College

GETTYSBURG, Pa. – Kerry Darling of Bangor has been named to the dean’s commendation list and Michael Whorton of Orono has been named to the dean’s honors list for the fall semester at Gettysburg College.