Schools

Speech contest

BANGOR – Students demonstrated their English and oratorical skills in the Modern Woodmen of America County and District School Speech Contest on April 15 at Bangor Christian Schools. Participants were students who had won their school’s Modern Woodmen Speech Contest.

This year’s topic was “What it means to be an American hero.” Students prepared speeches on heroism and how it related to America.

Winners for the county and district were:

. First place, Brooke Hackett, Lewis Libby School, Milford.

. Second place, Matt Edwards, All Saints Catholic School, Bangor.

. Third place, Ashley Booker, Bangor Christian Schools.

Speech contest

INDIAN ISLAND – Pupils from Indian Island School participated April 9 at the school in the School Speech Contest sponsored by Modern Woodmen of America. All of the participants were commend by local contest organizers for their involvement, and each received a certificate for their hard work.

The first-place winner was Gabrielle Fields-Love; second, Amanda Francis; and third, Lloyd Bryant. Their names will be engraved on the school’s plaque, and each received a trophy and a gold award pin.

Gold award pins were also given to the next 12 finalists: Bert Francis, James Marsh, Brandon Paul, Jacob Paul, Morgan Talty, Danica Attean, George Loring, Jared Norwood, Jade Socoby, Kylee Fowler-Francis and Rebecca Taylor.

According to Dale Tudor, a local Modern Woodmen representative, more than 90,000 students annually take part in the School Speech Contest, an important part of the curriculum of teachers around the country.

Modern Woodmen of America, a fraternal life-insurance society based in Rock Island, Ill., makes the contest available free to help young people develop public speaking skills.

Kids art camp

BANGOR – The University of Maine Museum of Art is accepting registrations for the first Summer Art Camp to be held downtown at Bangor’s Norumbega Hall. The following weeks are scheduled for Art Camp, which will be held 8:30-11:30 a.m. Monday-Friday:

. June 23-27, for ages 9-10, with instructor Nancy Lloyd-Fitch.

. July 14-18, for ages 6-8, with instructor Mike McCuddy.

. July 21-25, for ages 6-8, with instructor Mike McCuddy.

. July 28-Aug. 1, for ages 11-12, with instructor Kal Elmore.

. Aug. 4-8, for ages 13-15, with instructor Kal Elmore.

. Aug. 11-15, for ages 9-10, with instructor Nancy Lloyd-Fitch.

Tuition of $115 includes all materials. Members of the Museum of Art will receive a 10 percent discount. To reserve space, call 561-3350. The Museum of Art’s Summer Art Camp accepts Camp Bangor scholarships.

Science in Action

ORONO – Abnaki Girl Scout Council, in conjunction with the Society of Women Engineers, held the 10th “Science in Action” on May 3 at the University of Maine. Fifty-four Junior Girl Scouts in fifth and sixth grades participated.

Sara Walton from SWE coordinated the badge workshop along with 20 University of Maine volunteers. Junior Girl Scouts worked on their “Making it Matter” badge. The badge is based on how engineers take scientific knowledge and make useful items such as cars, bridges and computers.

“We are thrilled to be in partnership with the Society of Women in Engineering,” said Heidi Kruger, executive director for Abnaki Girl Scout Council. “The opportunity to be exposed to science in a fun and creative way is the first step to helping our young girls stay interested in a field where women make up less than half the work force. We in Girl Scouts believe every girl deserves the opportunity to learn skills in math, science and technology, ensuring their future in the 21st century.”

Holbrook School

HOLDEN – The Holbrook School Destination Imagination teams who are planning to travel to compete in the Globals in Knoxville, Tenn., this month, will hold a spaghetti supper at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, May 10, at the Holbrook School.

The donation for admission is $5, $3 for children under 10 and $10 for a family or four or more. The menu includes all-you-can-eat spaghetti, rolls, beverages and desserts. Raffle tickets will be available. A baked goods live auction and a silent auction for prizes donated by area businesses also will be held at the supper.

The Destination Imagination teams will present the solutions to the problems that won them the state championships. For information, call 989-6048, 843-7936 or 843-7769.

John Bapst Memorial High School

BANGOR – Senior citizens are invited to a free preview show of the annual spring concert performed by more than 240 John Bapst musicians at 11:45 a.m.-1:40 p.m. Thursday, May 15, at the John Bapst auditorium, 100 Broadway. The concert band, chorale, chamber ensemble, concert choir and jazz band will play. Seating is on the main floor and handicap access is available after 1:15 p.m. Free beverages will be offered by Fine Arts Boosters.

The spring concert is set for 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. Sunday, May 18, at the John Bapst auditorium. The cost is $3, $2 for students and seniors, $6 for a family. Tickets may be purchased in advance, 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m. weekdays, at the Fine Arts Office, or at the door one hour before each concert. Call 947-0313.

Orono High School

ORONO – Meredith Crawford of Veazie, an Orono High School student, won first place in the poetry category of the fifth annual Maine Student Writing Awards.

More than 275 high school students from 50 schools statewide submitted manuscripts for consideration. The competition is the only one of its kind for young Maine writers. Maine Publishers and Alliance, the Maine Department of Education and the Maine Arts Commission sponsor the contest.

Crawford will be honored at the Maine Arts Commission’s Recognition Day in June. Her work, and the work of the other winners, will be posted on the Maine Writers and Publishers Web site. Selected works will be printed in Maine Times magazine. Crawford is the daughter of Bruce Crawford and Susan Potters.

String Festival

ORONO – The American String Teachers Association 2003 Statewide String Festival will be held Saturday, May 10, at Orono High School.

Organizers are expecting 200-400 young people ages 5 to 18 to participate. Orchestra Five, the most advanced group, will be led by Bangor Symphony Orchestra’s music director and conductor Xiao-Lu Li. He will conduct several pieces, including Mozart’s “Overture to Lucio Silla,” “Entrance and March of the Guests” by Wagner, Handel’s “Concerto Grosso No. 12,” and two movements from Hindemith’s “Concertino – Five Pieces for String Orchestra.”

Event host Waldo Caballero, a violist with the Bangor Symphony Orchestra said, “It is a challenge to pull the whole state together to come to this part of rural Maine, and we are so glad the event is happening in Orono.” The festival moves to a different town each year.

Five orchestras representing five levels of ability rehearse from 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. A guest conductor chosen from a wide geographic region will lead each orchestra.

The American String Teachers Association 2003 Statewide String Festival is open to the public. Tickets are $2, or $1 for seniors and students. The performance is 3:30-5:30 p.m. Saturday, May 10, at the Orono High School. For information, call the high school at 866-4916.

Colleges

EMTC

BANGOR – Eastern Maine Technical College celebrated Tech Day on April 30. The electrical and automation technology seniors demonstrated their senior projects.

Presenters included Erik Michaud of Bangor, Programmable Logic Controller Trainers; Mike Welsh of Limerick, LabVolt Wattmeter modules; Dan Brown of Stillwater and Ryan Ross of Bangor, PLC-controlled Elevator Trainer; Jeremy Ellis of Carmel, Allan Purton of Millinocket and Harold Sherwood of Carmel, Hinckley Yacht’s Louver Groover; David Goldwaite of Bradley, Automated Mailbox; Trevor Giroux of Propect and Justin Rose of Old Town, Hydraulic Flight Simulator; Bob Fago Jr. of Bangor and Kevin Abraham of Bingham, Pick and Place Robot “Checkmate.”

Victoria Magazu, a former EMTC student who transferred to the University of Maine, shared her recently published book, “Thoughts Within Dreams.” A portion of the book sales will be donated to the American Cancer Society.

Student of the Year

BANGOR – Thomas Maynard, 35, of Bangor is one of seven students statewide named Student of the Year by the Maine Technical College System board of trustees.

Maynard is a student at Eastern Maine Technical College in the refrigeration, air conditioning and heating program. He is a member of the Student Senate and Phi Theta Kappa. He also is a volunteer at Manna Food Kitchen, where he uses his expertise to fix equipment at the facility.

University of Maine

ORONO – Eighty students in the University of Maine College of Education and Human Development were honored at the April 17 Presidential Academic Achievement Award ceremony.

College Dean Robert Cobb presented each student with a Presidential Academic Achievement pin. The one-time award is presented to full-time students who have earned a 3.5 or higher grade-point average during the most recent semester, and a 3.0 average over the past two semesters.

Mary Gatchell of Veazie, elementary education, and Diana Francis of Hampden, child development and family relations, gave presentations.

Area students honored were:

. Bangor – Shauna Cyr, Brianna Frye, Ruth Grondin, Katie Knowles, Katherine Kosiba, Michelle Madore and Shanna Morin.

. Brewer – Allyson Ashe and Brianna Rand.

. Corinth – Laura Cavazos.

. Exeter – Krystal Fogler.

. Glenburn – Meghan Hannington, Marc Kenney and Diana St. Pierre.

. Hampden – Courtney Bridges, Diana Francis and Jessie Priest.

. Holden – Christopher Winchester.

. Newburgh – Jill Plourde.

. Orono – Sarah Gorden and Jessica Stanley.

. Orrington – Jonathan Carter.

. Stetson – Cynthia Newcomb.

. Veazie – Mary Gatchell and Kristina Ramos.

. Winterport – Katie Jackson.

Northeastern University

BOSTON – Students named to the dean’s list for the winter semester at Northeastern University were: Gregory Johnston, Bangor; Matthew Brown and Sara Lagasse, Glenburn; Richard Mooney II, Hampden; and Kate Osler, Holden.

University of Massachusetts

AMHERST, Mass. – Michelle M. MacDonald, daughter of Catherine Curtis of Eddington, has been named to the fall 2002 dean’s list at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

MacDonald is a member of the Class of 2005 and majors in landscape architecture.

Maine Maritime Academy

CASTINE – Two Brewer residents, Kyle Meehan and Gregory Pooler, were recently named to the commandant’s list at Maine Maritime Academy in recognition of regimental excellence during the 2002-03 academic year.

Capt. Jeff Loustaunau, commandant of midshipmen, presented the awards to members of the MMA Regiment of Midshipmen based on exemplary performance and conduct throughout the year. Recipients must be actively involved in activities of the Regiment of Midshipmen and participate in community service or volunteer projects.

Meehan, a graduate of Brewer High School, served as the Alpha Company Executive Officer for the 2002-03 academic year. Pooler, also a graduate of Brewer High, served as the Alpha Company commander for the 2002-03 academic year.

Meehan and Pooler are members of the MMA Class of 2003 and major in marine engineering operations.