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Presidential Scholars

The Presidential Scholars Program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education, has named candidates for 2005. Scholars are selected on the basis of academic and artistic achievements, leadership qualities, strong character and involvement in school and community activities. Also considered are performance on SAT or ACT assessments, an essay and school recommendations.

The Commission on Presidential Scholars will select one young man and one young woman representing each state.

Local candidates are:

. Bangor Christian School, Kristina M. Caldwell of Newburgh.

. Bangor Christian School, Jennifer S. McFarland of Ellsworth.

. Bangor High School, James B. Bailey of Bangor.

. Bangor High School, Heather Y. Hwalek of Bangor.

. Bangor High School, David Kleinschmidt of Glenburn.

. Bangor High School, Benjamin H. Weissman of Holden.

. Hampden Academy, Christopher B. Peverada of Hampden.

. John Bapst Memorial High School, Evelyn K. Sharkey of Orono.

Americanism Essay Contest

BANGOR – The Bangor Lodge of Elks No. 244 has announced the winners of the Americanism Essay Contest for area high school students.

The topic was “What Does the Office of Presidency Mean to You?” Winners are:

. First place, Lauren Sturdivant, grade 11, Hampden Academy, $500.

. Second place, Matt Nelson, grade nine, John Bapst Memorial High School, $150.

. Third place, Nina Perez, grade 10, Hampden Academy, $100.

. Honorable mention, Kevin Monroe, Brewer High School; Beth Kevit, John Bapst.

Joan B. Glans, Americanism chairwoman for the lodge, congratulated the winners.

UTC American Spirit Team

BANGOR – The American Spirit Team of United Technologies Center will sponsor a volunteer fair 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 4, at the center, 200 Hogan Road.

Participants will include Bangor Humane Society, The Salvation Army, United Cerebral Palsy, Literacy Volunteers, Abnaki Girl Scouts, Maine Audubon Society, American Cancer Society, Rape Response Services, Eastern Maine Charities, Bangor Historical Society, Manna and Katahdin Area Boy Scouts.

In addition, Eastern Maine Medical Center will sponsor a blood drive 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Feb. 4.

The fair, organized by Spirit Team members Nick Smart, Dan Furrow, Kayla DeGennaro, Amanda Foss, Steven Haggan and Will Shibles, is part of the team’s national competition through Skills USA. Other elements include a flag-folding ceremony to show patriotism and promoting technical education. Team members hope the fair will help the organizations recruit volunteers.

Penobscot Job Corps

BANGOR – The Penobscot Job Corps Center joined forces on Wednesday with more than 40 area businesses and organizations to send out more than 100 students into the work force in honor of Groundhog Job Shadow Day.

Business students Sharon Bachelder, 22, of Winterport and Krista Chase, 18, of Providence, R.I., flew to Washington to shadow U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe and her staff.

Groundhog Job Shadow Day broadens the concept of service to include a defined role for employers. This affords Job Corps staff, contractors, local employer partners and potential employer partners the opportunity to participate as workplace mentors.

Scholarships for veterans

Beginning Feb. 1, Maine veterans who served in Iraq or Afghanistan in the post-Sept. 11 conflicts can apply for college financial support under the Boulos Family Scholarship. The scholarship is funded by a $1 million pledge from Maine businessman Joe Boulos and his wife, Sheri.

“We created this scholarship as a way to say thank you to our servicemen and women who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan,” said Joe Boulos.

The scholarship can be used at any regionally accredited Maine college or university.

The scholarship amount is based on the average cost of tuition (60 credits) for a two-year degree program at a Maine community college. Effective this semester, the scholarship amount is $4,080 per veteran, based on the $68-per-credit-hour tuition rate.

The scholarship is administered by the Maine Community College System, on behalf of the Boulos family.

A Web site has been set up to provide veterans and their families with information on the scholarship. Visit www.boulosscholarship.me.edu

An online application form must be filled out by applicants and a college official. The scholarships can be used starting this semester.

Bradley School Department

BRADLEY – The town of Bradley is seeking 3-, 4- and 5-year-olds for an educational opportunity.

Over the next three years, Viola Rand School will offer parent education evenings and newsletters supporting literacy skills in young children. Children will be able to meet other children who will be in their kindergarten class.

The next event will be a literacy workshop on “Writing with Kindergarten and Preschool Children,” 5:30-6:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 7, at the school. Activities and child care for 3- to 5-year-olds will be available. RSVP to Heidi at 827-2508.

Those who received the mailings last year are still on the list. To be placed on the mailing list for newsletters and invitations to events, call Heidi at the school at 827-2508.

For information, contact Jim Verrill at 827-2508 or jverrill@viola-rand.u90.k12.me.

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Father-Daughter Dance

BREWER – The Brewer Parks and Recreation Department is accepting registrations for the annual Father-Daughter Valentine Dance, to be held 6:30-8:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 11, at Brewer Auditorium.

The evening is open to girls in kindergarten through grade six and a guest. Participants will enjoy music, dancing, treats and memories. Pictures will be available for a fee.

Registrations are limited to the first 425 entries, and will be accepted on a first-paid basis.

For information, call the department at 989-5199.

Hermon kindergarten

HERMON – Kindergarten registration for Hermon children who will be 5 years old by Oct. 15 will be held during office hours throughout February at Hermon Elementary School.

Children need not be present, but will be invited to attend screening activities in April. Parents should bring their child’s birth certificate, immunization record and Social Security number.

For information, call 848-4000.

Orono Middle School

ORONO – The Orono Middle School Foreign Language Club will sponsor the Orono Arts Cafe 7-10 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 5, at the Keith Anderson Community House.

There will be an open mike, with signup starting at 6:30 p.m. Admission is $3 for adults, $1 for students and seniors.

Colleges

Amherst College

AMHERST, Mass. – Caitlin Kekacs, a sophomore at Amherst College, worked in January as an intern with the Urban Justice Center’s mental health department in New York through the college’s Winternship Program.

Kekacs, a graduate of Central High School in Corinth, is the daughter of Cindy Kekacs of Bradford and Andrew Kekacs of Brooks.

Champlain College

BURLINGTON, Vt. – Tiffani Lindsey of Veazie has been named to the dean’s list at Champlain College.

She is the daughter of Robert and Vicki Lindsey and a graduate of Bangor High School. Lindsey is enrolled in the elementary education program.

Colby College

WATERVILLE – Johan J. Von Hoffman of Orono, a junior at Colby College, is spending the spring semester studying at King’s College in London.

A graduate of Orono High School, Von Hoffman is the son of John McCormack and Irene Von Hoffman of Orono. He is a government major.

Hartwick College

ONEONTA, N.Y. – Selina Hogan of Glenburn participated in Hartwick College’s January Term Off-Campus Program in Ireland.

Hogan, who is a junior at Hartwick, is the daughter of Donald and Karen Hogan of Glenburn. She is a graduate of John Bapst Memorial High School.

Husson College

BANGOR – Ashlie Churchill of Fort Fairfield has been named area assistant in the Presque Isle area office of USDA Rural Development, announced Michael W. Aube, state director.

Churchill holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Husson College.

Lasell College

NEWTON, Mass. – Scott Riendeau of Hermon, a freshman majoring in business, has been named to the dean’s list at Lasell College.

He is the son of Wayne and Beth Riendeau of Hermon, and a 2004 graduate of Hermon High School.

New England School of Communications

BANGOR – When students at the New England School of Communications returned Jan. 17 for the second semester of the school year, they found the opportunity to use facilities in the new two-story addition to the Communications Center, located at New England School of Communications on the Husson College campus.

Among the facilities eligible for immediate use were a second-floor classroom accommodating up to 30 students, a computer cluster room, a first-floor soundproofed audio recording studio equipped with state-of-the-art recording equipment, three second-floor offices for staff personnel and a technical equipment storage area.

Construction of the 3,200-square-foot addition was completed in December, although some of the inside facilities will not be fully equipped until after July 1. Contractor for the construction, which has been added to the rear of the present Communications Center, was Nickerson and O’Day. Architect for the project was John Gordon and Associates.

The addition to the Communications Center has been necessitated by the steadily growing enrollment at NESCom, expected to reach 300 students by this fall, according to NESCom President George Wildey.

Ground-floor facilities expected to be equipped and ready for use after July 1 include audio and video editing booths, an audio-video suite and a conversion of the old equipment storage area into four additional editing suites.

The New England School of Communications, an affiliate of Husson College, prepares students for professional positions in radio, television and allied communication fields. The school offers one-year certificates, two-year associate degrees and four-year baccalaureate degrees.

St. Joseph’s College

STANDISH – St. Joseph’s College has announced its dean’s list for the fall semester. Local students honored are:

. Bangor, Adam Ham.

. Bucksport, Jeremy Porter.

. Eddington, William Chapman.

. Hampden, Jessica Lindsay.

. Old Town, Jessica Maurais.

. Winterport, Amanda Hart.

Scholarships available

WASHINGTON – Maine students who were born in or are legal residents of the state are eligible to apply for scholarships offered by the Maine State Society Foundation of Washington, D.C.

Applicants must have completed at least one year at a Maine college or university with a grade point average of at least 3.0.

The 2005 scholarship awards will be in an amount of at least $1,000. Applications are available at college financial aid offices or may be obtained by sending a self-addressed stamped envelope to the Maine State Society Foundation, 3508 Wilson St., Fairfax, VA 22030.

Applications must be postmarked no later than April 1.