Schools

Concerto competition

For 25 years the Bangor Symphony Orchestra has encouraged and recognized the outstanding talents of Maine’s high school instrumentalists.

The public is invited to become a part of the BSO’s long history by attending the 25th annual Maine High School Concerto Competition at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 18, at the School of Performing Arts, Minsky Recital Hall, University of Maine, Orono. Snow date will be Sunday, March 19.

The first-prize winner of the $500 Annas-Cupp Award will be featured in a concerto performance with the BSO during a future performance. The winner will work directly with Maestro Xiao-Lu Li to select a piece of music to perform with the orchestra, which may or may not be the piece performed in the competition.

Performances will include youth concerts for nearly 4,000 Maine students, and also may include a season finale classical concert. All finalists from the 2006 competition will be invited to join the BSO for the May 22 youth concerts, working side by side with BSO musicians, instrumentation permitting.

Any Maine student in grades nine through 12 at the time of the application deadline, who plays flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, saxophone, trumpet, horn, trombone, tuba, harp, violin, viola, cello, double bass, piano and percussion is eligible for the competition.

Second, third and honorable mention prize winners are awarded Friends of the Symphony cash awards.

The application deadline is Jan. 1. Applications and guidelines may be obtained at www.bangorsymphony.com, by calling Surya Mitchell at 942-5555 or (800) 639-3221, or e-mailing surya@bangorsymphony.com.

Bangor Christian School

BANGOR – The Bangor City Council on Dec. 22 issued a proclamation congratulating the 2005 Bangor Christian School boys soccer team on its Class D Maine state championship. The proclamation also recognized the players for their team and school spirit, athleticism and sportsmanship.

The soccer team achieved a perfect season record of 18-0, becoming the first undefeated team during Bangor Christian School’s 35-year history.

The Patriots defeated Van Buren 2-1 in the Eastern Maine finals, and Richmond 5-0 in the state championship.

The team’s scoring leader was Ignacio Bustos, who set a single-season record with 35 goals.

For the March of Dimes

BREWER – Three schools have been added to the list of schools participating in the effort to raise money for the March of Dimes national prematurity campaign.

The organization is teaming up with Z107.3 and 15 area schools to raise funds create awareness and help prevent premature births.

The additional schools are:

. Brewer Middle School.

. Stearns High School, Millinocket.

. Ellsworth High School.

The Dime Drive will begin Sunday, Jan. 1, and last through the month of January. Students are encouraged to visit during the live remote Z107.3 broadcasts at the Bangor Mall on Saturdays, Jan. 14 and 28.

Funds raised must be turned into the March of Dimes by Feb. 6, and will go to the national prematurity campaign, a five-year, $75 million research, awareness and education campaign to help families have healthier babies.

Schools interested in participating in the Dime Drive should contact Gene Staffiere at 989-3376 or gstaffiere@marchofdimes.com.

Colleges

Clarkson University

POTSDAM, N.Y. – Nathaniel Weeks has been named to the dean’s list for the fall semester at Clarkson University. A graduate of Bangor High School, he is the son of Paul and Johanna Weeks of Bangor.

Connecticut College

NEW LONDON, Conn. – Ashley Leighton studied in England during the fall semester. Leighton, a 2003 graduate of John Bapst Memorial High School in Bangor, is the daughter of Cary and Donetta Leighton of Glenburn.

Eastern Maine Community College

BANGOR – The Federal Aviation Administration approved Eastern Maine Community College’s Electrical and Automation Program for inclusion in the FAA’s Technical Operations-Collegiate Training Initiative.

EMCC students in the Electrical and Automation Program will now have the opportunity to be considered for internships with the FAA, and as graduates, be considered for hire. To learn more, call EMCC at 974-4600.

Grace Evangelical Center for Undergraduate Studies and Seminary

BANGOR – Grace Evangelical Center for Undergraduate Studies and Seminary in December received an anonymous donation of investments valued at approximately $450,000.

Grace Evangelical President W. Lyman Phillips called the gift a wonderful endorsement for the school. The assets come at a time when the seminary is working to become chartered by the state of Maine to award degrees.

The assets are expected to generate some $20,000 annually for scholarships and administration. The funds add to the $20,000 the Phillips Family Foundation grant received in August.

This year’s fund drive seeks donations to help fund facilities, library activities, capacity planning and development.

As Grace Evangelical moves toward completion of its fifth year, a special celebration is planned at the Holden Grace Bible Church in May.

Grace Bible Church is the home church of Pastor Greg Selmon, who teaches theology and church history at the seminary. Selmon is a doctoral candidate at Vanderbilt University.

Grace Evangelical Center for Undergraduate Studies and Seminary offers bachelor’s and master’s level studies. Spring course offerings include:

. Biblical studies category: Old Testament survey 2.

. Communications category: Introduction to homiletics, part of which includes a Communicating the Truth conference March 23-24. Also, a computers in ministry course will be offered.

. Church history category: “The Ancient Near East: From Abraham to the Exile” and American church history.

. Language skills category: Introduction to biblical Greek 1 and intermediate biblical Greek 2.

. Philosophy category: Intermediate apologetics and introduction to cults and denominations.

. Theology-doctrine category: “A Theologian Visits Narnia” and introduction to Christian doctrine.

The school is the only New England evangelical seminary north of Massachusetts. Grace Evangelical has educated 90 students in the past four and a half years. Current students serve area churches as pastors, supply preachers and teachers. For information, call 947-1665 or visit www.GraceEvangelical.net.

Husson College

BANGOR – Sonja McCarthy, a Husson College student and a 2002 graduate of Katahdin Area High School, was named the Outstanding Future Professional at the November conference of the Maine Alliance of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.

McCarthy, the daughter of Eugene and Theresa McCarthy of Staceyville, is a senior in the physical education program at Husson College.

She is the president of the Physical Education Majors Club and recently completed her second year as captain of the Husson College volleyball team. She also serves on the student athlete advisory board.

McCarthy is an outstanding student who maintains a 3.61 grade point average.

The Outstanding Future Professional award is given by the Eastern District Association of the American Alliance of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.

The award was given to two students from Maine and brings with it a trip to the eastern district conference of the association in March. McCarthy will be sent to the conference in Connecticut as a representative of Maine to observe new practices in the field of physical education. She is the first student from Husson College to receive the award.

Maine Council on Economic Education

The Maine Council on Economic Education, a private, nonprofit organization, headquartered at the University of Southern Maine, announced its officers and directors for 2005-2006 elected at a recent meeting of the council.

Officers are: Daniel Breton, board chairman, Verizon-Maine; Michael Watson, vice chairman, Central Maine Power Co.; and Michael Thomas, treasurer, Maine Yankee.

The other individuals serving on the Maine Council’s board for the next year are John Murphy, Maine Credit Union League, immediate past board chairman; Andy Andrews, Andrews Management & Project Consulting; John Bay, University of Southern Maine School of Business; Rod Black, Bangor Hydro-Electric Co.; Brian Dancause, Department of Economic and Community Development; Carolyn Olson, UnumProvident; Laura Warner, TD Banknorth; and Kimberly Whitmore, Bangor Daily News.

Robert Mitchell, president of the Maine Council, said the organization was fortunate to have such a high quality group of individuals serving as its officers and directors.

“Thanks to strong leadership and commitment from our board, the council continues to expand its programs and be a positive influence in educating and reaching more Maine children,” he said.

The Maine Council is affiliated with the National Council on Economic Education and the Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy and offers educational programs and materials to K-12 schools throughout Maine and professional development programs for teachers. For information, visit www.MaineCouncil.org or call 780-5926.