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Bangor High School

BANGOR – During April vacation while most students enjoyed a break from school, 189 students from Bangor High School’s music department went on a trip to the Heritage Festival in Washington, D.C.

On the weeklong trip, the students had fun at Six Flags roller coaster park in New Jersey, went sightseeing at the nation’s Capitol and visited the Washington Zoo. They also participated in a master music class with Tony Maiello, a leading conductor, clinician and choral conductor at George Mason University.

The Bangor High School Music Boosters and students raised more than $22,000 over the course of the year to offset the cost of the trip and help pay for some of the meals.

The eight groups Bangor High School brought to the festival – the orchestra, fiddlers, concert band, jazz band 1, jazz band 2, chamber choir, jazz choir and honors choir – performed at Mt. Vernon High School. After each group performed, the musicians participated in a clinic with the adjudicators. Awards were presented at a ceremony at the Hilton at the Dulles Airport.

Bangor High School students brought home the following awards from the Heritage Festival:

. Orchestra, directed by William Bell, Gold 2.

. Fiddlers, directed by William Bell, Gold.

. Concert Band, directed by Scott Burditt, Bronze.

. Jazz Band 1, Directed by Scott Burditt, Bronze.

. Jazz Band 2, directed by Scott Burditt, Silver.

. Chamber Choir, directed by George Redman, Bronze.

. Honors Choir, directed by George Redman, Silver.

. Jazz Choir, directed by George Redman, Silver.

The orchestra also received a certificate of excellence and an invitation to participate in the festival in Boston next spring.

Bangor High Music Department also won the All-Around Trophy given for the best representation of groups from a music department with the highest scores.

Youth of the Year

INDIAN ISLAND – Joshua Paul has been named Youth of the Year for the Boys and Girls Club of Penobscot Nation. Paul, who has been a member of the club since its was established, was cited for his dedication to the program, his care and concern for other members and for his leadership.

Youth of the Year awardees from all participating Maine Boys and Girls Clubs will be recognized at a dinner at the Senator Inn in Augusta.

Paul, 17, a senior at Orono High School and member of its All-Academic Team, will be one of nine students statewide to compete for the title of Maine’s Youth of the Year. He will give a speech to a panel of judges about what the club and community mean to him.

“He’s an extremely dynamic individual,” said Carla Fearon, director of the Penobscot Nation Boys and Girls Club. “He’s very generous with his time. He’s always at the club looking for ways to help out.”

John Neptune, athletic and cultural coordinator at the Penobscot Nation Boys and Girls Club, said Paul’s participation has been invaluable. “He has grown over the years as a member,” Neptune said. “Even if he’s busy going to football practice or to work, he’ll come in to say hi to the kids.”

Paul has served the Penobscot Nation Boys and Girls Club as a summer youth worker. He worked in several areas of the club, demonstrating strong leadership skills while providing the younger youth will a positive role model. His programs always attract youngsters, who are drawn to his positive attitude and friendly demeanor, Fearon said.

“The staff is always there for you when you need them,” Paul said.

His relationships with the younger kids in the club have become very important to him, and he said he hopes he is a good role model for them.

Paul plans to attend the University of Maine to study education and become a high school teacher.

Exchange program

AFS Intercultural Programs, an international student exchange program, is seeking families to serve as hosts to AFS students for the coming school year. AFS invites families to open their homes to one of the 30 international students who come to Maine each year.

The students, age 15 to 18, are screened in their home countries and are oriented and supported locally. They are fully insured and come with their own spending money. They arrive in August eager to participate in American family life. To learn more, call Nancy Grant at 866-4542, or (800) AFS-INFO.

Hermon Junior ROTC

HERMON – The Hermon High School Junior ROTC program held its 11th annual Military Ball on April 7 at Hermon High School.

These cadets received awards for leadership and patriotism from organizations:

. Cadet 1st Lt. Michael Werner, National Guard Association Maine.

. Cadet 1st Lt. Dillon Noble, U.S. Army.

. Cadet Capt. Elizabeth Noyes, Cadet 1st Lt. Maureen Klink and Cadet 1st Lt. Michael McPherson, Military Officers Association of America, Southern Maine Chapter.

. Cadet Sgt. 1st Class John Greenlee, Military Officers Association of America, Pine Tree Chapter.

. Cadet 1st Lt. Paul Richards, Reserve Officers Association.

. Cadet 1st Sgt. Graham Garber, National Sojourners.

. Cadet Maj. Thomas Greatorex, Cadet Capt. Josh Blaine and Cadet Sgt. 1st Class Garrick Robertson, Military Order of World Wars.

. Cadet First Sgt. Jeff Blaine, American Legion, Etna-Carmel.

. Cadet Cpl. Jennica Ganglfinger, American Legion, Hermon.

. Cadet 1st Lt. Kevin Call, American Legion, Glenburn.

. Cadet Cpl. Racheal Greatorex, VFW, Bangor.

. Cadet Pfc. Nicholas Mitchell, VFW, Hampden.

. Cadet 1st Lt. Deserae Duval, Frances Dighton Williams Chapter, Daughters of American Revolution.

. Cadet Cpl. Robert Burbank, Association of the U.S. Army.

These cadets received JROTC awards:

. Cadet 1st Lt. Deserae Duval and Cadet Pfc. Shawn Sewall, the JROTC Superior Cadet Award.

. Cadet Command Sgt. Maj. Justin Hazlett, the Distinguished Cadet Award.

. Cadet Lt. Col. Cody Haggett, Cadet 1st Lt. Duncan Dorr and Cadet Cpl. Stephanie Babb, the JROTC Leadership award.

These individuals and organizations were given a certificate of appreciation for their support of the Hermon High School Junior ROTC: Mrs. Tina Taggart, Mr. and Mrs. Warren Curtis and the Hermon High School Boosters.

Job Corps and SkillsUSA

BANGOR – It was a proud moment for the Penobscot Job Corps Academy when five of its students struck gold and two others took bronze medals at the 2006 Maine SkillsUSA Competition.

Held at Job Corps, United Technologies Center and Eastern Maine Community College in March, the event featured students from 23 Maine schools, competing in 51 career and technical education categories aimed at testing occupational and leadership knowledge.

One of those gold medalists was Elizabeth Drouin, 22, of Orrington. She was the first and only female in the state to win a gold medal in the postsecondary welding competition.

“SkillsUSA is a chance to be a positive role model and learn more about yourself,” Drouin said. “I didn’t think I had a chance at winning since I had been welding for only five months. Winning gave me a reason to be more confident in myself and my skills.”

The event marked Job Corps’ 16th year of competing in SkillsUSA, which drew students to the Job Corps campus from 21 Maine technical schools and two local community colleges. The Penobscot Academy is one of the few Job Corps in the country that participates in the SkillsUSA competition each year.

“It’s a chance for our students to shine and show off their talents,” said academy director Andrew Carpenter. “We’re proud of our record.”

The gold medalists will represent Maine at the National SkillsUSA Championships in Kansas City, Mo., in June.

Tim McComas, who won a gold medal in the promotional bulletin board category, said it was tougher than any competition he’s been part of.

“I was very nervous, but winning the gold boosted my confidence,” he said. “I’m looking forward to competing in the nationals and achieving the same results.”

The other gold medalists were Mitch Sowa, technical computer applications; Amber Jacobs, job skills demo B; and Jeremy Harris, culinary arts. The two bronze medalists were Zack Childs, prepared speech; and Kevone Riddick, food and beverage service.

“The students prepared months in advance for this, and their hard work paid off,” said Penobscot SkillsUSA coordinator Mike Jellison. “It’s a wonderful thing to see their dedication to the competition and their pride in their accomplishment.”

SkillsUSA is a national organization that promotes technical, professional and personal growth through competitions like this. The Penobscot Job Corps Academy will hold two fundraising lunches to support its students’ trip to Kansas City. Job Corps Lion’s Den will be open to the public 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday, May 19, and Friday, June 9. A meal is $10 and the menu choices are:

. Appetizers – house salad, shrimp with green chili pesto or potage St. Germaine.

. Entrees – apricot-glazed duck, pan-seared medallions of beef or Portuguese sailors stew.

. Desserts – blueberry clafoutis tart, graham cracker pie, Sarah’s Mississippi mud cake, apple tatin cheesecake with citrus cardamom glaze or miniature fried cherry pie with hand-cranked lemon sorbet. To RSVP, call Duncan at 990-3000, Ext. 286.

DestiNation Imagination

HAMPDEN – A team of sixth-graders from Reeds Brook Middle School and fifth-graders from the George B. Weatherbee School competed April 8 at the Destination ImagiNation Maine State Competition held at the University of Maine. Mackenzie Dunning, Julia Hidu, Emma Parson, Caitlin Swalec, Aletta Waite and team manager Cora Swalec will represent Maine at the DI Global Finals May 24-27 in Knoxville, Tenn.

Hampden also sent teams to the finals in 1998, 2000, 2002 and 2004. Mackenzie, Julia and Caitlin were members of the 2004 team.

Destination ImagiNation is a worldwide creative problem-solving competition for children. Teams of up to seven members select one of five challenges. The solution to the challenge requires creativity, imagination, ingenuity, teamwork, resourcefulness and tenacity. The teams also must solve instant challenges that require creative brainstorming.

The Hampden team chose the “How’d tHAT Happen” challenge to address. They created and presented a theatrical performance of an original story set in Greece involving characters from the movie, “Grease.” During the story, strange events occur that attract attention around the world. The events include a bizarre happening in which a Trojan horse causes earthquakes, and an unusual hat causes character transformation, changing Rizzo to Medusa.

The team achieved the highest overall score for its challenge solution. It also received the coveted Da Vinci Award for exceptional creativity for the way students “flawlessly integrated the characters from the movie with Greek mythology.” The judges said they were impressed with the team’s “depth of knowledge, research and their enthusiasm to share their information accurately.”

Now the team is facing a challenge it can’t solve alone. The students need to raise $6,000 for transportation and registration expenses to the Global Finals. They have planned several fundraisers:

. Celebration dinner, seatings at 5 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday, May 7, Oriental Jade Restaurant, Bangor Mall Blvd. Tickets are $12, $6 children under 12, and are available at the schools or at the door.

. Taking in returnable bottles and cans, Hampden Redemption, 274 Western Ave.

To make a financial donation, call Reeds Brook Middle School at 862-3540.

Old Town High School

OLD TOWN – Each year, veteran teacher Stan Peterson and his applied technology class build four sheds for sale to the public to fund the project. The sheds measure 8 by 10 feet and have 4-foot doors, gambrel roofs, spruce and plywood construction, and finished with vinyl siding. This year, only one remains. At a price of $750 it is, according to Peterson, “dirt cheap.” For more information, call the tech department at 827-3910, Ext. 123.

The Old Town High School Jazz Ensemble won first place at the Musicfest Orlando Jazz Festival recently. The Jazz Ensemble received a trophy for the highest instrumental score of the festival. Jacob Shanley was chosen an outstanding soloist. The Jazz Ensemble was one of only four groups to receive a superior rating in the entire festival, a score above 90. The Jazz Ensemble performed at Disney World’s Star Light Cafe, under the direction of Jeff Priest.

These seniors have been accepted at colleges:

. Andrew Cole, University of Maine.

. Matthew Connors, Plymouth State University.

. Jaclyn Coulombe, University of Maine and Husson College.

. Jeffrey Dow, New Mexico Military Institute; United States Military Academy, West Point; Maine Maritime Academy; and Texas A&M University.

. James Dubay, Pennsylvania State University and University of Maine.

. Mary Falls, St. Joseph’s College of Nursing.

. Kortney Foss, New England School of Communications.

. Allison Gallant, Mount Ida College, University of Southern Maine and Lasell College.

. Brittany Gammon, University of Maine at Presque Isle and Eastern Maine Community College.

. Michelle Goulette, University of Southern Maine.

Stillwater Montessori School

OLD TOWN – The Stillwater Montessori School in Old Town was one of 11 schools to receive a portion of $16,400 this year to support earth science programs as part of the PPL Project Earth Environmental Education Grants program.

Students in schools near PPL Corp. power plants will study streams, plant trees, create wildlife habitat and build outdoor environmental study areas as a result of the grants from PPL Project Earth.

The competitive grants enhance established classroom curricula and academic standards, or support extracurricular activities of school organizations and clubs. A team of teachers and PPL employees chose the winning projects.

The PPL Project Earth is an initiative to educate the public about energy resources and the environment. To obtain more information, visit pplpreserves@pplweb.com.

Suzanne M. Smith Elementary School

LEVANT – Information is being collected for prekindergarten and kindergarten registration for the 2006-2007 school year at the Suzanne M. Smith Elementary School. A child must be 4 years old on or before Oct. 15 to be eligible for prekindergarten. A child must be 5 years old on or before Oct. 15 to be eligible for kindergarten. Call the school at 884-7444 to obtain more information.

Viola Rand School

BRADLEY – April 13 was a special day for the children of Bradley. That was the day 60 pupils from the Viola Rand School presented their school play, “Alice in Wonderland,” on the large stage at the Dr. Lewis S. Libby School in Milford. Teachers, staff, student interns and parent volunteers at the Rand School spent hours helping the children learn their lines, making costumes and designing and building sets.

The River Coalition was the sponsor of the schoolwide event as part of the Viola Rand School’s after-school program.

Children of the American Revolution

BANGOR – Six members of Moses Greenleaf Society, Children of the American Revolution, attended the recent national convention in Washington, D.C.

They were: Samantha Duranko, New England vice president; Kyle Holland, outgoing state president; Stesha Rudnicki, who was installed as state president at Mt. Vernon; Kevin Holland; Kasey Holland; Mackayla Keith and Zander Keith.

Senior leaders from the area accompanying the youngsters were Suzan Rudnicki, Windy Keith and Sonia Mallar.

National Comic Book Day

BANGOR – The CLAE School of the Arts, a nonprofit organization, will mark National Comic Book Day all day Saturday, May 6, at 96 Harlow St., Suite 120.

The event will promote reading.

Youths are invited to come and celebrate National Comic Book Day and receive a free comic book as long as supplies last.

For information on CLAE activities, visit the Web at www.claeschoolofthearts.com.

Colleges

New England School of Communications

BANGOR – Mark Nadeau, who graduated in its very first class in 1983, will be the recipient of the New England School of Communications Alumni Award, given annually to a graduate for distinguished professional achievement.

Nadeau, now of Bel Air, Md., received a one-year certificate in broadcasting from the original New England School of Broadcasting. He is now director of a news support team for the traditional news affiliates that Sinclair Broadcasting owns and operates throughout the country.

Nadeau also travels around the country for Sinclair as a lighting director, set designer and trainer. Sinclair’s corporate headquarters are located in Hunt Valley, Md.

The award will be presented at the 23rd commencement exercises of NESCom at 4 p.m. Saturday, May 13, in Husson College’s Newman Gymnasium.

Nadeau, a graduate of Waterville High School, started his career before graduation as an intern at WLBZ-TV in Bangor. He later worked for 10 years as a director at WLBZ. In 1991 he was hired to start up and direct a new 10 p.m. newscast for WBFF-TV in Baltimore, a station owned by Sinclair Broadcasting. During his tenure there, Sinclair grew from three stations to more than 60.

In 1998 Nadeau became a union director for CBS-owned WJZ-TV in Baltimore, and in 2001 he returned to Sinclair Broadcasting as a senior director for a new concept called News Central where he traveled about the country training directors who would become part of the local market portion of News Central. The experimental program ended on March 31, but Nadeau continues as a team director for Sinclair.

St. Joseph’s College

STANDISH – Adam Ham of Bangor volunteered in New York for Habitat for Humanity through a spring break work program sponsored annually by St. Joseph’s College.

University of Maine, ROTC

ORONO – The Black Bear Battalion of the University of Maine Army ROTC will hold its cadet commissioning ceremony at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, May 13, in the D.P. Corbett Building, Room 100, to commission nine cadets into the United States Army as second lieutenants.

Lt. Col. Kevin Harris, professor of military science, will present the oath of office to the cadets.

Following the ceremony, the new second lieutenants will take part in the time-honored tradition of presenting a silver dollar to the first noncommissioned officer who renders them a salute. Master Sgt. John Kadaraitis and Sgt. First Class Ron McIntyre of the Army ROTC staff will be the non-commissioned officers receiving the silver dollars.

Information is available by calling Capt. James C. Moreno, Maine Army ROTC enrollment officer, at 581-1125.