Schools

All-Choirs Concert

ORONO – The Union 87 All-Choirs concert will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 1, at the University of Maine’s Hauck Auditorium. Musicians in grades four through 12 will perform in the event.

It will feature the Asa Adams fourth- and fifth-grade choruses, the combined Orono Middle School Chorus and Veazie Community School Middle School Chorus, the Orono High School Chorus and Concert Choir. Donations will be accepted at the door after the concert.

Voice of Democracy, Patriot’s Pen winners

HAMPDEN – The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4633 and Auxiliary will honor Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen competition winners at a luncheon at 1 p.m. Sunday, March 4, at the post home, Canoe Club Road.

Voice of Democracy winners are:

. Drew Winningham, Hermon High School, first place local winner in the district and second place in the state.

. Cassie Ogden, Hampden Academy, first place local winner.

Patriot’s Pen winners are:

. Sarah Coston, first place, also third place winner in the district.

. Samantha Mathews, second place.

. Stephen Cormier, third place.

All three Patriot’s Pen winners are pupils at Reeds Brook Middle School.

Cheryl Clukey served as chairwoman for both competitions.

Colleges

Beal College

BANGOR – Beal College President Allen Stehle has announced the appointment of Debbie Crockett as director of career services for the school.

Crockett has worked at the college for 16 years. In her new position, she will work with students and graduates in various areas of career development, including placement. She will build community relation ships with employers, externship sites and other organizations.

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The MAEYC will meet 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, March 3, at Beal College. The group will work on plans for The Week of the Young Child in April, which is part of the National Association for the Education of the Young Child. For further information, call Susan Xirinachs at 947-4591.

Castleton College

CASTLETON, Vt. – Danielle Austin of Brewer was named to the dean’s list for the fall semester at Castleton College.

Clarkson University

POTSDAM, N.Y. – Mark Surette of Hermon, a student at Clarkson University, will spend the spring semester studying abroad at the University of Newcastle in Australia.

Surette is a junior majoring in environmental engineering.

Elmira College

ELMIRA, N.Y. – Philip Gillett was named to the dean’s list for the fall semester at Elmira College. Gillett is studying adolescence education. He is the son of Geoff and Gail Gillett of Orono.

Framingham State College

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. – Josiah Curtis of Levant was named to the dean’s list for the fall semester at Framingham State College. He is studying politics.

Middlebury College

MIDDLEBURY, Vt. – Sean R. Lena of Orono graduated on Feb. 3 from Middlebury College.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in Middle Eastern history and Arabic. He studied at the University of Damascus, Syria, in the fall of 2005.

Lena is a 2002 graduate of John Bapst Memorial High School and the son of Mark and Kathy Lena of Orono.

Skidmore College

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Meghan K. Lena, Class of 2008 at Skidmore College, is attending the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand, for the spring semester, with the Institute for the International Education of Students.

She is an environmental studies major and recently returned from Cairns, Australia, where she spent the fall semester studying the natural and cultural ecology of Australia with the School for International Training.

She is the daughter of Mark and Kathy Lena of Orono and a 2004 graduate of John Bapst Memorial High School.

University of Maine at Augusta,

University College

BANGOR – These University of Maine at Augusta-University College Bangor students have been named to the dean’s list for the fall semester for maintaining a GPA of 3.25 or better:

Bangor: Matthew C. Anderson, Janice E. Archer, Kimberly Ann Baker, Erin E. Barrett, Rachel Lee Casey, Joseph L. Cassidy, Nicole L. Clapper, Nicki-Jo Colangelo, Omar Conteh, Melissa Mae Cote, Alexandra Lynne D’Eramo, Julie Barbara Deyone, Kayla Douston, Kimberly B. Draper, Katie Ruth Ginn, Valerie Sue Hammond, Timothy Joel Hilton, Laura Elaine Hinkley, Joshua John Miles Hodgkins, Melissa Howes, Duncan Lloyd Kaonga, Alta M. Kennedy, Crystal Mae Labbe, Janice M. Lagasse, Alicia Elizabeth Lambert, Kelly Christina Letarte, Stephen Andrew Metropoulos, Belinda Dawn Miliano, Christopher Alan Miller, Guy Elie Morin II, Janet Louise Morneault, Bridgette Anne Murray, Annemarie L. Napolitano, Madeline Ann O’Neill, Nicole Bethany Oldenburgh, Abigail V. Ordway, Katie Randall, Jessica Reynolds, Melissa A. Robinson, Heather Marie Rosebush, Aimee E. Sargent, Rosalie G. Shepherd, Nicole Terry Smith, Heather Lynn Spencer, Stacee Lynn Stratton, Earle M. Taylor, Martin William Webb, Deneige Marie Wilbur.

Bradford: Adrienne Leanna Pelkey.

Bradley: Scott Allen Logosz.

Brewer: Philip Nathan Beckett, Heather Lynn Bodge, Kristen Marie Brasslett, Michelle Eileen Duff, Amanda Dumond, Kelli Francis, Kelley Anne Gibbs, Rachel Lynn Herrin, Paige Elizabeth McCarthy, Caleb McGary, Eric Shawn McMaster, Bethany R. Nightingale, Christine Esther Rundlett, Jessica Ann Zeigler.

Bucksport: Tina Marie Bahlinger, Karen Michelle Botta, Sharon A. Dunbar, Kathy L. Pelletier, Patricia Provost.

Carmel: Myriah Conklin, Tracey Hotham, Rebekah Ruth Treadwell.

Castine: Amberley R. Edington.

Corinth: Christine Grace Duren, Joyce Elizabeth Connors Duren, Brenda Lee Mailman, David Alan Michaels Jr., Melissa Jean Smith.

Dedham: Stephen Marko, David W. Pearson.

Eddington: Velvet Ann Goodrich, Travis J. Lenfest.

Etna: Lillian Glenice Campbell.

Glenburn: Jessica Michelle Cust, Kristyn Charlene Ramsay, Amber Young.

Greenbush: Ashley Janine Daggett.

Hampden: Jeffrey J. Davis, Miranda Fearon, Hannah Michelle Geraci, Richard Carl Lenfest, Melinda M. Nesbit.

Hermon: Jasmine L. Skehan, Caroline K. Connors, Paul Neil Denty, Ronia Autasia Laita, Scott P. Lynch, Magen J. Pesta, Shayne White.

Holden: Shanna V. Brasslett, Jenifer Lynn Koch, Eddie Hugh Lowder Jr., Katherine Antionette Stevens, Sarah G. Wardwell.

Hudson: Benjaman Ray Desmond, Jeremiah Stuart Wirth.

Kenduskeag: Amanda Mae Elwell.

Levant: Amanda Rae Foye, Justin D. McLaughlin, Joani Sexton, Meghan Lynn Small, Shane A. Tatro, Carianne Elizabeth Watson.

Milford: Jeni Lee Cunningham, Samantha Shorette, Ashley Carmen Thibodeau.

Old Town: Michelle Ann Bear, Rhonda Ann Decontie, Amanda M. Francis, Sandra Elaine Haskell, Casey Erin Smart.

Orland: Joel B. Clement.

Orono: Mariam Alam, Chad MacDonald, Patrick Ryan Scott, Trudy Trask.

Orrington: John Joseph Costello IV, Lena Legassie, Lynn M. White.

Winterport: Jamie-Lee Marie Cole, Barbara Jean Flagg, Kimberly A. Nalewajek, Shannon Gail Reynolds.

New England School of Communications

BANGOR – The gold medallists in two contest areas sponsored by the Maine chapter of Skills USA will receive a total of $2,000 in New England School of Communications scholarships at the career and technical education competitions scheduled for Thursday and Friday, March 8 and 9, at the Bangor Civic Center.

The scholarships, which may be applied to tuition costs at NESCom, will be offered to the two-person teams winning the gold medals in the video product development and television production competitions. Each person on the team will receive a $500 scholarship.

The Bangor competition will involve 22 high schools with 61 contest areas involving 600 students, according to state Skills USA organizers. There will be 12 two-person teams from eight schools participating in the TV production contest and four two-person teams from four schools participating in the video product development contest.

Skills USA is a national nonprofit student organization and involves a partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure that America has a skilled work force. It serves students in career or technical training programs at public high schools and colleges and has sponsored competitions since 1967.

Awards in Excellence

ORONO – Gov. John E. Baldacci joined officials from the New England Board of Higher Education recently to honor two University of Maine programs for education excellence. The Frederick Hutchinson Center and the Onward Program both received 2007 New England Higher Education Excellence Awards from the board.

“It is an honor for me to be here today to help recognize two programs affiliated with my alma mater for the New England Higher Education Excellence Awards,” said Baldacci. “Both of these programs are providing additional opportunities for success to the people of Maine and they are doing it well.”

The Frederick Hutchinson Center, located in Belfast, was selected to receive the regional Robert J. McKenna Award for Program Excellence.

The center provides Midcoast residents with opportunities to pursue a college degree, professional development and lifelong learning.

The Onward Program at the University of Maine was selected to receive the board’s State Merit Award for Maine.

The Onward Program has provided support to prepare students for success in college and beyond for 36 years. Students accepted into the Onward Program attend the University of Maine and receive academic skill development and placement into developmental courses in a variety of subjects.

The program reaches out to students who come from low-income families, are the first in their families to attend college or face other college readiness challenges different from those of traditional students. Upon completion of the Onward Program, students may transfer to the major of their choice within the University of Maine.

“We know that higher education results in higher paying jobs, more job stability and a more stable economy,” said the governor. “Providing further opportunities to reach higher education is what these two programs have done so well to earn these awards as well as our respect, thanks and appreciation.”

The 2007 New England Higher Education Excellence Awards ceremony will take place Friday, March 9, at Boston’s Fairmont Copley Plaza. For more details about the New England Higher Education Excellence Awards, visit www.nebhe.org.