Schools

Elks youth contests

The Maine Elks Association recently honored several youths from across the state as part of its 78th state convention in South Portland.

The Elks Americanism Essay Contest was open to fifth- through eighth-graders who wrote a 200-word essay on “Why I Am Proud to Be an American.”

Elks nationwide promote the contest to encourage youth to share in love of country by showing and promoting ideals that make this country great. Presenting the awards were association Americanism director Richie Philbrick and State President Greg Daniels.

More than several hundred students participated in Maine.

State winners were Madeline Coffey, Bangor Elks Lodge; Nathan Dubois, Sanford Elks Lodge; Victoria Eon, Biddeford-Saco Elks Lodge; and Krysta Moulton, Skowhegan-Madison Elks Lodge.

The state winners read their essays aloud and each received a plaque with their essay engraved and a monetary award.

The Elks Drug Awareness contests comprise three competitions – a coloring contest open to third-graders, a poster contest open to fourth-graders and an essay contest open to fifth-graders. The theme for each contest was “Drugs are Stupid.”

The Elks Drug Awareness contests are used to help educate parents, and to encourage youth to take a stand against the dangers of drugs, alcohol and smoking. Presenting the awards was Drug Awareness director Frank Ricker.

Winners of the coloring contest were Morgan Daoust, Rumford Elks Lodge; and Zack Boucher, Millinocket Elks Lodge.

Poster contest winners were Lily Muscatell, Old Town Elks Lodge; and Damean Newbury, Millinocket Elks Lodge.

Winners of the essay contest were Macy Morrison, York Elks Lodge; and Patrick Saucier, Old Town Elks Lodge.

Eagle Scout

BEDFORD, N.H. – Benjamin Weeks Thomas of Bedford, N.H., recently earned the rank of Eagle Scout.

He is the son of Darby (Billington) Thomas, formerly of Bangor, and Bruce Thomas. He is the grandson of Judith Weeks Harlow of Brewer and great-grandson of Willis Weeks, who was a recipient of Scouting’s Silver Beaver award.

The Scout also has been involved with a variety of other extracurricular activities. He is on the West High School FIRST Robotics Team that recently competed at the national competition. He is a member of the school’s Scuba Club, where he attained his open water scuba diving license.

Thomas was involved in Tae Kwon Do for a number of years, ultimately earning a Second Degree Black Belt. He was a member of Master An’s Demonstration Team, performing in parades, festivals and other events.

He is an acolyte at Grace Episcopal Church in Manchester, N.H., and has been an Honor Roll student throughout his high school career.

Thomas’ Eagle project was the building of six wooden picnic tables for the town of Bedford, N.H. The project was completed in the summer of 2006. One table went to the Town Pool, while others were distributed at various town parks.

Arts in Learning

Carol Trimble, executive director of the Maine Alliance for Arts Education, announced that the statewide arts education organization has received a $40,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. The Arts in Learning grant is for Building Community Through the Arts, the alliance’s artist residency program in 13 Penquis Region high schools.

The alliance is a nonprofit organization that works to strengthen education in all of the arts for all Maine students.

“BCTA helps high school students explore social issues and develop skills in the creative performing arts, while enriching the high school curriculum,” Trimble said.

Initiated in 2000, just after the tragedy at Columbine High School, the program is intended to build a sense of community from the diversity of students in the high school classroom, using the strategy of collaborative creation in the arts to break down social barriers and build a sense of trust.

The NEA grant will extend the 2007-2008 Building Community Through the Arts residencies, allowing artists to introduce the students to professional examples of community-based theater and dance as a context for their own creative work. The grant also will support after school workshops in creative theater and dance at five schools.

Since 2000, some 200 Maine high school classes and 4,000 students have participated in Building Community Through the Arts artist residencies. The success of the program in fostering a more positive social climate in the classroom has been shown by the results of pre- and post-tests administered to participants each year

The program so far has been focused on high schools in Penobscot and Piscataquis counties, but secondary schools around the state are welcome to inquire about bringing it into their schools. For more information, call Susan Potters, education director and director of Building Community Through the Arts, at 676-9494, or visit www.maineartseducation.org.

Host families

ASSE International Student Exchange Programs is seeking local families interested in hosting a high school foreign exchange student for the 2007-2008 school year, or semester. Students are 15 to 18 years old, well-screened and speak English. Students come from Germany, Italy, France, Brazil, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Spain, Portugal, Japan, the Czech and Slovak republics, and the former Soviet Union.

Interested families or single adults may select the student of their choice from extensive student applications, family photos and biographical essays. Students arrive shortly before school begins. Each ASSE exchange student is fully insured, brings personal spending money and shares household responsibilities.

For information, call Joyce McKenney at (800) 677-2773.

PowerHouse Teen Center

The PowerHouse Teen Center will hold an open house at 5 p.m. Friday, June 1, at The Salvation Army, 65 South Park St. Live entertainment is planned and refreshments will be available. Community members of all ages are invited to see what the PowerHouse Teen Center has to offer, and hear from the teens about why they feel having a teen center is important.

The event will kick off the center’s ARE YOU ON THE LIST? fundraising campaign for June. The campaign is being held to ensure the continuation of the community teen center program, which offers a safe haven to teens.

A dodge ball tournament fundraiser will take place at the open house. Each team is responsible for raising a minimum of $100 to compete. For more information, visit www.thepowerhouseteencenter.org, www.youtube.com/thepowerhousetc or call The Salvation Army 941-2990.

Stillwater Montessori School

ORONO – Stillwater Montessori School will hold a Children’s Spring Fair 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, June 2, at the Keith Anderson Community Building, 19 Bennoch Road. Activities will include face painting, crafts and games for children of all ages.

During the fair, a rummage sale will be held to benefit the school scholarship fund. Stillwater Montessori School welcomes and supports children from diverse family backgrounds to attend the school.

After the fair, Stillwater Montessori Elementary School pupils will present an adaptation of the children’s classic “Peter Pan.” The public is invited to enjoy the free performance.

Those who wish to volunteer, contribute items for the rummage sale or learn more about the event are urged to call school director Joe Alex at 827-2404 or e-mail jalex1@adelphia.net. More information is available at www.stillwatermontessori.org.

Teen Adventure Camp

HOLDEN – Fields Pond Audubon Center will offer a three-day Teen Adventure Day Camp, Wednesday through Friday, July 11-13. The camp will allow 13- to 16-year-olds to select their daily activities.

The Penobscot Valley Chapter will offer teenagers lessons in nature photography, geo-positioning equipment, binocular and microscope use, and a new concept, “letterboxing.”

Letterboxing is a new pastime that combines navigational skills and rubber stamp artistry in a treasure hunt-style outdoor quest.

Also, teenagers will experience hiking, canoeing, outdoor survival, art and writing, fishing and outdoor cooking.

Specific afternoon activities will be finalized by the campers at lunch each day. Camp size is limited to 10 teenagers each day. Participants may register for one, two or three days. Fees are $75 per day or $200 for three days. Scholarships are available. Call 989-2591 for more information.

Colleges

Anna Maria College

PAXTON, Mass. – Craig Russell of Eddington was named to the dean’s list at Anna Maria College.

Bowdoin College and University of Maine

BRUNSWICK – Gov. John Baldacci announced on May 22 an engineering educational partnership between Bowdoin College and the University of Maine. The governor made the announcement with Bowdoin President Barry Mills and University of Maine President Robert Kennedy.

In the program, students will begin their course work at Bowdoin. For three years, they will participate in the liberal arts program at the college. Those who are successful may transfer to the University of Maine for two years of intense engineering education. On completion of the five-year program, students graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Bowdoin and an engineering degree from UM.

The program is expected to begin enrolling students from Bowdoin into the UM engineering program as soon as fall 2008.

Daniel Webster College

NASHUA, N.H. – These students from the Bangor area earned degrees at commencement ceremonies held at Daniel Webster College on May 12:

. Melissa Jalbert of Newburgh, summa cum laude, aviation-air traffic management. She is a member of Alpha Chi National Honor Society.

. Samantha Rioux of Bangor, magna cum laude, computer science. She is a member of Alpha Chi National Honor Society.

Rice University

HOUSTON – William D. Rice of Veazie has been named a Keck Fellow in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineer at Rice University in Houston.

Rice is a 2001 graduate of John Bapst Memorial High School and a 2005 graduate of Brown University with a degree in physics, with honors. He is a doctoral student studying applied physics at Rice.

The W.M. Keck Foundation, established in 1954, is one of the nation’s largest philanthropic organizations. The foundation focuses on groundbreaking science and engineering research projects that make a difference in the quality of life, now and in the future.

Texas A & M University

GALVESTON – Kristy Spaulding graduated cum laude on May 12 with a bachelor’s degree in marine biology from Texas A&M University.

She plans to attend graduate school in Florida in the fall. She is the daughter of Jane Spaulding of Arizona and Leon Spaulding of Hermon.

University of New England

BIDDEFORD – Andrew Cole, who is studying medical biology, was honored with the Freshman of the Year Award at the University of New England.

Cole serves as president of his class and participates in cross country, the Community Conversations program and the Surf Club. A 2006 graduate of Old Town High School, Cole is the son of Tim and Beckey Cole of Old Town.

University of Vermont

BURLINGTON, Vt. – Peter Larson of Hampden, a junior in the University of Vermont College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, is the recipient of a $6,500 Barrett Scholarship with which he will conduct engineering research this summer.

Larson, who is studying civil engineering, will analyze the Shelburne Farms breeding barn, built in 1891, using an instrument that can assess structural weaknesses that could cause the barn to collapse under heavy snow.

“The Barrett project allows me to do the two things I enjoy most – working on structures and historical buildings,” said Larson, who plans to become a structural engineer. “I will be working with a graduate student, Nathan Maille, and will attach wireless accelerometers to the barn trusses to induce vibrations. This allows us to measure resonant frequencies and determine in-situ axial loads.”