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School-to-Life forum

BANGOR – The Maine Transition Network, Region 3, School-to-Life series of planning forums for students with disabilities and their families, transitioning from high school to the adult world, will hold its next forum, The State’s New Waiver Program, 4-6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 14, at the Alpha One conference room, 1048 Union St.

The workshop will focus on the new Community Support Services Program developed by the Department of Health and Human Services for youth as they exit high school.

The forum will feature Bill Hughes, Adult Developmental Services Program manager, who will discuss the five elements of this new “waiver” program. The components are employment specialist services, work support, home accessibility adaptations, transportation services and respite services.

“Possibly the most exciting part of the new Community Support Services Waiver Program is the employment specialist and work support elements, because it means that long-term job coaching will once again be available to those youth who need it,” said Cindy Tuck, coordinator of the School-to-Life program.

Those who wish to attend the forum should preregister by calling Cindy Tuck at 992-2270 or e-mail her at schooltolife@midmaine.com.

The forums are free, but donations are accepted.

John Bapst Memorial High School

BANGOR – John Bapst Memorial High School senior Carolyn Ryder, daughter of Michael and Megan Ryder of Levant, has been named a semifinalist in the 2008 National Merit Scholarship Program.

The Program honors students who show exceptional academic ability and potential for success in rigorous college studies. The nationwide pool of semifinalists, which represents less than 1 percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest achievers on the PSAT in each state.

Ryder has earned numerous academic letters and awards, including the Princeton Book Award and the Society of Women in Engineering Achievement Award. She is a member of the school’s civil rights team, Key Club, math team and chamber ensemble. She is an accomplished musician who was selected to the All-State Music Festival for flute in 2006 and 2007, serves as vice-president of the John Bapst Chapter of the National Honor Society and has earned letters in cross-country, swimming and track. She was selected to the 2006-07 Penobscot Valley Conference All-Conference Second Team.

Bangor High School

BANGOR – The Bangor High School Key Club, sponsored by the Bangor Noon Kiwanis Club, has started the fall with a busy schedule. President Brianna Morrissey announced that more than 50 students have become members.

Morrissey and Abbey Clarke, club secretary, attended officers training with Key Club Lt. Gov. Christina Reynolds from Hermon High School Key Club.

Bangor High members plan to attend the district planning meeting with other local clubs to discuss district-wide events.

During Key Club Week, beginning Nov. 5, members will attend the Bangor Noon Kiwanis meeting. They will conduct the meeting and officers will be inducted.

The Key Club will help out at an Adoptive and Foster Families of Maine event on Nov. 13 and to assist with other activities during the coming months.

The club is seeking volunteer opportunities in the community. Call the faculty adviser, Mr. McHenry at Bangor High School or Jane Searles, the Kiwanis adviser, at 262-7843, for information.

Kents Hill School

KENTS HILL – Kents Hill School senior Alexandra Fahey of Bangor was named a Commended Student in the National Merit Scholarship Program.

She joins 34,000 Commended Students throughout the nation recognized for their exceptional academic promise. They placed among the top 5 percent of more than 1.4 million students who entered the 2008 competition by taking the 2006 Preliminary SAT-National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.

Colleges

Babson College

WELLESLEY, Mass. – These area students were named to the dean’s list for the spring semester at Babson College:

. Zachary Bouzan-Kaloustian, Hampden.

. Caitlin Churchill, Hampden.

. Cheryl Morris, Winterport.

National 4-H Youth Week

ORONO – The University of Maine 4-H program recognized the activities of 4-H youth work in science, engineering and technology programs during National 4-H Week, Oct. 7-13.

As part of UM Cooperative Extension’s 4-H youth development program, Maine 4-H members are combining learning, discovery and fun in 4-H science, engineering and technology programs. Activities include robotics, digital media, geo-spatial technologies, animal and environmental science, citizenship and healthy living.

On the Galapagos Islands in June, Washington County 4-H’er Paul Jans used what he’d learned at a 4-H GPS-GIS training session he took in Trescott.

“I used my skills for mapping the trails on the many islands we visited and boat routes we took, and important tourist destination spots. Additionally, I taught other group members how to use a GPS, along with coordinating mapping details with the paper maps,” he said. The information will be used to develop a Web site about tourism in the Galapagos Islands.

UM Extension Educator Lisa Phelps said that a participant at a recent 4-H camp indicated that they now use these new technologies to do community service projects.

“In Maine the 4-H science, engineering and technology programs have allowed us to share new career possibilities with youth and teach them valuable life skills,” she said.

For more than 100 years, 4-H programs have been providing youth with the innovative research and resources from universities such as the University of Maine. More than 5 million 4-H youth members participate in 4-H science, engineering and technology programs nationwide.

To learn how to become a 4-H member or volunteer leader in Maine, call Lisa Phelps, Extension educator, University of Maine Cooperative Extension, at 800-87-1471 or e-mail lphelps@umext.maine.edu. Learn more about the 4-H at www.4HUSA.org.

Open house at Husson

BANGOR – Husson College will hold its fall open house on Saturday, Nov. 10.

Open house is an opportunity for students and parents to tour the campus and meet current students, faculty and administrators. It is an opportunity to learn firsthand about Husson’s academic and athletic programs, extracurricular activities and financial aid.

Faculty from each academic program will be on hand to talk about their programs and answer questions.

Registration is at 9 a.m. in the Dickerman Dining Commons and activities begin at 9:30 a.m. Lunch will be provided at no cost noon-1 p.m. at the Dining Commons.

For information, e-mail admit@husson.edu or call 800-HUSSON.

UMaine Culturefest

ORONO – Traditional ethnic singing, dancing, clothing and an international smorgasbord of foods – including milk rice and spicy curry from India, sticky rice and spring rolls from Vietnam, and casseroles from the Middle East – are on the menu for this year’s Culturefest at the University of Maine, Saturday, Oct. 27.

Held annually in the UM Field House from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Culturefest attracts more than 1,000 visitors from campus and communities surrounding the university. It is sponsored by the UM Office of International Programs and National Student Exchange as a showcase of talent, style and cuisine from cultures of the world.

Culturefest is free, although students request a nominal contribution for the food they buy and prepare for the food court. Adults and children are invited to learn first-hand about cultural themes and customs of the homelands of students from more than 70 countries. Members of the UM International Student Association will bring a variety of dishes to the international food court, while others perform a talent show, a fashion show and staff information tables with maps, flags and cultural artifacts, and offer children’s activities throughout the day.

The festival pulls together hundreds of international students eager to discuss ethnic cultures and lifestyles. Students from Europe, Asia, Latin America, Africa, the Middle East and the Americas leave the blue jeans and sweats at home and turn out in traditional clothing and costumes representative of their homelands.

“This is the biggest international event on campus,” said co-organizer Sarah Joughin of the Office of International Programs and National Student Exchange. “As we become a more global society, the public is realizing more and more the need to learn about cultural differences. This is a unique and rare opportunity to travel around the world in a single day.”

Students say Culturefest also is a chance for the public to see beyond the television news coverage of politics, violence and disaster from other parts of the world.

Karen Boucias, director of the Office of International Programs and National Student Exchange, added that the university is fortunate to have such a large international representation.

“Our 450 students and visiting scholars bring much to the classroom, and Culturefest helps to bring global awareness and understanding to the community,” she said.

For information about the 20th annual Culturefest, call the UM Office of International Programs at 581-2905 or visit www.umaine.edu/international.