Schools

Hampden Academy

HAMPDEN – Hampden Academy won its fifth consecutive Maine State Mock Trial Championship on Dec. 6, defeating Cape Elizabeth at Cumberland County Courthouse in Portland.

Each team fielded lawyers and witnesses for one side of the case, then switched sides to argue the other angle.

The words uttered in the fast exchanges echoed off stone walls and the ceiling some 25 feet above the marble floor.

“You all did a tremendous job,” Chief Justice Leigh Saufley told the students. “The winner of this year’s competition is Hampden. Congratulations.”

Hampden Academy is now eligible to participate in the national competition next May in Wilmington, Del.

Members of the Hampden Academy mock trial team are Kristina King, Jacob Cravens, Rachel Lawler, Jessikah Hackett, Jennifer Wilson, Katie Foster, Rylee Rawcliffe, Katherine Plowman, Emily Tarbell-Reynolds, Tao Mason, Savannah Sargent, Heidi Harrison, Jason Hamilton, Ryan Asalone, Jack Swalec, Tessa Wood, Victoria Gower, Michaela Stephenson, Jennifer Dixon, Thomas Hoffman, Jake Marsh, Sarah Coston, Elena Cravens and Monique Kelmenson.

The Hampden Academy team was led by teacher Kathryn King and coached by attorneys William Devoe of the law firm Eaton Peabody, and James McCarthy, a federal prosecutor at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Bangor. Cape Elizabeth’s team worked with teacher Mary Page and attorney coaches Richard O’Meara and Nicole Bradick from the law firm Murray, Plumb & Murray.

Coordinator Julie Finn, a Maine lawyer, said, “The teams did a phenomenal job this year with a very difficult case. There were many legal and factual issues, as well as a few red herrings.”

Wreaths across America

HERMON – Gov. John Baldacci paid tribute to fallen members of the military on Dec. 10 by taking part in an inaugural wreath-laying ceremony at the Maine State House in Augusta. The Wreaths Across America campaign kicked off a weeklong celebration of America’s veterans and their service to country.

“The holidays are especially difficult times for family members who have lost loved ones,” Baldacci said. “As we are spending time with our families and friends during the holiday season, we should take time to remember those who have died and honor those who are still overseas.”

The wreath used at the State House ceremony was donated by the Worcester Wreath Co. in Harrington. In addition to the 10,000 wreaths placed at Arlington National Cemetery later, 230 more wreaths were donated to veterans’ cemeteries and monuments across the nation. Many local organizations across the country placed wreaths at sites such as the Maine Korean War Memorial at Mount Hope Cemetery in Bangor.

“I want to say thank you to Morrill Worcester and the people who work so hard to help make and transport the wreaths,” Baldacci said. “It reflects Maine values so well.”

Worcester received the DAR Medal of Honor for his patriotic efforts from the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution in Washington.

The Hermon High School JROTC and the 195th Army Band of the Maine Army National Guard participated in Dec. 10 ceremony.

The formal wreath laying ceremony was part of the Arlington Wreath Project in Virginia It was held Dec. 15. The event marked the 16th anniversary of Maine wreaths being donated to decorate veterans’ graves in Arlington.

‘Christmas in Egypt’

ORRINGTON – Christ was born in Bethlehem, but Egypt was where Joseph took Mary and the baby Jesus not long after his birth. To protect them from the murderous King Herod, they fled to the faraway land. How long did they stay?

The Bible says they remained in Egypt until Herod was dead. So, likely Jesus celebrated at least one birthday there. We can only imagine what Christmas in Egypt might have been like for Mary, Joseph and their baby.

This year for Christmas, Calvary Chapel Christian School will put on a children’s musical, “Christmas In Egypt,” at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 21, at the school, 154 River Road. The event is free and open to the public.

The evening also will feature Christmas music performed by the students of the school.

Holiday food drive

BREWER – The city and the Brewer School Department are sponsoring a holiday food drive to benefit the Brewer Christian Food Cupboard and the Brewer Community Service Council.

The food pantry helps to keep food on the table for families in Brewer, Eddington, Holden, Clifton, Dedham and Orrington, and the community council provides holiday food baskets to Brewer families.

“The need here in our own community is very significant this year, and we are asking for your help in ensuring that people’s most basic needs are met this winter.”

Nonperishable food items and monetary donations can be dropped off at Brewer High School, Brewer Middle School, Washington Street School, Brewer Auditorium and Brewer City Hall.

For home-schooled pupils

HOLDEN – Fields Pond Audubon Center will offer a snow science program 12:30-2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 2, for home-schooled children ages 6 to 12. Children will explore snow and its distinctive properties in nature, and how the winter water cycle differs from the summer cycle.

Conditions permitting, students will look at individual snow flakes and different ice formations outdoors.

This is the first in a three-part series on Winter in Maine.

Call the center at 989-2591 to register. The cost is $12 per program or $30 for all three.

Melange of music, dance

HERMON – A Holiday Musical Extravaganza, featuring Old Town, Orono and Brewer high school musicians, and the Morgan Hill Dancers, will take place at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 21, at Morgan Hill Event Center on Route 2.

The event will benefit the travel fund of each group. Tickets are available at the Grasshopper Shop in Bangor, or call 848-7100.

Hermon High School

HERMON – Students of the Month for November at Hermon High School are:

. Freshman Steven Wiswell, son of Daniel and Patricia Wiswell of Glenburn.

. Sophomore James Wain, son of James and Lisa Wain of Smithfield.

. Junior Kaleb Campbell, son of Gary and Andi Campbell of Hermon.

. Senior P.J. Richards, son of Lisa Richards of Hermon.

Colleges

Maine Maritime Academy

CASTINE – Richard Collenburg Jr. of Eddington and Zachary Growe of Hampden were named Henry A. Scheel Scholars at Maine Maritime Academy. The honor is awarded to students who best exemplify intellectual curiosity and academic achievement.

Collenburg is a graduate of John Bapst Memorial High School in Bangor and is a member of the Class of 2008 at MMA. He is majoring in marine systems engineering.

Growe is a graduate of Hampden Academy and is a member of the Class of 2008 at MMA. He is majoring in power engineering technology.

University of Maine

ORONO – One hundred students in the University of Maine’s College of Education and Human Development were recognized recently for outstanding academic achievement. The students, representing communities across Maine and six states, were honored at the Fall Presidential Academic Achievement Award Ceremony, attended by faculty, family members, and friends. Local students honored are:

Bangor: Lindsae Kish, Katherine Weber, Rebecca Winkler, Christina Woolford.

Brewer: Lauren Parker, Crystal Tinkham.

Eddington: Jessica Pratt.

Glenburn: Stephanie Jones.

Hampden: Mary McKinley.

Milford: Eola Hatch.

Old Town: Sarah Gordon, Katherine Martin, Stephanie McCoy, Mary McDonagh, Malinda Merrill, Susan Perkins, Martha Reynolds, Paul Rupprecht, Sara Sanderson.

Orono: Sarah Brooks, Christen Cevoli of Orono, Chantrelle Cousins, Megan Kelly, Nicole Shaw, Chad Strout, Stacie Vanderburgh, Jessica Wolfenden, Amy Zdrojesky.

Orrington: Breanne Warren.

Stetson: Jessica Fenn.

Stillwater: Anne Weisheipl

Winterport: Christopher Labonte.

Anne Pooler, interim dean, presented each student with a Presidential Academic Achievement pin. The one-time award is presented to students who have earned a 3.5 or higher grade-point average during the most recent semester and a 3.0 average over the past two semesters. For part-time students, the award goes to those who have earned a 3.5 grade-point average over the past 12 credit hours and have maintained at least a 3.0 average based on a minimum of 30 credit hours at UM.