Schools

School to Life Program

BANGOR – The School to Life Program of the Maine Transition Network, Region 3, will sponsor the eighth and final segment in its series of transition planning workshops, “Recreation and Leisure Activities for Youth with Special Needs: Camping, Exercise and More.” The forum will take place 4-6 p.m. Wednesday, May 14, in the conference room at Alpha One, 1048 Union St.

The recreation forum will highlight camping experiences offered at Camp CaPella on Phillips Lake in Lucerne and Pine Tree Camp on Great Pond in Rome. Dana Mosher, executive director of Camp CaPella, will be the keynote speaker.

Dawn Willard-Robinson, director of Pine Tree Camp, will make a presentation and answer questions about its expanded programming.

Joan Smith, owner of the Brewer CURVES, and Wes Smith, independent living specialist with Alpha One, will discuss other recreation and leisure opportunities available.

Call Cindy Tuck, co-ordinator of the School to Life program, at 992-2270 to register or e-mail schooltolife@midmaine.com.

Boys and Girls Club

INDIAN ISLAND – After eight years of successful growth, the first American Indian Boys and Girls Club in the northeastern United States is initiating a $6 million Endowment Fund Campaign.

“We currently provide free services for over 200 local youth at our facility on the island,” club director Carla Fearon said. “With our character and leadership development, education and career development, health and life skills, the arts and fitness and recreation, we are training the future leaders of the Penobscot government and stewards of our environment.” The club has grown into an eight-employee operation with an annual budget of $350,000.

The club is creating an endowment fund as the most responsible way to ensure the permanent solvency of its programs. With the recent fundraising success of the Portland and Waterville area Boys and Girls Clubs, Fearon is confident that donors in Maine and beyond will come to the aid of the tribal youth.

“Among all the positive attributes that occur when any club is established, we have a special component at our center,” she said. “We are using our resources to preserve over 10,000 years of our culture with language, education, art and environmental programs. This is the unique and special gift that we offer. We are able to prepare our youth to lead our tribe at a level that our elders have always dreamed of.”

With the challenge of fundraising ahead, the club has received a boost from the support of Tom Chappell, creator of Tom’s of Maine.

“Not only has Tom provided the seed money to kick off our campaign, he will also be very helpful in encouraging others to match his generosity. We are extremely excited by his commitment to our youth,” Fearon said.

Tribal membership or affiliation is not a requirement to be a club member. The club is open to children ages 5-18 in the Bangor area. For information, call Fearon at 817-7355 or e-mail cfearon@penobscotnation.org.

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 one of 560 semifinalists in the 2008 Presidential Scholars Program.

The semifinalists were selected from more than 3,000 candidates for superior achievements, leadership qualities, personal character and involvement in community and school activities.

Ryder has earned numerous academic letters and awards. She is a National Merit Scholarship Finalist, recipient of the Princeton Book Award and winner of 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 with awards including selection to the All-State Music Festival for flute in 2006 and 2007.

Ryder is vice president of the John Bapst Chapter of the National Honor Society and has lettered in cross country, swimming and track. In track, she was selected to the 2006-2007 Penobscot Valley Conference All-Conference Second Team.

In the fall, Carrie will begin studies in biomedical engineering at Dartmouth College.

One young man and one young woman from each state will be selected by the Commission on Presidential Scholars, a group of citizens appointed by President George Bush. Scholars will go to Washington, D.C., for several days in June to receive the Presidential Scholars medallion at a recognition ceremony and participate in activities in their honor.

Stillwater Montessori School

OLD TOWN – The Stillwater Montessori School will hold its 25th anniversary Children’s Festival 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, May 17, at the Holy Family Parish hall on Brunswick Street.

The event will feature children’s games, food, a kayak raffle and a silent auction. The cost of admission is $5, free for children. For information, call Joe Alex at 827-2404.

Bangor High Key Club

Bangor High Key Club members will volunteer at the Y Spring Fair, the Big Brothers-Big Sisters Bowlathon for Kids and the KISS Care for Kids Radiothon to benefit the Children’s Miracle Network.

Officers for the 2008-2009 have been elected and this year’s slate will go into a second year with unanimous approval by members. James McHenry will continue as the faculty adviser and Jane Searles from Bangor Kiwanis will continue as the Kiwanis adviser. To inquire about Key Club activities, call 262-7843.

Officers for the 2008-2009 year are President Brianna Morrissey, Vice President Catherine MacDonald, Secretary Abbie Clark, Treasurer Min Hwang, Editor-Points Paige Hammond and Sergeant-At-Arms Jen Tsang.

Colleges

New England School of Communications

BANGOR – Irwin Gratz, local anchor for “Morning Edition” on Maine Public Broadcasting Network, will be the guest speaker at commencement exercises of the New England School of Communications at 4 p.m. Saturday, May 10, in the Newman Gymnasium on the Husson College campus.

According to Academic Dean Ben Haskell, 79 students are candidates for associate and bachelor degrees in the largest graduating class in the school’s 26-year history. Among those obtaining degrees will be the 1,000th graduate since the school’s inception in 1982.

Gratz, a New York City native, holds a master’s degree in journalism from New York University and moved to Maine in 1978. He worked for 12 years in commercial radio in Sanford and Portland before beginning to freelance for MPBN in 1990. He has been a local anchor for “Morning Edition” since 1992.

In 2004-2005, he was the national president of the Society of Professional Journalists, the nation’s largest and most broad-based journalism organization. Gratz also has an interest in astronomy and is an occasional presenter at the Southworth Planetarium in Portland. He is married and has a young son.

The Outstanding Alumni Award will be presented to Tim Cabral, a 1990 graduate and special project manager for Carnival Cruise Lines’ entertainment department.

Fifty-three graduates will receive Bachelor of Science degrees in communications, and 26 will receive the two-year associate degree.

NESCom President Thom Johnston will give the charge to the graduates and James Goff, chairman of the school’s board of directors, will give the welcome.

University of Maine

ORONO – The University of Maine will award 1,860 degrees at its 206th Commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 10, at Alfond Arena.

At 10 a.m., degrees will be awarded to graduates in the College of Business, Public Policy and Health; College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; and the Division of Lifelong Learning.

A 2:30 p.m. ceremony will be for graduates from the College of Education and Human Development; the College of Engineering, including the School of Engineering Technology; and the College of Natural Sciences, Forestry and Agriculture.

The commencement speaker is Doug Hall, a 1981 UM graduate who is the founder and CEO of Eureka Ranch, a Cincinnati-based business where individuals and businesses learn how to turn their ideas into commercial success.

Hall also is involved in UMaine’s Foster Student Innovation Center and the university’s Innovation Engineering curriculum. He will speak at both commencement sessions.

UM President Robert Kennedy will preside over the ceremonies. Paul Mitchell will represent the University of Maine System board of trustees at 10 a.m. and assist UM Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Susan Hunter in awarding an honorary doctorate to renowned sculptor and University of Florida professor Celeste Roberge.

Trustee Marjorie Medd will represent the board at 2:30 p.m., joining Hunter in awarding an honorary doctorate to Hall.

As commencement generates a good deal of traffic, UM will operate a continuous shuttle bus from the Steam Plant Parking Lot, Belgrade Lot, Maine Center for the Arts Lot and Hilltop Lot to Alfond Arena before and after ceremonies.

Those traveling to UM are encouraged to allow plenty of time and to expect traffic delays of up to 60 minutes. Those accessing UM via Interstate 95 should consider using Exit 197 and traveling through Old Town to the university’s Park Street entrance if traffic is significantly backed up at the exits closer to Bangor.

Husson College

BANGOR – Former President of Gillette North America and Duracell, Joseph F. Dooley, Husson Class of 1975, will deliver Husson College’s 109th commencement address at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 10, at Winkin Athletic Complex Stadium.

Dooley’s credentials include senior-leadership positions at Duracell, Gillette North America and their parent, Procter & Gamble Co. Dooley, who retired in 2007 to become a private investor, served as president of Duracell Canada during the time of Gillette’s acquisition of Duracell in 1997. He later became president of Gillette North America.

Dooley has served on the boards of the Retail Industry Leaders Association and the Students in Free Enterprise. He also served as an associate board member of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores’ Leadership Council and as a member of the Industry Affairs Council of the Grocery Manufacturers Association.

Dooley will receive an honorary doctorate in business administration. Hilda Hutchins McCollum will receive an honorary doctorate of public services.

Acting Bangor Theological Seminary president, the Rev. Dr. William Jones, will offer the benediction. Retiring professor Kathleen Wall will serve as grand marshal.

Students from 17 states and 11 countries make up Husson’s graduating class receiving 445 undergraduate degrees and 147 graduate degrees. Members of the college’s graduating class will return to their homes as near as Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York and as far away as Japan, Saudi Arabia, Brazil and England. In the event of rain, ceremonies will move inside the Newman Gymnasium, with overflow accommodations in the Campus Center.

A Portland commencement will be held at Woodford Congregational Church at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 18. Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives Glenn Cummings will deliver the keynote address. He will receive the college’s Chesley H. Husson Award in recognition of his leadership in government and education.

Military Academy Seminar

BANGOR – The staff of U.S. Sen. Susan Collins will hold a Military Academy Seminar 6-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 13, at Sheraton Four Points Hotel, 308 Godfrey Drive. The seminar is open to students, parents and guidance counselors interested in the application process for the military at West Point, Naval, Air Force and Merchant Marine academies, as well as private military colleges and ROTC programs.

Representatives from various organizations will give short presentations. Attendees may collect applications and brochures and speak with the individual representatives. Congressional aides from Sen. Collins’ office and other congressional offices will be on hand to answer questions.

Those who wish to participate may call Maine Maritime Academy at 800-227-8465 or 945-0417.

Onward program at UMaine

ORONO – While the University of Maine Onward Program may not represent the traditional way to apply to college, perhaps it should be.

Those who wish to graduate from UM in a four-year degree program, but wonder if they are qualified, can find out through Onward Program, a division of College Success Programs.

Onward is designed for those who are the first in their immediate family to attend college; who have been laid off or aspire to a better career; who are single parents who wish to provide better for their families; who have a physical or learning disability or those who earned a GED.

Information sessions are set for 2-4 p.m. and 5-7 p.m. Thursday, May 15. Those who attend will tour the East Annex facility, meet the staff and hear from some current students about their experiences with Onward. Light refreshments will be served. For information, call 581-2320 (voice); 581-2325 (TTY) or visit www.umaine.edu/onward.