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Bangor High AP scholars

BANGOR – Forty-four students from Bangor High School have earned the designation of AP Scholar from the College Board in recognition of exceptional achievement on the college-level Advanced Placement Exams.

The College Board’s Advanced Placement Program provides motivated and academically prepared students the opportunity to take rigorous college-level courses while still in high school, and to earn college credit, advanced placement, or both for successful performance on AP Exams.

Two students at Bangor High School qualified for the National AP Scholar Award by earning an average grade of 4 or higher on a 5-point scale on all AP Exams taken, and grades of 4 or higher on eight or more of these exams. They are Ryan Bailey and Renaud Collard-Seguin.

In addition, 12 students qualified for the AP Scholar with Distinction Award by earning an average grade of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken and by grades of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams. They are John Badger, Ryan Bailey, Joshua Belanger, Renaud Collard-Seguin, Emma Finch, Kalee Gurschick, Richard Luc, Samuel Martin, Stephen Salinas, Matthew Sevey, Joseph Sherman and Aliza Thibodeau.

Eight students qualified for the AP Scholar with Honor Award by earning an average grade of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken and grades of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams. They are Natalie Beaulieu, Christopher Beland, Adam Bernstein, Douglas Farrell, Min Hwang, Guangbin Li, Sara Nadeau and Sean Seekins.

Finally, 24 students qualified for the AP Scholar Award by completing three or more AP Exams with grades of 3 or higher. The AP Scholars are Michael Arell, Margaret Bearor, Ashley Bigda, Jordan Borgman, Alyssa Budden, Alissa Dubois, Ian Edwards, Lyndsay Fink, Elizabeth Fortier, Adam George, Amber Hathaway, Morgan Herrell, Jeffrey Kleinschmidt, Ryan Larochelle, Jennifer Leach, Catherine Leclair, Anna Linehan, Lydia McOscar, Edward Murray, Julie Ozog, Rachel Roberts, Ryan Ross, Cote Theriault and Jacob Wood.

Sci-fi-tastic Halloween fun

BANGOR – Halloween will be celebrated with Boo, 6-7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, at the Challenger Learning Center of Maine, 30 Venture Way.

A prize will be awarded for the most sci-fi-tastic costume. Creepy science fun for all ages takes place 6:30-7:30 p.m. Get acquainted with atomic slime, glow-in-the-dark gourds, screaming balloons, dry ice boo bubbles and exploding pumpkins.

The cost is $7 per child over age 3, 20 percent sibling discount, $15 maximum. Preregistration is required by calling 990-2900, ext. 3.

After-school engineering

BANGOR – After-school Engineering will be offered 3:30-5 p.m. Tuesdays, Nov. 4, 11, 18 and 25, at Challenger Learning Center of Maine, 30 Venture Way.

The class is open to children in grades three through seven. A snack will be provided. The cost for the four-week series is $48, with a sibling discount available. Topics will include solar cars, hovercraft, hot air balloons and fuel cells.

Preregistration is required by calling 990-2900, ext. 3.

Bangor from space

BANGOR – Richard Garriott, private space explorer and son of NASA’s Skylab Astronaut Dr. Owen Garriott, is taking photographs from space of each of the Challenger Learning Centers across the planet during his flight to the International Space Station.

The space station will fly over Maine at 6:24 a.m. Oct. 23 and 5:17 a.m. Oct. 24, giving Garriott time to take photographs of the Challenger Learning Center of Maine in Bangor, clear skies permitting.

While in space, Garriott plans to talk with students through a NASA-sponsored live video teleconference via the Internet on Oct. 20.

Garriott is conducting educational activities as part of his scheduled flight to the International Space Station in partnership with the Challenger Center for Space Science Education.

Teachers and their students can replicate on-orbit activities to demonstrate important concepts in physics and share their predictions about what might happen in the weightless environment of space. Lessons in support of Garriott’s on-orbit activities, plus Webcasts, podcasts and student predications on YouTube are available at www.challenger.org.

The Challenger Learning Center is at 30 Venture Way. For information, call 990-2900 or visit www.CLCofME.org.

National Merit Semifinalists

BANGOR – John Bapst Memorial High School seniors Charlotte Firestone of Bangor and Katherine Greenlaw of Orrington have been named semifinalists in the 2009 National Merit Scholarship Program.

In addition, Nathan Lesser of Orono, an early graduate of John Bapst, also was named a semifinalist in the program.

Firestone earned academic letters and academic awards including high honors during her freshman, sophomore and junior years. The recipient of the Rennselaer Medal in her junior year, she was a member of the John Bapst National Honor Society, math team and Key Club. She is spending the 2008-2009 school year in Missouri, where she is continuing her studies and training to be a professional ice skater. She is the daughter of Francine Cantor and Albert Firestone.

Greenlaw is a Student Ambassador and a member of the Tai Chi Club, Art Club and Student Environmental Action Club. She earned academic letters in her freshman and sophomore years and was granted the U.S. History Award. She is the daughter of Karen and Daniel Greenlaw.

While at John Bapst, Lesser earned academic letters, receiving high honors during his sophomore and junior years. A member of the National Honor Society, he received numerous academic awards and was a member of the school’s math team. He was named Top Freshman by the Eastern Maine Math League. He earned letters in varsity cross country, Nordic skiing, and track and field. In cross country, he received the Running Ideal Award and was co-captain of the team his junior year. A gifted violinist, he received the Most Valuable Player Award in both Chamber Ensemble and Spring Musical Pit Band; participated in All State Music Festival for violin three consecutive years; and was concertmaster in his freshman and sophomore years. After early graduation in his junior year at John Bapst, Lesser graduated with honors in June 2008. He is a student at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Ohio. He is the son of Mary Ellin Logue and Mark Lesser.

Junior Girl Scouts

HOLDEN – A Wildlife Badge program for Junior Girl Scouts will be held 1:30-4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 9, at Fields Pond Audubon Center, 216 Fields Pond Road.

Juniors will test their patience and creative skills as they observe nature to complete the requirements for the badge.

The program includes an outdoor walk and indoor activities. Girls will complete the badge requirements by the end of the program. To participate, register with the Girl Scouts of Maine council office by calling 800-464-3858 by Monday, Oct. 27.

Hermon High School

HERMON – Students of the month for September at Hermon High School are:

. Freshman Abigail Burgess, daughter of Timothy and Teresa Burgess of Hermon.

. Sophomore Justin Holbrook, son of Randall and Mary Holbrook of Hermon.

. Junior Melissa Thibodeau, daughter of Robert Thibodeau and Jennifer Moreau of Eddington.

. Senior Jody Demmons, daughter of Dennis and Kimberly Demmons of Hermon.

Colleges

Bangor Theological Seminary open house

BANGOR – Explore the possibilities at the Bangor Theological Seminary Open House 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Thursday Nov. 6, at Husson University. The seminary offers the personal attention of a small school with all the resources of a larger college, organizers of the open house said.

Learn about course offerings, degree programs and financial aid, and speak with faculty, staff and students. Lunch will be provided.

The seminary offers small classes and a special commitment to part-time, commuter and second-career students.

For information or to reserve a space at the open house, call Fae Gilbride at 800-287-6781, ext. 126, or e-mail fgilbride@bts.edu. To register online or to learn more, visit http://www.bts.edu/prospective/visit.htm.

UM Center for Undergraduate Research

ORONO – A new program at the University of Maine is specifically designed to facilitate and enhance research and creative achievement opportunities for undergraduate students.

The Center for Undergraduate Research at 124 Alumni Hall has set out to develop a database of research and creative projects at UM that are open to undergraduates, matching faculty and students by projects and interests.

UM officials realize that the opportunity to work on research projects as an undergraduate makes a student stand out to potential employers and institutions.

“For many students, research provides an opportunity for a mentor-mentee relationship different from a teacher-student relationship,” center director Nancy Hall said. “In that context, the learning is invaluable. It’s something I wish for all students.”

Advancing undergraduate research with the center’s leadership is one of 12 objectives in UM’s Strategic Plan.

“We will build on UMaine’s strengths as the state’s leading research university, taking advantage of the hundreds of faculty and graduate students involved in research and creative projects who can teach and mentor undergraduate researchers,” said Hall, also an associate professor of communication sciences and disorders.

Involving undergraduate students in research projects is not new at UM, but the center will help raise visibility of work being done while providing an accessible database for students and advisers who want to participate.

The idea is to allow students to hone their abilities to communicate and put ideas together, to organize and write, to investigate and to push themselves to continue to ask questions and seek answers.

And students aren’t the only ones who will benefit.

“For me as a faculty member, the most incredible process to see is the evolution of learning by a student involved in research or creative experience,” Hall said. “We’re looking at tomorrow’s scholars. The more we invest today, the better off we’ll be.”

Film, Chowdhury discussion

ORONO – Asfan Chowdhury, the 2008 Colby College Oak Fellow whose wide-ranging career has drawn attention to issues related to the tenets of human dignity, will give a presentation based on his film, “Who Cares if Bangladesh Drowns?”

The event, set for noon Friday, Nov. 7, at Memorial Union’s Bangor Room, University of Maine, will include a showing of the internationally acclaimed film and discussion.

UMaine’s School of Policy and International Affairs will sponsor the presentation.

“Asfan Chowdhury has had a remarkable career working in leadership roles in some of the world’s most effective human rights organizations,” said professor Bahman Baktiari, the school’s director. “As a journalist and filmmaker, he also has worked to shine a bright light on some of the most serious issues that plague societies in developing countries.”

From 1986 to 1994, Chowdhury was a UNICEF staff member, working on communication and information initiatives. In that role he worked on policy documents related to AIDS and media coverage in India and Nepal. More recently, he worked on independent assignments for international organizations.

His work has helped to improve public understanding of societal challenges related to many issues, including AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases, children’s rights, refugee rights, minority identity, media rights and the environment.

UM production of ‘Scapin’

ORONO – Julie Goell will act in and direct the University of Maine School of Performing Arts production “Scapin,” a 17th century Moliere masterpiece about love’s follies and stratagems, opening Friday, Nov. 7, at Hauck Auditorium.

Goell has taught physical comedy at venues ranging from Epcot Center to Colby College and worked as a professional circus clown, jazz musician, actor and director. She will be on campus as guest director and musical arranger.

Written in the Italian Commedia Dell’ Arte style, the slapstick comedic technique is recognizable in many timeless television sitcoms, and also is characterized by the British Monty Python productions.

The play is set in post-World War II Naples, Italy, when economic divisions among the classes were impenetrable and ever-present.

“It’s a lot of fun,” Goell said. “It requires a style of physical comedy, which students are currently being trained to do.”

The cast of 13 students, accompanied by three student musicians and two vocalists, features archetypal personalities in a fast-paced comedy.

“The cast is fantastic,” Goell said. “Every one of these students was born into the roles they’re playing. It couldn’t be a more perfect fit.”

Goell teaches clown and eccentric performance in collaboration with her husband, Avner Eisenberg, at Celebration Barn Theater in South Paris. She plays bass with the Casco Bay Tummlers klezmer band.

“Scapin” will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 7-8 and Nov. 14-15; and at 2 p.m. Sundays, Nov. 9 and 16, at Hauck Auditorium. The play will be performed for high school students at noon Thursday, Nov. 13. General admission is $10; students with a MaineCard are admitted free.