Schools

Etna-Dixmont School

ETNA – Seventh-graders from Etna-Dixmont School took a field trip to the Bangor Daily News on May 17. They toured the printing plant in Hampden and visited the newsroom in Bangor with Kimberly Whitmore, Newspapers in Education coordinator.

Accompanying the pupils was John Berube of Old Town, who teaches English, language arts and social studies at the school.

Leonard Middle School

OLD TOWN – The City Council last week recognized the newly formed Kiwanis Builder’s Club with a proclamation declaring May 31 as Builder’s Club Charter Day.

The club is made up of an “amazing group of kids” at Joseph Leonard Middle School, Builder’s Club President Lee Jackson told the council at the May 18 meeting.

The youth explained that the club has helped him develop leadership and people skills, as well as develop a sense of responsibility.

“It gives kids that warm fuzzy feeling inside when you do something,” Jackson said. “We really are a great group of kids.” The club allows middle school pupils the opportunity to develop leadership skills while volunteering in the community.

Hermon High School

HERMON – Emily Bell, daughter of Peter and Becky Bell of Hermon, is completing her senior year of high school in Germany. She was a recipient of a Congress Bundestag scholarship in 2005 and is serving as an ambassador for the United States through the program, which is administered through AFS.

Bell has toured Germany, participated in school and extra-curricular activities and is involved in the community of her host family. She will graduate third in her class at Hermon High School in June, and will attend Clark University in Worcester, Mass., in the fall. She plans to study public policy and international affairs.

UMMA summer art camp

BANGOR – Get out of the heat and into the museum for some cool summer fun as 2006 marks the eighth annual Summer Art Camp. Taught by professional art instructors in small groups, the tradition of an intensive but exciting art experience will continue as the campers delve into the exhibitions shown in the galleries at the University of Maine Museum of Art on Harlow Street.

Each weeklong camp will end with an opening reception where the children’s masterpieces will be on display.

Each camp will run 8:30 a.m.-noon, Monday through Friday.

Camp weeks are:

. June 19-13, grades one and two, instructor Gina Platt.

. June 26-30, grades three and four, Wendy Libby.

. July 17-21, grades five through eight, Eric Hutchins.

. July 24-28, grades five through eight, Eric Hutchins.

. July 31-Aug. 4, grades one and two, Julie Cameron.

. Aug. 7-11, grades three and four, Wendy Libby.

Tuition for each camp is $115, materials included. Members of the UM Museum of Art at the Family level and above will receive a discount.

For information, call 561-3350. Sessions are limited to 10 children each.

The University of Maine Museum of Art is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday at 40 Harlow St., Bangor. Admission is $3, free to museum members and UM students with ID.

Old Town High School

OLD TOWN – On May 9, members of the Key Club arrived bright and early at Old Town High to prepare and serve breakfast for their teachers in honor of Teacher Appreciation Day. Delicious smells of scrambled eggs, sausage, bagels, juice and coffee filled the air as grateful teachers filed in.

Students Andrew Cole, Gabby do Amaral, Kate Goodness, Gerald Herlihy, Yanghee Kwon, Kaitlyn Libby, Denise St. Peter, Erin St. Peter, Molly Segee and Ashley Stover presided.

Key Club members Andrew Cole, Gerald Herlihy, Yangee Kwon, Karey Littlefield, Denise St. Peter and Ashley Stover will graduate this year. These students have volunteered countless hours organizing activities to help the school and the community.

They have helped out during open house programs and educated the community about Key Club’s role. They have organized food drives, assisted in the Child Identification Program sponsored by Maine Freemasons and organized several events to help senior citizens. They also worked on projects for the American Red Cross, UNICEF, the American Heart Association and the Ronald McDonald House. These students have truly made a difference.

These seniors have received college acceptances:

. Gregory Ramp, Husson College.

. Lindsay Randall, University College of Bangor.

. Erin Reardon, Wheelock College and University of Southern Maine.

. Nicole Rustin, University of Maine at Machias, University College of Bangor and University of Maine.

. Travis Shaw, Coastal Carolina University and Maine Maritime Academy.

. Julie Smart, University of Maine.

. Denise St. Peter, University of Maine, American University and Tufts University.

. Kaci Stormann, Eastern Maine Community College.

. Ashley Stover, University of Maine at Farmington, Gordon College and University of Maine.

. Kari Stowe, Stonehill College.

Brewer High School

BREWER – Dan O’Connell, assistant principal at Brewer High School and longtime business teacher and coach, will be retiring at the end of the school year.

A reception in O’Connell’s honor will be held 4-6 p.m. Thursday, June 1, in the Student Services Conference Room at the high school. The public is invited.

Exchange host families

HERMON – Officials from the EF Foundation said they wanted to thank the host families whose generosity of time and spirit allow the nation’s largest incoming high school student exchange program to thrive in its newly expanded region.

In Vietnam, the U.S. Embassy requires that exchange students present full placement paperwork in order to apply for a visa. These students must begin the visa application process in June. EF has 20 Vietnamese students left to permanently place for arrival in the next two and a half weeks in the region.

“Therefore, we are once again making an early push to find families for these talented, enthusiastic students,” said Lisa Rancourt, volunteer International Exchange coordinator. “These students all have great applications, high oral skills and varied interests and hobbies. Your family gets to choose from applications ’til you find the student right for your family. You are supported every step of the way by your local volunteer, orientations, school orientations, monthly calls, respite, and support.”

To become exchange student ambassadors, EF students participate in an extensive application and interview process and are selected based on academic achievement, maturity and adaptability. Students accepted to the EF Foundation program are fully insured, speak English and bring their own spending money.

To learn more about opening your home to an EF Foundation student, contact EF Foundation at (888) 447-4273, e-mail Foundation@ef.com, or visit www.effoundation.org.

Flash movie contest

WASHINGTON – Orono resident Pat Harpin, a student at Orono High School, has been selected as a finalist in an international Flash Movie contest, with first prize being a $2,000 reward.

The contest, designed to educate young Americans nationwide about the importance of global issues, generated more than 9,000 participants.

Harpin’s movie is one of 20 in the running for the top prize.

The organization conducting the contest, Citizens for Global Solutions, is a nationwide group based in Washington with more than 25,000 supporters. The purpose of the organization is to inspire America to engage the world.

CGS officials said that Harpin produced an excellent two-minute flash movie about pollution and the importance of sustainable energy.

“The movie demonstrates perfectly both Pat’s creative ability and his understanding of global problems and how they impact the lives of ordinary Americans in Orono. We were especially impressed with the level of creativity and the high quality of the animation,” officials said.

“I chose to make the piece about pollution because it threatens everybody,” Harpin said. “I have done some animations before this, but I wouldn’t say I’m a seasoned expert – I just taught myself how to animate with online tutorials and such. Right now I’m talking with some local businesses that are interested in doing a few animated commercials.”

“This is a 17-year-old high school student who has managed to create a flash movie that is not only poignant but also demonstrates an impressive level of originality,” said Valerie Schrock, director of outreach and advocacy at Citizens for Global Solutions. “The flash contest is proving to be a highly successful way of harvesting young talent and creativity and getting youth involved in our work. While many say that young people don’t understand or care about global issues, this contest proves that they do, and we are tapping into that.”

Flash is a popular Web site medium that allows for simple animation to run on the Web.

Submissions are judged on their creativity, originality, animation and design, and the entrant’s adherence to the theme. First prize is a $2,000 scholarship award. Visit http://globalsolutions.org/flash to view Harpin’s movie.

John Bapst Memorial High School

BANGOR – Jason O’Reilly, a social studies teacher at John Bapst Memorial High School, is one of only 15 Maine educators selected to attend a new Teachers’ Institute being launched by the Gen. Henry Knox Museum in Thomaston. The seminar program will be held July 18-28 at the museum’s newly formed Center for the Study of Early American History.

According to its Web site, the center will explore Maine and New England history through lectures and discussions with noted scholars and teachers who have contributed to a national conversation about Maine’s history during the formative years of the province and its early republic.

Participants will include Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and author David McCullough; chief curator of the Maine State Museum and author Edwin Churchill; James Kirby Martin, distinguished professor of history at the University of Houston and author of a biography of Benedict Arnold; maritime historian and author William Bunting; and others.

The new center will draw on resources in the collections of the Henry Knox Museum, the Maine Historical Society, the Maine State Museum and Library, and other historical societies in the state (www.knoxmuseum.org/cseah.html.) The center is supported by the Sunshine Lady Foundation and other private contributions.

A graduate of Columbia University, O’Reilly earned a master’s degree in history from the University of Maine. He resides in Old Town with his wife and two sons, and teaches American history I, world history, and AP U.S. history at John Bapst.

Web designers

BRUNSWICK – Members of the Bowdoin College IT staff and program sponsors recently celebrated the accomplishments of more than 20 student Web designers from all over Maine. Representatives from Bowdoin College, CTC Communications, Kannon Communications, Maine CITE, Maine Hosting Solutions, Shaw’s Supermarkets and Maine’s WB51/UPN35 participated in the awards ceremony and presented awards to the winning students.

Local high school winners were:

. Most Accessible Web site -Lauren Nason, Hermon High School, honorable mention for her Web site, “The World of Appaloosa Horses.”

. Best Maine Theme – Hillary Theriault, Brewer High School, for her Web site about Maine lighthouses.

More than 180 Web sites from more than 60 schools were entered in the competition. To view the winning Web sites, visit www.mswda.org/entries/.

Chinese school

BANGOR – The Bangor Chinese School, a nonprofit organization, will offer a 14-week session of Chinese lessons for adults beginning June 3 at Husson College.

A 12-week session for children begins June 18.

Chinese Dragon Camp starts June 19.

For information, contact Jing Zhang at 990-0710 or zhangjing2000@yahoo.com

Colleges

Bates College

LEWISTON – Emily Crowley of Levant received Bates College funding to conduct research in her chosen field this summer.

Through funding from the Donald W. and Ann Harward Center for Community Partnerships, Crowley will assist candidates with their campaign finance reports and answer their questions. She also will examine reports for inconsistencies or ethics violations, research ethics statutes in other states and file briefs on the results.

Crowley, a sophomore political science major, is the daughter of Marjorie Patten Crowley of Levant and Michael Crowley of Belfast. She is a 2004 graduate of John Bapst Memorial High School in Bangor.

Becker College

WORCESTER, Mass. – Sheena Stanton of Bangor graduated on May 13 from Becker College.

Boston University

BOSTON – Blake Goodwin of Hudson has accepted membership in the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. He will be honored at an induction ceremony this fall at Boston University.

“NSCS is more than just a symbol of academic achievement. Membership gives students access to a number of benefits, including career and networking resources, scholarships, travel and service projects,” said Stephen E. Loflin, the society’s executive director.

The society is a member of the Association of College Honor Societies and is the nation’s only interdisciplinary honors organization for first- and second-year college students. Membership is by invitation only, based on grade point average and class standing. The organization has more than 450,000 lifetime members and 218 chapters in 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

Husson College

BANGOR – Husson College recognized its top two graduates during the 107th commencement on May 13.

Mary Heath Graybill, a resident of Carmel, was named valedictorian of the Class of 2006. Graybill received a bachelor of science degree in elementary education with a 3.962 grade point average on a 4.0 scale. She is the daughter of Stephen and Rhoda Heath of Sherman.

“Mary Graybill is a tremendously talented scholar who has excelled academically at Husson College,” said Lynne Coy-Ogan, dean of the School of Education. “She is very deserving of the honor of valedictorian. Her scholarly success is further evidenced by her score on the Praxis II exam which was among the highest in the United States. Mary is going to be an outstanding elementary classroom teacher who will greatly enrich the lives of her future students.”

Michael J. Archer, the son of Earle and Dawna Archer of Trenton, was named salutatorian. Archer received a bachelor of science degree in accounting and a master’s degree in business. His undergraduate grade point average was 3.911.

A 2001 graduate of Ellsworth High School, he has taken a position as an accountant with PricewaterhouseCoopers in Cambridge, Mass., beginning in August.

Merrimack College

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – Mallory Brown of Milford was honored recently as a Presidential Honors Award recipient. The designation is given to students who, by the beginning of the spring semester of their senior year, have completed 34 courses, earned 102 credits and maintained a 3.5 grade point average.

New England School of Communications

BANGOR – Bret Johnson of Bangor, formerly of Portland, Ore., and Andrew Davis of St. Stephen, New Brunswick, received awards as Students of the Year at the 24th commencement of the New England School of Communications on May 13 at Husson College.

Johnson was named the Outstanding Student among those receiving bachelor of science degrees, and Davis was named from among those receiving two-year associate degrees.

A total of 60 students received degrees and certificates at the ceremonies. Receiving the school’s Alumni Award, given for professional accomplishment, was Mark Nadeau of Bel Air, Md., a 1983 graduate who is director of a news support team for affiliates of Sinclair Broadcasting in Hunt Valley, Md.

Guest speaker was Jill McDonald, vice president of communication and market development for Eastern Maine Medical Center.

Receiving the Distinguished Faculty Award was Warren Burns, an adjunct professor at NESCom for the past 18 years.

Other awards:

. Outstanding performance in television: Renee Mozeliak of Pembroke, associate degree; Thomas Shaw of Dayton, bachelor’s degree.

. Outstanding performance in news: Krista Belknap of Westport, associate degree.

. Outstanding performance in radio: Andrew Davis, associate degree, and Chad Leighton of Winthrop, bachelor’s degree.

. Outstanding performance in audio: Bret Johnson and Jason Paquin of Abingdon, Md., bachelor’s degrees.

. Outstanding performance in writing: Jessica Bergman of Marshfield, Mass., bachelor’s degree.

. Outstanding performance in digital media: Bret Johnson of Bangor.

. WHSN Broadcasters of the Year were Heather Burleigh of Kingman, associate degree, and Jona Cormier of Bath, bachelor’s degree.

Inducted as members of Alpha Beta Kappa honor society were Andrew Davis, Greta Sproul of Brownville, Jessica Bergman, Sarah Jackson of Windham, Bret Johnson, Jason Paquin, Michael Rancourt of Hermon and Justin Beach of Morrill. Faculty members inducted were Paul Dupuis and Ron Lisnet, along with Louise Grant, director of admissions.

Student ambassadors named were Heather Burleigh, Sarah Jackson and Jason Paquin.

BANGOR – NESCom, an affiliate of Husson College, has become the first school outside Vermont to receive a scholarship from the Vermont Association of Broadcasters.

The scholarship of $10,000 will be used to assist the education of students from Vermont who display financial need, good academic standing and good citizenship.

The announcement was made jointly by Alan Noyes of Barre, Vt., executive director of the VAB; Ben Haskell, academic dean of NESCom; and Mark Nason, manager and program director for WHSN-FM, the student radio station operated by the school.

“This is a testament to not only the quality of students attending NESCom, but also the VAB’s commitment to education,” said Nason.

The award will be given each year and will be distributed to Vermont students studying in the areas of radio, video production, audio engineering, sports broadcasting, radio-TV news, advertising and sales.

Students will apply in the fall semester for a spring award to be apportioned by a NESCom scholarship committee. The scholarship will be subject to an annual review by the Vermont Association of Broadcasters.

This year there were 14 students from Vermont enrolled at NESCom. Three more have enrolled for the fall semester.

St. Joseph’s College

STANDISH – William Chapman of Eddington graduated from St. Joseph’s College on May 13 with a degree in physical education. He also received the Physical Education award given annually to an outstanding senior majoring in physical education.

St. Louis University

ST. LOUIS – Abraham Grindle, a 2001 graduate of Bucksport High School, graduated on May 20 from Saint Louis University with an honors bachelor of science degree in aerospace engineering, summa cum laude.

Grindle recently was admitted to graduate school at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Mass. At MIT, Grindle will pursue two master’s degrees, one in technology and policy and the other in aeronautical and astronautical engineering. The Department of Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering has offered Grindle a Departmental Fellowship of full tuition and a stipend to pursue his first year of study.

Grindle plans to defer his admission for a year to volunteer with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps. He will spend a year in Ashland, Mont., working at the St. Labre Mission School. He will enter MIT in the fall of 2007.

Grindle recently spent two days at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in preparation for his work this summer as logistics manager for the 2006 NASA Academy. He also was a research associate in the 2005 NASA Academy at Goddard. In 2002 he spent eight months as an intern and co-op student at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, and nine months in 2004 at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif.

Grindle is the son of Terrance and Cynthia Grindle of Bucksport, the grandson of Jean Grindle of Bucksport, and Martin and Germaine Grant of Westbrook.

University of Maine

ORONO – University of Maine Public Safety Director Noel March was invited to speak at an international conference in Russia on May 19 about campus policing and security matters.

March was one of two North Americans scheduled to present, along with four other speakers, all experts in university security and safety. The other North American was Canadian Dan Hutt, public safety director at the University of Toronto.

They addressed the sixth International Conference on Campus Security at the University of St. Petersburg, a gathering of hundreds of public safety officers from European and Eastern European colleges and universities.

March, public safety director at UM since 2002 and recognized by the U.S. Department of Justice as an expert in community and campus policing, has spoken and delivered presentations at national conferences and at other universities.

His May 19 presentation was “Community Policing and Protective Measures for Campus Security,” stemming from recent work March did with the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security, Office of Domestic Preparedness, in the area of protective measures for college campuses.

After the conference, March was scheduled to spend four days meeting with local police, campus security officers and residence life staff at The American University in Bulgaria in Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria, with which UMaine has a sister relationship.

University of Massachusetts

AMHERST, Mass. – Psychology major Kate Baldacci is one of 15 seniors who will be presented with a 21st Century Leaders award during the 136th commencement ceremonies on Sunday, May 28, at the University of Massachusetts. Baldacci is the daughter of Peter and Debbie Baldacci of Bangor.

The awards recognize students who are academically accomplished and have contributed to the university by exceptional achievement or enhanced the reputation of the campus. The recipients are nominated by faculty for strong leadership qualities, noteworthy original research, community service, the achievement of success by overcoming extraordinary personal circumstances, or public presentation through art, performance or athletic ability.

Award recipients receive a plaque and a monetary award from the University of Massachusetts Amherst Alumni Association.