Schools

Brewer Middle School

BREWER – Wal-Mart Supercenter of Brewer and the Jobs for Maine’s Graduates Project Reach program of Brewer Middle School teamed up this spring for an environmental cleanup effort.

During the past year, the Brewer Middle School JMG program collected monetary pledges from local businesses in an effort to raise money for program activities. The students then raked, cleaned and picked up trash at the Brewer Recreation Complex and the surrounding neighborhood.

Brewer Middle School pupils involved in the cleanup were Theresa Proulx, Lindsey Jellison, Earl Grover, Michael Rudolf and Amanda Hill.

Working with Wal-Mart Supercenter of Brewer, the JMG program received a donation of $500, which will be used to help fund future field trips and student activity expenses.

Craig Allen, JMG Project Reach specialist of Brewer Middle School, said, “This very generous donation from Wal-Mart sets a good example of a major corporation becoming directly involved with young people in the community. Having the support of local businesses validates the students’ efforts and makes them feel valued by community leaders.”

The Jobs for Maine’s Graduates Project Reach program was created in 1995 to inspire middle school students. It is the only program targeted to that age group that addresses issues affecting students as they make the transition from middle school to high school.

Project Reach offers students an experiential-based curriculum that increases motivation and teaches real-world skills necessary for academic and career success. JMG was established in 1993 by the Maine State Legislature.

The vision of JMG is to be a champion for all students who are facing challenges to education and to guide each one on to a successful path toward continued education, a meaningful career and a productive adulthood. For more information about JMG’s Project Reach program at Brewer Middle School, call Craig Allen at 989-8640 Ext. 101, or visit www.jmg.org.

Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth

ORONO – Several area youngsters were honored recently at a statewide awards ceremony for gifted children on May 19 at the University of Maine. They were participants in the academic Talent Search organized by the Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth.

. Caitlin Jenkins, William S. Cohen Middle School, Bangor. She received the second place State Award Grade Six SCAT for verbal score.

. Gordon Carroll, William S. Cohen Middle School, Bangor. He received the STB State Award for High Honors Grades Seven and Eight.

. Khari Blair, William S. Cohen Middle School, Bangor. He received SAT-SCAT High Honors Grades Seven and Eight.

. Christopher Green, James F. Doughty Middle School, Bangor. He received SAT-SCAT High Honors Grades Seven and Eight.

. Grace Mason, Joseph A. Leonard Middle School, Old Town. She received SAT-SCAT High Honors Grades Seven and Eight.

The pupils were invited to the awards ceremony based on exceptional performance on a rigorous, above-grade-level test given to second- through eighth-grade Talent Search participants. Seventh- and eighth-graders took the SAT or ACT, the tests used for college admissions. Second- through sixth-graders took the SCAT, an above-level test scaled for younger students.

Since 1979, the center has sought the most academically able elementary and middle school pupils and encouraged their enrollment in the annual Talent Search, open September through November. The tests are conducted in December or January.

The results of the tests give families a better idea of a child’s academic talents, particularly in comparison to the thousands of other academically talented students in the Talent Search. Pupils also may earn recognition at the center’s awards ceremonies, and their test scores may qualify them for the center’s summer programs and distance education courses.

Preschool music

Music Together of Bangor is taking registrations for the spring semester of classes which begin the last week of June. For babies, preschool children and the people who love them, the classes provide a musically stimulating environment weaving movement, music, vocal and instrument play into a 45-minute weekly session. For information, call Surya Mitchell at 947-4872.

Colleges

AMHERST, Mass. – Caitlin D. Kekacs, the daughter of Cindy D. Kekacs of Bangor and Andrew W. Kekacs of Brooks, graduated from Amherst College on May 27.

A graduate of Central High School in Corinth, Kekacs received a bachelor’s degree in French and philosophy. She was one of 409 graduates.

Cornell University

ITHACA, N.Y. – These students graduated on May 27 from Cornell University:

. Nicole Pelletier of Bangor. She received a degree in law.

. Joshua Wood of Bangor. He received a degree in mechanical engineering.

Husson College

BANGOR – Four hundred thirty-one people received diplomas during the 108th commencement ceremonies of Husson College on May 12.

The associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees represent Husson’s schools of business, health, science and humanities and education.

Argyle – Brian St. Louis.

Bangor – Melissa Achorn, Matthew Alaimo, Cathleen Barrett, Crystal Beale, Danielle Billings, Sandra Britton, Timothy Bryce, Alicia Camire, Christine Caron, Brad Chase, Tara Chesley, Krista Cole, Matthew Constantine, Sandra Cormier, Bridget Rae Corriveau, Alexandra Cunningham, Julie Curtis, Melissa Dow, Ruth Dumond, Lisa Ellison, Amy Fortier, Karen Glavin, Amanda Gleason, Misti Guerin, Pamela Hamm, Alexandra Harjula, Jason Harvey, Lisa Jandreau, Laurie Karnes, Lisa Kingsbury, Thomas Larcombe, Thomas Lasko, Evan Levesque, Robert Magaw, Martin Mann, Rebecca Marshall, Kelly McHatten, Todd Nadeau, Kaleena Nakowicz, Kimberly Ann Nason, Shaun Owens, Chantel Parker, Deborah Pittis, LeeAnne Quirk, Nicole Rediker, Sara Reynolds, Brittany St. Peter, Elizabeth Violette, Barry Walker, Erin Wilbur.

Bradford – Ashley Ahmed, Megan Jones.

Brewer – Dana Andrews, Laura Baxter, Gabriel Bodkin-Rubino, Misun Choi, Nathan Glidden, Monica Harvey, Kenneth Lawrence, Lisa Littlejohn, Tandra Manzo, Joella Michaud, Janet Morris, Amie Richardson.

Bucksport – Justin Barnes, Kenneth Brezovsky, Casey Bunker, Christopher Childs, Kenneth Clark, Alicia French, Shaina Goode, Maj. Steven Keene, Ingrid Maguire, Christopher McHale, Alicia Pearson,

Carmel – Sara Dingle, Ashley Hichborn, Michael MacDonald, Lindsay Neagle, Chase Ossinger, Christina Voisine-Clark, Katie Wiggin, Margaret Wolfe.

Dedham – Jonathan Breindel, Lindsay Perkins.

Glenburn – Jacquelyn Cyr, Sarah Goodell, Jesse Grant, Courtney Grimes, Pamela Hart, Cindy Kilpatrick, Danielle Leighton, Darcy Lynn Smith, Wayne Steller.

Hampden-Howard Jones, Melanie McCurdy, Mary-Ellen Pooler, Gabrielle Schrage,

Hermon – Jeffrey Millett, Jodi Reynolds, Jason Shorey, Darlene Teeto, Kathy Watson.

Holden – Crystal Martin, Renee Porter, Walter Tardiff.

Hudson – James Gray.

Kenduskeag – Nicole Harvey.

Levant – Nicole Lyn Allen, Mindy Jo Cyr, Angela Gamble, Laura Young.

Lucerne – Patricia Hamm.

Milford – Brigitte LaPierre, Andrea Taylor.

Old Town – Natasha Foster, Cassandra Goodspeed, Kathleen Harkins, Alisha Herbest, Melissa Niles, Adam Wickett.

Orland – Janine Barry, Sarah Handzel, Daniel Wood.

Orono – Iria DaSilva, Constance Jenkins.

Orrington – Ryan Snell.

Veazie – Briana Bragg, Michelle Winchester.

Winterport – Stephanie Brown, G. Matthew Goodman, Teresa Kelley, Danielle Koman, Juliana Perkins.

Lasell College

NEWTON, Mass. – Mary Wollstadt of Old Town graduated cum laude from Lasell College on May 20. She earned a bachelor’s degree in fashion design and production.

Macalester College

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Greta Alquist graduated cum laude from Macalester College on May 12. She received a liberal arts degree in geography. A graduate of Bangor High School, Alquist is the daughter of Lawrence and Patricia Alquist of Bangor.

Norwich University

NORTHFIELD, Vt. – These local students received degrees from Norwich University during a May 13 commencement ceremony:

. Luke Nabozny of Bangor, degree in computer engineering.

. Blake Civiello of Bangor, degree in architecture.

Norwich University is the oldest private military college in the United States and the birthplace of the nation’s Reserve Officers Training Corps. The Class of 2007 consisted of 207 members of the Corps of Cadets, and 174 civilian students.

Skidmore College

SARATOGA SPRING, N.Y. – Emily Newton of Winterport graduated from Skidmore College during commencement ceremonies held May 19. Newton received a bachelor’s degree in English and dance.

University of Maine School of Law

PORTLAND – Christopher Blier of Hermon received a juris doctorate on May 26 from the University of Maine School of Law. He will sit for the bar exam for Maine and Massachusetts in July.

Blier, a 2000 graduate of Hermon High School and 2004 graduate of Colby College, is the son of Susan and Alan Blier of Hermon.

University of Maine

ORONO – The American Association for the Advancement of Science has selected University of Maine engineering professor Darrell Donahue to receive a Science and Technology Policy Fellowship beginning in September.

During his yearlong appointment, Donahue will provide technical and engineering expertise for policy development and implementation to officials in the Department of Homeland Security’s Animal Health Agrodefense Program in the Weapons of Mass Destruction Division.

Donahue is one of nearly 160 scientists and engineers to receive a 2007-2008 fellowship from the association. The fellowships were created more than 30 years ago to provide scientific and technical expertise to legislators and policymakers to support well-informed decisions and improved policies, while educating scientists about policymaking at the federal level.

Donahue is a leading researcher in the areas of quantitative risk assessment and process sensor development.

The prestigious Science and Technology Policy Fellowships place leading experts from the academic, nonprofit and industry sectors in congressional offices and in more than a dozen federal agencies, including the Department of Defense, the National Institutes of Health and the Environmental Protection Agency.