Schools

John Bapst Memorial High School

BANGOR – Midsummer phone calls from school can be much more exciting on some days than others, as John Bapst Memorial High School music department faculty Al McIntyre and Julie Ewing can attest.

“When Head of School Mel MacKay called to say that he had some good news for the department, I was pleased,” said McIntyre. “When Julie and I met with him in person and found out an anonymous donor had given the school $100,000, we were stunned.”

“Speechless” is the word Ewing used to describe her reaction.

The terms of the donation are both targeted and open-ended. The music faculty may use the money for any purpose they see fit to improve the school’s music program.

“This is the opportunity of a lifetime,” said McIntyre. Some that $25,000 will be spent this year for immediate enhancements, with a Roland digital piano and new musical instrument lockers first on the list. Another $25,000 will go toward department needs during the 2008-2009 school year.

The department members have elected to invest $50,000 in a restricted capital account, knowing that this could provide valuable seed money toward a future campaign for arts and other school facilities.

And while the name of the donor remains a mystery, the impact does not.

As MacKay said, “This is the best kind of affirmation for teachers at John Bapst. For years, they have come to school and simply done the best work they could in building and sustaining a great music program. Now we know that someone was paying special attention to all of those efforts. It’s quite an honor.”

Amelia Earhart Award

BANGOR – A Civil Air Patrol cadet received the Amelia Earhart Award on Oct. 3 from Gov. John Baldacci.

Christopher Slininger, 15, of Hampden, received the award during a ceremony at the Maine Air National Guard base in Bangor. The award promotes Slininger, member of the 35th Maine Wing Composite Squadron, to the rank of cadet captain. Civil Air Patrol is the civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force.

Bangor Christian Schools

BANGOR – James Frost, principal of Bangor Christian Schools, announced that Verity Ramirez and Jennifer Stumpfel have been named Commended Scholars in the 2008 National Merit Scholarship Program. A letter of commendation from the school and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, which conducts the program, will be presented by Frost to Ramirez and Stumpfel.

Commended Students placed among the top 5 percent of more than 1.4 million students who entered the 2008 competition by taking the 2006 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.

Brewer High School

BREWER – Kyle Rees, a 2007 graduate of Brewer High School, was awarded a scholarship from Weathervane Seafood Restaurants. Rees was selected as a recipient through the company’s program that awards a $500 college scholarship to one high school-age employee from each restaurant.

Recipients are eligible to collect the scholarship money on completion of their first semester with a GPA of 2.0 or higher. Rees is a first-year student at the University of Maine.

The scholarship is designed to act as an incentive to high school-age employees of the Weathervane Restaurants and to emphasize the importance of higher education.

Second-generation restaurant owner Terry Gagner said, “We value our young employees and wish to encourage and support them in any way possible as they enter a new chapter in their lives.”

For information on Weathervane Seafood Restaurants or how to become an employee, visit www.weathervaneseafoods.com

Children’s poster contest

HOLDEN – The Bangor Garden Club invites the children of Greater Bangor in grades one through five to participate in the National Smokey Bear and Woodsy Owl Poster contest at 11 a.m. Saturdays, Oct. 13 and 20, at Fields Ponds Audubon Center.

Children will create or submit entries for the annual poster competition. The first 50 entrants will receive a Smokey Bear comic book provided by the National Forest Service. Complete rules may be found at www.gardenclub.org/youth.

Posters may be made at home or at Fields Ponds Center.

A Bangor Garden Club member will be at Fields Pond Audubon Center to accept entries and will have art materials on hand that may be used on site for the project.

The grand prize National Poster winner will receive free, round-trip airfare to Washington, D.C., and accommodations for four people for the award presentation. A $100 U.S. savings bond will be awarded to first-place winners from each grade level sponsored by the National Garden Clubs Inc.

Central High School

CORINTH – Chelsea Lanpher, a 2007 graduate of Central High School, qualified for the Advanced Placement Scholar Award by completing three or more AP Exams with a grade of 3.0 or higher.

Russian school

BANGOR – Downeast Russian School Inc. is accepting registrations for its fall Russian language program. The Russian adult beginner class will meet 5:30-6:30 p.m. Wednesdays, starting Oct. 17.

Those with a previous knowledge of Russian are invited to join ongoing groups of three to six people geared for those at the intermediate or advanced level.

Russian for Kids, a beginner class for children, and individual lessons also are available. Classes meet for 10 consecutive weeks starting Monday, Oct. 15, at 1752 Union St. The cost is $100 a person for 10 lessons.

For information or registration, call Natalia at 262-9727 or e-mail natabra@yahoo.com.

Teacher award

BANGOR – The Sylvan Learning Center presented an Exceptional Teacher Award and a classroom grant to Bangor Christian Schools kindergarten teacher Jacki Schmidt.

The winning lesson plan she submitted outlined how she would use Sylvan’s grant to grow frogs in her classroom and provide her pupils with activities related to a frog’s growth stages.

Schmidt has taught at Bangor Christian Schools for eight years.

Colleges

UMaine Homecoming

ORONO – The University of Maine Alumni Association has announced the schedule for the 132nd Homecoming Weekend Oct. 12-14 in Orono. Honored reunion classes include the classes of 1972, 1977 and the 25th reunion Class of 1982.

Highlights include the Black Bear football game against William and Mary College at 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 13, at Alfond Sports Stadium. Tailgating lots open at noon and spaces are available first-come, first-served.

Black Bear fans and alumni are invited to join the Alumni Association in the “GO BLUE” tailgating tent near the entrance to Alfond Sports Stadium, noon through halftime. Concession items and refreshments will be on sale, and there will be music by the Pride of Maine Black Bear Marching Band. Admission to the “GO BLUE” tent is free.

Saturday evening will feature a 1970s-style dance and a Pat’s Pizza party 6-10 p.m. at Buchanan Alumni House. Admission is $10 at the door. RSVP 800-934-2586 or rebecca.brunton@umit.maine.edu.

A popular attraction each year is the annual Alumni Association Craft Fair and Marketplace with 200 vendors 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday in the UM Fieldhouse. Admission is $1, free under 12. UM students enter free with a MaineCard.

For additional information about Homecoming weekend, visit www.mainealumni.com.

Those who were cheerleaders or dance team members at UM are invited to take part in the first UM Alumni Spirit Team performance.

Sandy Sanzaro and Krystal Mayo, UM Dance Team choreographers, said they hope to have a big turnout for the performance, which will be part of Homecoming.

Sanzaro, a 1983 UMaine graduate, was a Black Bear cheerleader while Mayo, who graduated in 2003, was a three-year dance team member. The dance team is part of the UM marching band.

The alumni cheerleaders and dancers will meet at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 13, to learn a short routine in the second-floor dance studio in Class of 1944 Hall. At 11 a.m. the group will rehearse for an hour with the UM Marching Band and the Alumni Band. They will perform at halftime of the football game, which starts at 3 p.m.

Those who wish to perform should wear a blue sweatshirt, sweater, jacket or T-shirt with jeans or any blue pants, and sneakers. For more information, call Sanzaro at 843-6028 or e-mail tophatii@aol.com today.

Distinguished Community Service Award

Former Bangor Chief of Police Don Winslow will receive a Distinguished Community Service Award during convocation at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 14, in Jewett Hall Auditorium at the University of Maine at Augusta.

A graduate of Old Town High School, Winslow began his career in law enforcement in 1973 and joined the Bangor Police Department in 1979. In February he retired after serving as Bangor’s 27th police chief for seven years.

Throughout his career, Winslow was active in community affairs, including membership on the advisory committee of UMA’s Bangor campus, University College of Bangor.

“For over 20 years, Don has been a wonderful supporter of UCB,” said Gillian Jordan, dean of the college. “He has been a great friend of the university and it’s terrific, and deserving that he receive this award.”

Winslow lives in Hermon with his wife, Dora, and they have two daughters.

Convocation is free and open to all. Music will be provided by the Acadia Brass Quintet and UMA’s own Cafe Ensemble.

Outstanding UM graduate

ORONO – For the second time in four years, a University of Maine student is the top electrical or computer engineering student in the United States.

Eta Kappa Nu Honor Society has selected Priyanth Chandresekar, a 2007 UMaine graduate, the sole winner of the 2007 Alton T. Zerby and Carl T. Koerner Outstanding Electrical or Computer Engineering Student Award. A national panel of professionals and academics selected Chandresekar from a group of finalists.

UM graduate Matthew Rodrigue won the same award in 2004. Rodrigue, a UM Board of Visitors member, is currently working toward a master’s at Harvard Business School.

UMaine student Louise Veilleaux was the 1979 winner. In the 42-year history of the award, UM, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the University of California-Berkeley are the only institutions with three winners.

At UM, the Bangalore, India, native served as president of student government. He is now in a graduate program at Cambridge University in England, studying finance.

“Priyanth was a real leader in our community, and he was an exemplary student,” said UM President Robert Kennedy. “He took full advantage of the comprehensive array of opportunities available to a UMaine student and he contributed in significant ways. I am pleased that he has received this prestigious award, and I look forward with great anticipation to following his career and celebrating more achievements in the future.”

Chandresekar will receive the award in March 2008.

Zion Bible College

BANGOR – The Zion Bible College Alumni Association invites alumni of the school to a reunion at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19, at Glad Tidings Church, 1033 Broadway. To make a reservation, call Rosalie LoPinto at 401-628-2140 or e-mail rlopinto@zbc.edu.