Three Maine high school teams traveled to Phoenix, Ariz., last week to take part in the first national Electrathon, an electric vehicle competition. Caribou Applied Technical School, Mount Blue High School, Farmington, and Mount Ararat High School, Topsham, joined 21 schools from the United States, two from Canada and one from Australia. Students designed and built vehicles that are one-person, off-road, electric-powered endurance racers. The object of the competition was to complete the most laps around a closed track during one- and two-hour timed races.

Caribou Applied Tech team members Matt Buck, Jesse Michaud, David Genthner and Travis Ouellette took fourth place honors among eight teams in the high school division. Their car traveled 24 miles in one hour during the March 1 race, and duplicated that feat during the two-hour race on March 2. Mount Blue High School placed fifth and Mount Ararat was sixth.

Tom Hale, agri-science instructor at Caribou Applied Technical School who accompanied the CATS students, said the winning team from California clocked 30 miles per hour, while the Australian and Michigan teams that took second and third place were only minutes ahead of the Maine team entries.

Guidelines for the contest were established by Electrathon America of Thousand Oaks, Calif. The vehicles are smaller than full-size electric cars, but use the same components and technology. Six Maine high school teams participated in the first Electrathon competition on the East Coast last May in Portland.

The Norman N. Dow Post 1761 Veterans of Foreign Wars presented monetary awards in the Voice of Democracy Contest during a banquet honoring students from Bangor, John Bapst Memorial and Bangor Christian high schools Sunday, March 3. Addressing this year’s theme, “Answering America’s Call,” first-, second- and third-place winners were:

Kris Schroeher, Mark Treadwell and Timothy Hartman, Bangor Christian Schools.

Syrenata Ashley, Juliette A. Malmstrom, and Daniel Pincus, Bangor High School.

Emily A. Sheren, Tim Dodge and Susan Gillan, John Bapst Memorial High School.

Other participants who received recognition were Leah Cohn, Amanda Elmer, Andrea Hall, Kellie Hitchings, Don Martin, Dawn Meserve, Aimee Post, Rebecca Rosario, Brittany Temple, Rebecca Tibbetts and Joanna Wilkes.

Regional Drama Festivals

Bangor High School will host the Central Regional Drama Festival at Peakes Auditorium Friday evening and Saturday. Productions by area high schools will begin at these approximate times:

Friday, March 8, 6:30 p.m., Brewer High School, 7:30 p.m., George Stevens Academy, Blue Hill; and 8:30 p.m., Bangor High School.

Saturday, March 9, 1 p.m. Hermon High School; 2 p.m., Old Town High School, 3 p.m. Foxcroft Academy; 6:30 p.m., Orono High School; 7:30, Nokomis Regional High School, Newport; and 8:30 p.m., Lawrence High School, Fort Fairfield.

The Eastern Regional Drama Festival will be staged in the auditorium at Ellsworth High School. Sessions will begin at 6 p.m. Friday, March 8, and at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. Saturday, March 9. Participating high schools are Calais, Camden-Rockport, Ellsworth, Machias Memorial, Mount Desert Island, Rockland, Sumner Memorial, Washington Academy and Waterville.

The Caribou Performing Arts Center will be the setting for the Northern Regional Drama Festival this weekend. Scheduled performances and high schools are:

7 p.m. Friday, March 8, “Early Frost,” Southern Aroostook Community; “The Actor’s Nightmare,” Fort Kent Community; and “Cagebirds,” Van Buren District Secondary.

1 p.m. Saturday, March 9, “So Many Mountains and Valleys,” Presque Isle; “Boom Box,” Wisdom in St. Agatha; “These Wonderful Days,” Limestone Community; and “The Honorable Urashima Taro,” Caribou.

7 p.m., “Ten Minute Theatre,” Houlton; and “Victor Hugo in Rehearsal,” Central Aroostook.

Winners from the regional festivals will perform in the state competition later this month.

Matthew Bakis of Shead High School in Eastport attended the National Young Leaders Conference in Washington, D.C., Feb. 27-March 3. He joined 350 other high school juniors at the six-day conference, “The Leaders of Tomorrow Meeting the Leaders of Today.” Activities included role playing, debating, amending and voting on proposed legislation on welfare reform, and meeting with government officials and journalists.

Junior Jared O’Roak was selected Student of the Month for January at Searsport District High School. The awarded is based on academic progress, school citizenship, personal deportment and participation in activities outside the classroom. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles O’Roak of Searsport.

Upcoming events

Horizons Conference for junior high and high school girls, Tuesday, March 5, University of Maine, Orono, to explore careers involving math and science skills. Workshops will be conducted by women scientists and engineers.

International Food Bazaar, Wednesday, March 6, at the Georges Valley High School Science Fair, Thomaston.

Ellsworth Music Night Concert, 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 6, Ellsworth Middle School.

Orono High School Honors Reception sponsored by the Orono High-Middle School Booster Club, faculty and administration, 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 6, in the gymnasium.

American Field Services informational night for Orono area students and families, 7 p.m. Thursday, March 7, Orono Public Library. Call 866-3761 or 866-3187 for information.

Spaghetti dinner, 6:15 p.m. Friday, March 8, Bangor High School to benefit Project Graduation. Prepaid dinner reservations only; contact BHS main office.

Washington Academy Language Club public supper and auction, 5:30 p.m. Saturday, March 9, Old Washington Academy gymnasium, East Machias. Proceeds will be used for trip to England and France in April.

Bangor High School Music Boosters meeting, 7 p.m. Monday, March 11, BHS band room.

Bangor High School Project Graduation 1996 Committee meeting 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 12, BHS library.

AFS Ellsworth Chapter meeting, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 12, Ellsworth High School cafe. Guest speaker will be Kristof Gomory from Hungary.

The School News column is compiled by Darlene S. Henderson.