The Waterville High School boys varsity tennis team recently captured the Northern Maine Tennis Championship following an undefeated season. From left to right, Athletic Director Heidi Bernier, head coach Jason Tardif, Logan Tardif, Jay Brock, Kaden Works, Owen Evans, Charlie Haberstock, Josiah Bloom, Cole Bazakas, Nick Poulin, assistant coach Jim Begin and athletic trainer Emily Staples. (photo by Jim Evans)
Northeastern University, in Boston, Massachusetts, is pleased to recognize those students who distinguish themselves academically during the course of the school year. Winslow resident Samuel Lambrecht, a Northeastern University student majoring in electrical and computer engineering, was recently named to the University’s dean’s list for the Spring semester, which ended in May 2021.
In addition to achieving distinction through the dean’s list, Samuel Lambrecht is a member of the University Honors Program, which offers high caliber students the chance to further hone their studies and interests, live in special interest residential communities, participate in enriched, interdisciplinary courses, and engage in research and creative endeavors, service, and global experiences. Invitation into the University Honors Program is highly competitive and students must maintain a high GPA to maintain membership.
Members ofthe Messalonskee 10U All-Star team, in Oakland, include, front row, from left to right, Brandon Frowery and Scout Engleright. Middle row, Anthony Parisi, Owen Laplant, Bennett Pottle, Kolby Pelletier and Hunter Poulin. Back row, Kolby Bernier, Preston Ponitz, Kyle Cummings, Caven Gooding and Chase Dempsey. (contributed photo)
Vassalboro Community School (contributed photo)
Vassalboro Community School (VCS) Principal Megan Allen told school board members at their June 15 meeting that holding the eighth-grade promotion celebration outdoors at the school felt right.
Officials at the China Baptist Church Conference Center, graduation site for more than a dozen years, have been welcoming and helpful, she said, “but it’s not home.”
This year, due to Covid, the ceremony was on the school grounds, livestreamed because in-person attendance was limited. School Board Chairman Kevin Levasseur said the eight-graders’ promotion was in the VCS gymnasium in 2000; others estimated the move to the Conference Center was around 2015.
After that look backward, board members mostly looked to the future, discussing plans for summer renovation work inside the building and on the grounds. A summer school will run the first two weeks in August.
Board members scheduled an open meeting to discuss spending anticipated extra state and federal money and a strategic plan for education in Vassalboro for 5:45 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 11, at the school. They plan to invite the selectboard and budget committee and make sure interested residents are informed and can participate, virtually as well as in person.
Finance Director Paula Pooler predicted the school’s finances will be “in good shape” at the end of the fiscal year, though with two weeks’ bills still to come she could not give a specific figure.
Board members approved one appointment, Carol Kiesman as Curriculum Coordinator. They accepted three resignations: Donna Bolduc, Title 1 Educational Technician for many years; Victor Esposito, Jobs for Maine Graduates Teacher; and Sarah Page, displaced from kindergarten by covid-induced changes and moving to a kindergarten position elsewhere.
Referring to Esposito as “the legend of JMG for 20 years,” Superintendent Alan Pfeiffer said he “will still be around,” and the program will continue under new leadership.
The post-local-elections meeting began with re-elections of Levasseur as board chairman and Jolene Clark-Gamage as vice-chairman. Board members formally adopted the $8,313,609.72 2021-22 school budget approved at town meeting.
Committee members plan, as usual, not to hold a regular meeting in July. They scheduled their next meeting for Tuesday evening, Aug. 17, and authorized Pfeiffer to issue contracts in the interim, so they will not miss a good employee.
Carrabec High School
High honors: Jasmyne Coombs, Andrew Davis, Natalynn Deuble, Chantelle LaCroix, Autumn Morrill, Mikayla Oliver, Sarah Olson, Courtney Peabody and Anastasia Quimby. Honors: Aidan Caplin, Alexis Dickey, Elizabeth Manzer and Samual Scott.
High honors: Emma Baker, Cheyenne Cahill, Shyanne Holmes, Sean Olson, and Courtney Rollins. Honors: Lilly Augustine, Roger Beaulieu, Jr., Alexander Cloutier, Tyler Edwards, Abigail Luce, Trinity Slate, Brandon Smith, Cassidy Smith, Brooke Welch, Garrett Wilson and Ethan Wyman.
High honors: Jessica Benedict AND Luke Carey. Honors: Lindsay Hamilton, Robert Lindblom, Jr., Gabriella Manzer, Caitlyn Oliver, William Price II and Hunter Sousa.
High honors: Jayden Cates, Brooke-Alexis Dube and Emma Junkins. Honors: Nathaniel Caldwell, Kolby Carpenter, Riley Crocker, Devyn DeLeonardis, Cooper Dellarma, Nevaeh Holmes, William Lawrence, Dillon Nelson, Alyssa Schinzel and Hailey Wyman.
The 2021 Central Maine Motors Waterville Minors baseball team members are, front, left to right, Dean Quirion and Mikeeridan Sheets. Second row, Bentley Rancourt, Landon Beck, Kyloe Darling, Wesley Dow and Harrison Timmins. Third row, Jordan Smith, Blake Kenyon, Camereon McInnis, Jameson Dow and Jayden Rancourt. Back, coaches Chris Rancourt, Jonathan Kenyon, Craig McInnis. and Ben Dow. (photo by Missy Brown, Central Maine Photography)
Jon Roy, left, receives his award from PAL football director John Stewart. (contributed photo)
Director of the Fairfield PAL Football Program, John Stewart, has announced the recipients of the Award of Excellence and Scholarship for the 2020 Season to Jon Roy and Dylan Coombs. The coaches association selects two members of the senior class each year to receive this award. The criteria is as follows: dedication, loyalty, character, role models and team above self.
These two young men exhibit all of the above and were unanimous decisions to receive this year’s award. Even though they were not able to take the field this season their contributions to PAL football, Lawrence High School, and the entire community over the years were not forgotten.
Dylan Coombs, left, is presented with the Award of Excellence and Scholarship from PAL football director John Stewart. (contributed photo)
During Bowdoin College’s 216th Commencement ceremony, held May 29, 2021, in Brunswick, bachelor of arts degrees were awarded to the Class of 2021, comprising approximately 467 students from 41 states and 21 other countries and territories.
Sarah Avery Corkum, of Chelsea, graduated with a major in environmental studies-government and legal.
Hailey Milliken
Hailey Milliken, a 12th grader from Jefferson, was Valedictorian for last week’s graduation ceremony for Maine Connections Academy, the state’s online charter school.
The in-person ceremony took place on June 3, at Thompson’s Point, in Portland. Milliken will be attending Boston University in the fall, majoring in media science in the College of Communication. Originally from Maine, Milliken lived in many places and attended many schools before joining Maine Connections Academy in 2020.
In her speech to her fellow classmates, Milliken said “Just a few months ago, the idea of speaking in front of a crowd, live, like this, seemed impossible. But here we are. The opportunities and flexibility offered here, at a true online school, have allowed me to thrive. What we are seeing all around is that the current educational system is in desperate need of a renovation. And MCA is one step ahead. And being one step ahead takes you to great places, so: stay one step ahead!”
Milliken took AP courses in literature, calculus and microeconomics—in her own words, “I’m a big reader, I do a lot of writing as well, and I’m really into journalism.” In her opinion, “Online school is the future of education. We were all thrown into it because of COVID but now we see that it can work. More and more students are learning at their own pace, and it’s perfect for diverse learners. Maine Connections Academy really knows how to do it.”
Now in its seventh year, Maine Connections Academy is Maine’s first statewide, tuition-free, online public school for students in grades 7-12.
The Winslow Minors 2021 baseball team, front, Quincy Nesbitt, left, and Kallan Oakes. Middle, Caden Canavin, Cooper Grant, Rusty Vigue, Elliott Refuse and Tyler Fisher. Back row, Jace Poulin, Frank Farnham, Cameron Beaster, Kevin Hendsbee, Ben Fisher and Austin Pomerleau. (photo by Missy Brown/Central Maine Photography)