SOUTH PORTLAND

Mitchell scholarship winner to study in Ireland in the fall

Helena Ackerson, right, chair of the school committee for the Wells-Ogunquit Community School District, presents certificates to the district’s community resource coordinator Maryanne Foley and public information officer Reg Bennett for their leadership in the annual Literary Achievement Awards. Photo courtesy of Michael Richards

Christopher Hunt, a Southern Maine Community College student, has received a George J. Mitchell Peace Scholarship to study in Ireland. Photo courtesy Clarke Canfield

Southern Maine Community College student Christopher Hunt has received a George J. Mitchell Peace Scholarship to study in Ireland next fall.

Hunt, of South Portland, is studying to earn degrees in criminal justice and sociology, and will attend Cork Institute of Technology in Ireland.

In applying for the scholarship, Hunt expressed his belief that studying in Ireland will expose him to many different cultural and social norms that are likely to enhance his communication skills as a law enforcement official.

Hunt spent nine days in Ireland last year in a program organized through SMCC’s criminal justice program. He plans to arrive in Cork in early September and run in the Dingle Half Marathon race before classes begin at the institute.

The Maine Community College System and the University of Maine System created the scholarship as a tribute to former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell for his efforts to facilitate peace in Ireland and Northern Ireland. Hunt is one of two community college students in Maine to receive the scholarship this year.

AUGUSTA

Six Maine Girl Scouts achieve Gold Awards for leadership

Six members of the Girl Scouts of Maine have earned Gold Awards for projects they completed this year, reflecting leadership and citizenship skills. Those accomplishments were recognized at the council’s annual meeting and awards ceremony held recently at the Augusta Civic Center.

Honored were Lauren Bartholomew of Dayton; Grace Conant of Westbrook; Sabrina Flanders of Yarmouth; Elizabeth Kane of Gorham: Mimi Lyon-Edmondson of North Yarmouth; and Meagan Rowell of Holden.

The Gold Award represents the highest achievement in Girl Scouts and recognizes girls in grades 9 through 12 who demonstrate extraordinary leadership through sustainable and measurable Take Action projects.

This year’s projects ranged from designing educational programs for local children, to ensuring the comfort and care of animals at a local animal shelter, to improving awareness of the importance of protecting the environment.

WELLS

Students and staff receive recognition for their work

Wells High School recently celebrated 24 students and four staffers for their positive contributions to the student body during a Breakfast of Champions event.

Receiving a certificate, T-shirt and plaque from activities director Jack Molloy and teacher Jay Moore were students Aliah Clay, Liz Curtis, Michelle Desjardins, Clarisse Goncalves, Raven Goodell, David Jacobs, Danielle Jarosz, Allison Jarvis, Taryn Lambert, Christian Levesque, Erskine Lothrop, Abigail N. Lord, Kate Macolini, Marisa Mizzoni, Hannah Moody, Alec Pinette, Sydney Robinson, Sam Sayward, Kameron Shaw, Ben Stevens, Maddie Taylor, Nikolai Tomaszewski, Ethan Huber-Young and Hannah Woodward.

Also, the school committee of the Wells-Ogunquit Community School District recently recognized staffers Maryanne Foley and Reg Bennett for their many years of commitment to the annual Literary Achievement Awards creative writing contest for kindergarten through adult education students.

The program began in 1986, with the district’s community resource coordinator Foley serving as its director since 1999 and public information officer Bennett serving as a co-coordinator of the contest since 2002.

Each year, about 250 students submit various forms of writing for the contest.

WESTBROOK

Professional truck driver captures national honor

Professional truck driver Robert Fernald of Westbrook recently was selected as a 2015 Citizen Driver by TravelCenters of America LLC, and also was honored by having the organization’s TA center in Willington, Connecticut, renamed the Robert Fernald, Willington, CT Travel Center.

Fernald, who drives for Walmart Transportation, was one of five professional drivers recognized for the award, based on his work ethic and dedication to the job.

Citizen Driver is designed to recognize professional drivers who evoke public respect for the truck driving profession through good citizenship, safety, community involvement, health and wellness and leadership.

Fernald’s achievements include: 1.5 million accident-free miles in his 21-year career; multiple driving and safety awards; being a four-time champion in multiple classes at the Maine State Truck Driving Championships; a 2014 Special Olympics Convoy participant; volunteer for many organizations.

KENNEBUNKPORT

Seashore Trolley volunteers have new space built by teens

Seashore Trolley Museum’s volunteers have a new lounge area, thanks to students in Kennebunk High School’s Alternative Education Program and their teacher Ed Sharood.

This past school year, students transformed an unfinished room in the museum’s visitor center into a space dedicated to the museum volunteers. Under Sharood’s guidance, the students gained experience in dry-walling, light carpentry and painting.

The museum, entering its 76th season, has always relied heavily on volunteers to carry out its mission. All of its trolley conductors and operators are volunteers, and until now they had no private area to eat lunch, check email or simply take a break.

Sally Bates, the museum’s executive director, expressed appreciation for the partnership and results, noting that creating the new space honors the volunteers’ service while also providing students with an opportunity to learn and apply new skills.

PORTLAND/WESTBROOK

Idexx matches funds raised by students for Nepal relief

Lincoln Middle School recently partnered with Idexx Laboratories to support Heifer International’s work to assist Nepal earthquake victims.

Grade 8 students from the school’s Mount Desert team, led by Claire Crocker, will present a check for over $500 to Heifer International. The donation will be matched by Idexx of Westbrook.

The Mount Desert team students raised the funds by visiting friends, family and local businesses to teach about Heifer International and to solicit donations for its work to end hunger and poverty and to care for the earth. Many students who participated are from families who have immigrated to the Portland area from other countries.

ROCKLAND

Volunteers sought to help at Maine Lobster Festival

Maine Lobster Festival officials are seeking volunteers to serve during the 68th annual festival, set for July 29 to Aug. 2 at Harbor Park.

Volunteers are needed to help set up or take down tents, cook, man information centers, collect tickets, make announcements, man marine and food tents and help serve a pancake breakfast.

All helpers will receive a commemorative T-shirt.

For more details or to get a volunteer form, email volunteer@mainelobsterfestival.com.

SANFORD

Bank donates to nonprofits for every Red Sox homer

SIS Bank has pledged to donate $50 to a local nonprofit for every home run the Red Sox hit each month at Fenway Park.

The donations are part of the bank’s new Home Runs for Good campaign, a collaboration between the bank and WBLM-FM of Portland.

During April, the Red Sox hit nine home runs at Fenway, leading to a $450 donation to the Acton Backpack Program. The program provides public school students in Acton with a backpack full of nourishing food each Friday to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle through the weekend.

BRIDGTON

Center takes registrations for June 13 Smart Driver class

The registration deadline is June 8 to participate in an AARP Smart Driver Course being offered from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. June 13 at the Bridgton Community Center at 5 Depot St.

This four-hour refresher course is for experienced drivers 50 years of age and older. Topics include safe driving strategies, defensive driving techniques, and new traffic laws.

The class helps drivers adjust to age-related changes in vision, hearing and reaction time. Drivers in Maine 55 and older may receive discounts on their insurance premiums for three years after taking this course.

The registration fee is $15 for AARP members and $20 for all others. To register, call the Bridgton Community Center at 647-3116.

HINCKLEY

Summer camps give kids time with nature, science

L.C. Bates Museum will offer six museum summer camp opportunities this year for children ages 7 to 14 to explore nature, local history, art and astronomy.

Each day camp will focus on a different adventure. Nature Camp 1 is June 17-19; Naturalist as Artist Camp runs June 22-26; Nature Camp 2 is June 29-July 3; Historic Explorers Camp is July 13-17; Astronomy Camp is July 27-31; and Artist Explorers Camp is Aug. 3 to 7.

Each camp will investigate the natural world, with campers using museum collections and the natural area behind the museum to investigate their environment.

Camps run from 9 a.m. to noon, except for Naturalist As Artist Camp, which runs until 3 p.m.

To register or for more details, call 238-4250.

BELFAST

Cornerspring auction raises funds to help with tuition

Cornerspring Montessori School recently raised $15,000 during an annual auction in support of its tuition assistance fund.

Those proceeds will fund scholarships for Cornerspring’s preschool, kindergarten, elementary and summer camp programs.

For more details, go to cornerspringmontessori.com.

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