culture, conflict & convergence - the University of Maine at Fort Kent

SHAWN GRAHAM SELECTEDTO ATTEND NEOA LEADERSHIPINSTITUTEMAINE HIGHER EDUCATION ASSISTANCE FOUNDATIONSCHOLARSHIP AWARDJoshua Desjardin (center) was presented with a $1,000 scholarship by Kathy Meehan,vice-president of the Maine Bankers Association on behalf of the trustees of theMaine Higher Education Assistance Foundation. UMFK President, Wilson G. Hess(right), assisted in the presentation. Desjardin’s scholarship presentation was madeduring a dinner ceremony held in December with his wife, Danielle, and his parents,Phil and Carol Desjardin, in attendance. Members of the UMFK business faculty, andadministrators, also attended the ceremony. Desjardin is a junior, majoring in businessmanagement with a concentration in small business management. He is a 2001 graduateof Madawaska High School and a 2005 graduate of Northern Maine CommunityCollege, where he received an associate degree in information technology. Since1990, the Maine Higher Education Assistance Foundation has awarded $260,000 inscholarships to students attending both public and private colleges in the state.FOUNDATION ASSISTS UNIVERSITY’S PRESENTATIONSERVICESThe University of Maine at Fort Kent Foundation recently provided funds to help theUniversity purchase a Panasonic digital light processing projector system for use inUMFK’s Fox Auditorium. The new system will help provide vivid and bright imagesfor a wide variety of events and presentations.“This state-of-the-art, high-definition projector will serve as the cornerstone of anexciting new presentation system in Fox Auditorium. It will help greatly improve thequality of service UMFK can offer to students, faculty, staff, and community groups whorely on Fox Auditorium for major public events,” said Aaron Bernstein, UMFK’s assistantdirector of Media Services.Each year, the UMFK Foundation donates, or provides major funding for, a capitalpurchase by the University. Recent gifts have included the campus’ digital entrancesign, a freighter canoefor use in environmentalstudies, and a portableaudio-visual system forcampus.In this photo, CarolynBouchard, UMFKFoundation president(center), presents thenew digital projectorto Bernstein. UMFKPresident, Wilson G. Hess,looks on approvingly.2 | The Bell TowerShawn Graham, a counselor in UMFK’sStudent Support Services’ TRiO office, aswell as the accessibility coordinator for thecampus, has been selected to participatein a year-long leadership institute run bythe New England Educational OpportunityAssociation (NEOA). Graham was selectedas one of 15 individuals from across NewEngland to attend the 2010-11 leadershipinstitute from among a record number ofapplicants.Graham is a 1996 graduate of UMFK,receiving a Bachelor of Science in SocialScience. He currently is nearing completionof a Master of Science in RehabilitationCounseling at the University of SouthernMaine.As part of its mission to provide professionaldevelopment opportunities formembers of the TRiO and educationalopportunity community in New England, theNEOA began offering a year-long leadershipinstitute in 1998-99. This year’s leadershipinstitute accepted people with varying yearsof experience in TRiO/EOP’s; mid-careerprofessionals who have been with TRiO/EOP’s for a number of years and are lookingfor a reinvigorating professional developmentexperience; and emerging leaders whomay be newer to the association’s programs,but have demonstrated their motivationand commitment through work within theirstate.NEOA’s leadership institute will convenethree times over the next year and will provideparticipants the opportunity to developgreater expertise and skill as leaders in thefield, and to enhance their ability to expandeducational opportunities for the studentswith whom they work. The aim of the instituteis to provide participants and the programsthey serve with a strong and effectivecore of leadership theory and skills.

Waneta Blake Professor of WritinGCathie Pelletier, the award-winningnovelist, and a 1976 alumna ofthe University, has been selected asthe first Waneta Blake VisitingProfessor of Writing by UMFK’sArts and Humanities Division.The visiting professorship is designedto bring noteworthy writers and scholarsto campus to work with students throughcourses, workshops, and seminars.Pelletier is teaching a three-creditcourse during the spring semester:Writing Workshop & the Writer’s Life,on Monday and Thursday afternoons, aswell as a three-credit Wednesday eveningworkshop: Stories in the Community.“I am asking some of America’s mostrespected writers of fiction and nonfictionto talk to the writing class by telephone,”says Pelletier. “These kinds of talks connectthe aspiring writer to well-publishedauthors who have paved the way. And inlearning more about the writing life, wewill talk to Tappan Wilder about his uncle,Thornton, and with Dean Faulkner aboutbeing raised by Uncle William at RowanOak. Iconic writers such as Faulkner andWilder were aspiring writers once themselves.By talking to those who knewthem personally, they suddenly becomehuman; not just a name on a book.”Pelletier says her class is open to avidreaders who wish to learn more aboutthe craft of writing, and also to Valleyresidents who may one day write their lifestories for family members.“It’s about the craft of writing andhow we can do a better job in capturingour thoughts on paper,” she says. “Thateven applies to writing a great letter,which was once an art form in itself.”Some of Pelletier’s friends who havecontributed to her previous classes,elsewhere, have included Pulitzer PrizewinnerRichard Russo; Wally Lamb;Martha Tod Dudman; Howard FrankMosher; Ernest Hebert; George StevensJr. (writer, founder of the American FilmInstitute, and producer of The KennedyCenter Honors) and Maine singer-songwriterDave Mallett. The list of speakerswho will contribute to the class will bedetermined by the class makeup.For her evening workshop, studentswill conduct assigned interviews withSt. John Valley residents. Pelletier hasselected four themes: In Country: VietnamVets of the St. John Valley; Christmas inFort Kent: The Early Years; Farms of theSt. John Valley; and In Common Ground:Graveyards of the St. John Valley. Thetopics for the workshop are the subjectsof the next four books Pelletier will publishfor Northern Maine Books, a smallcompany she has formed to record andpreserve local history.FANCY MEETING YOU HEREThree UMFK alumni were in attendance at the Bengals’ second roundmatch at the NAIA Men’s National Soccer Championships in OrangeBeach, Alabama. Mike Cyr (‘93); Mike Charette (‘89); and Wulf Koch(‘89) posed in front of the championship field prior to the start of thematch against the Grand View (Iowa) Vikings. Cyr, a Fort Kent native,lives nearby in Pensacola, Florida. Charette, who was inducted intoUMFK’s Athletic Hall of Fame, resides in Jacksonville, Florida; a six-hourdrive from Orange Beach. Koch, a former soccer standout at UMFKand a 2008 Athletic Hall of Fame inductee, coaches soccer at Auburn(Alabama) University at Montgomery. Koch served as a tournamentofficial at the national championship.ASHBY COLLECTS CAREER WIN #300UMFK men’s soccerhead Coach, Bill Ashby,picked up career winnumber 300 when theBengals (22-0) beat St.Thomas University ofFlorida, 3-2, in a NAIANational ChampionshipOpening Round gameplayed in snowy Fort Kentthe weekend prior toThanksgiving.Ashby’s win/lossrecord at UMFK currentlystands at 93-6-3 in five seasons. His 26-year careerrecord as a head coach is 300-162-21.Coach Ashby has led the Bengals to five straightSunrise Conference titles, and his squads have been tothe NAIA National Championships four straight seasons.His best team national ranking at UMFK came in 2009when it was ranked number 5 in the nation, and drew atwo seed in the national tournament.The Bell Tower | 3

presidential Lecture Series presentsDr. Ruth NadelhaftDr. Ruth Nadelhaft, editor of ImagineWhat It’s Like, a literature andmedical anthology, appeared on campusin early October as part of theUniversity’s continuing PresidentialLecture Series.Dr. Nadelhaft spoke to a standing-roomonlycrowd of students, faculty, staff andcommunity members in the Nadeau HallTeleconference Room. During her presentationof “Imagine What It’s Like,” Dr.Nadelhaft read short selections from differentsections of the anthology. She began bydescribing the literature and medicine seminars,as well as her involvement, all of whichled to the anthology.Imagine What It’s Like was published in2008 as part of the Literature and MedicineProject with the Maine Humanities Council.It is a collection of stories that holds interestto anyone who has ever been ill, hasattended to someone who was ill, or whohas had contact with the healthcare systemas a patient, visitor, or working within thesystem.Imagine What It’s Like was years in themaking. It is different from other literatureand anthologies in that it contains a widerrange and greater number of readings thanany other literature and medicine anthology;a great diversity of voices, from many timesand places, addressing a myriad of conditions,topics and issues; and, a full scope ofliterary genres, from poetry and fiction toplays and memoirs.Dr. Nadelhaft is Emeritus Professor ofEnglish and Emeritus Director of the HonorsPrograms, both at the University of Maine inOrono. She was a professor of English andGeneral/Liberal Studies at the University ofMaine from 1980-1991. She directed thehonors program there from 1991-1997.Dr. Nadelhaft received a Master of Scienceand a Ph.D., both in British Literature, fromthe University of Wisconsin. She receiveda Bachelor of Arts in English from QueensCollege, City University of New York.The UMFK Presidential Lecture Seriesbegan in 2010 to provide a platform forintellectual discourse among campuscommunity participants, as part of UMFK’sStrategic Plan for Excellence. The series,which is aimed at fostering an environmentof academic inquiry and excellence, bringsto campus a variety of renowned scholars,speakers, authors, and poets.4| The Bell Tower

Task Force Determines Fate of ArmoryUMFK President, Wilson G.Hess, announced the appointmentof an 11-member joint University/Community Task Force to makerecommendations on the use of theformer Maine National GuardArmory in Fort Kent. The MaineState Legislature transferred ownershipof the Armory and its 2.78-acresite from the Military Bureau toUMFK last April.State Representative, John Martin, of EagleLake chaired the Task Force, and UMFK VicePresident of Administration, John Murphy, wasits vice chair and primary University liaison.The Task Force accepted final proposalsthrough mid-December 2010. The Task Forcewas charged with soliciting proposals, reviewingthem, and providing its ranked recommendationsto President Hess for planning and implementationearly this year.It was anticipated that proposals wouldencompass only partial use of the facility, andcould be combined with other uses. Preferencewas given to proposals that directly supportexisting University activities, as well as thosethat had a revenue component associated withthem.Current expectations are that the best useof the Armory will be as a multi-use facility, foruse by both the University and the greater FortKent community.The Fort Kent Armory consists of a 17,341square foot single-story concrete block buildingwith a brick exterior, built in 1962; a 4,250square foot steel framed building on a concreteslab storage building built in 1989; and a small,concrete block storage building.The Armory site borders the UMFK campus,and was part of the former Madawaska TrainingSchool (a predecessor school of UMFK) until itwas subdivided to create the Armory in 1955.Members of the appointed TaskForce were: Representative Martin, chair;John Murphy, vice chair; Patrick O’Neill,Superintendent of Maine School AdministrativeDistrict #27, Fort Kent and a member of theUMFK Board of Visitors; Don Guimond, FortKent town manager; Glenn Lamarr, TD Bankvice president of commercial lending and amember of the UMFK Board of Visitors; JesseJalbert, executive director of the Greater FortKent Area Chamber of Commerce; Dana Saucier,retired businessman and a member of the UMFKBoard of Visitors; Dr. Tony Enerva, UMFKassociate professor of Public SafetyAdministration and Criminal Justice; Dr. ScottBrickman, UMFK professor of Music andEducation; Leslie Nichols, UMFK director ofBusiness Systems; and, Blair Pelletier, UMFKstudent.The Bell Tower | 5

The Scholars’ Symposium fosters a communityof engaged educators, researchers,and life-long learners who value academicexcellence, scholarship, and intellectualcuriosity. It is a day of stimulating presentationsand discourse that will focus onissues relevant to the region and to theUniversity’s mission, which commits studentsto experiential learning, responsiblecitizenship, and environmental stewardship.But the Scholars’ Symposium is notsimple a one-day event. Rather, it isthe culmination of a student’s researchproject. Sometimes the research wasconducted throughout the semester. Inmany cases, however, it is a showcase forresearch carried out by students over thecourse of the academic year.The day-long symposium will includepaper, poster, and panel sessions, as wellas keynote addresses, performances, andexhibits, from across a broad-spectrum ofscholarly disciplines.Keynote speakers scheduled for thisThe Symposium expands opportunitiesfor scholarly dialogue among faculty,staff, students, and the community.year’s symposium are: Uros Petrovic,a doctoral candidate at the Universityof Kansas and a former United Nationsrelief work in the former Federal People’sRepublic of Yugoslavia; Dr. YolandaGonzalez Broyles, the director of theMexican-American Research Institute atthe University of Arizona, and a nationalauthority on Mexican-American and LaRaza studies; and Lise Pelletier, director ofUMFK’s Acadian Archives Acadiennes anda scholar of contemporary Acadian andQuébécois literature.According to Dr. Soraya Cardenas,assistant professor of Sociology, andchair of the organizing committee, theSymposium was initiated last year by theUMFK faculty to nurture students in theirscholarly development, and to expand theopportunities for experiential learning,consistent with UMFK’s mission andstrategic plan.“The Symposium expands opportunitiesfor scholarly dialogue among faculty,staff, students, and the community. It is asuperb opportunity for students to developand polish the skills necessary for participatingand presenting at professionalfunctions,” Dr. Cardenas said.The participation of local residents andstakeholders in the Scholars’ Symposia isencouraged to better meet the region’sneeds and to enhance greater collaborationbetween the University and the community.The 2011 Scholars’ Symposium buildsoff of the success of the inaugural symposiumheld last April, which celebratedLife, Work, and Sustainability in RuralCommunities. The 2010 theme specificallyaddressed UMFK’s strategic mission,regional interests, and its position asMaine’s premier rural and experientialpublic university.Last year’s Symposium directlyengaged nearly 80 percent of the full-timestudent population, including more than60 of whom presented posters, or whomade an individual or group oral presentation.For many students, the opportunityto present their work to an inquisitiveaudience wasan exhilaratingexperience.According toBradley J. Hubert,a senior fromAugusta, Mainemajoring inEnvironmentalStudies witha game warden concentration, theSymposium was both a learning experienceand a teachable moment.During last year’s Symposium, Hubertwas part of a group that presented aproject called Energy Impact Study ofRefrigerators at The Lodge. In that study,his group looked at energy use in severaldifferent models of refrigerators, and atfactors that influence the amount of energyused. They looked at small refrigeratorsin comparison to the full-sized models,and explored Energy Star (energy efficient)model refrigerators to determinethe difference in energy use. In the end,Hubert and his colleagues determinedthat it would be more efficient to runmultiple small refrigerators in dormrooms, rather than the typical full-sized“community” refrigerator.“Last year’s Scholars’ Symposium wasa great opportunity for me to show myacademic work to other students oncampus, as well as to communitymembers. Many students work hard allyear long on projects, but no one outsidePRESENTERSDr. Yolanda Broyles-GonzálezDr. Broyles-González hasbeen a professorin theDepartmentof MexicanAmerican &Raza Studies atthe Universityof Arizonasince 2004.Previously,she was a professor of Chicano Studiesand German Studies at the University ofCalifornia, Santa Barbara.Throughout her career, Dr. Broyles-González has helped blaze trails forwomen, both academically and in women’srights. She was the first indigenouswoman to receive a doctoral degree inGerman Studies and later became thefirst woman of color to be tenured at theUniversity of California, Santa Barbara. Sheis a native of the Arizona/Sonora desert,and is rooted in the Yaqui-Mexican culture.In 1991, Dr. Broyles-González becamethe first native Chicana woman to chair anacademic department within the Universityof California system, and was among thefirst native women in the nation to be promotedto full professor at a major researchuniversity. Under her leadership, the firstproposal for the Chicano/a Studies doctoratedegree in the nation was created.The focal points of her research andteaching are popular culture, gender, oraltradition, Native American culture, and thepopular performance genres of the U.S.-Mexico borderlands. Dr. Broyles-Gonzálezhas made many contributions to the fieldof performance studies. Her landmarkbook, El Teatro Campesino: Theater in theChicano Movement, helped lay the foundationfor the study of women and performance.It has become required reading atmany universities across the country.In 1996, she made national news bylegally challenging the unequal pay forwomen and minority professors within theUniversity of California system. She washonored by President Bill Clinton at a 1998White House ceremony marking women’sstruggle for equal pay.Dr. Broyles-González has been honoredwith the lifetime Distinguished ScholarAward from the National Association forChicana & Chicano Studies in 1996 forher “multiple and invaluable scholarlycontributions and her advocacy for theChicana/o Studies discipline.” She alsohas received national and internationalawards from the National Endowment forthe Humanities; the Ford Foundation; theFulbright Foundation; and the GermanAcademic Exchange Service, which fundedher research in Germany.| 7

PRESENTERSLise PelletierLise Pelletier has been the Director of the AcadianArchives/Archives acadiennes at the University ofMaine at Fort Kent since 2008.Pelletier was born in Fort Kent, Maine andraised across the international border (the St. JohnRiver) in Clair, New Brunswick, Canada.A proud Franco-American, Pelletier is passionateabout the French language and about the rich culturalheritage of the St. John Valley. The concept ofidentity is at the heart of her research into Acadianliterature and society.Pelletier graduated from the Université de Moncton’s Edmundston campus in1993 with a double major in English and French literatures. As the recipientof a Foreign Language and Area Studies award from the Canadian-AmericanCenter of the University of Maine, she received a master’s degree in Frenchin 2003, and she completed her doctoral coursework in Acadian Literature in2007.She has been teaching French language and literature courses at UMFKand at the Université de Moncton - Edmundston campus for the past 15years. Pelletier taught French at the Fort Kent Community High School forfive years.Pelletier also lectures on the history, literature, and renaissance of theAcadian people, and on the history of the St. John Valley, and the Franco-Americans of Maine.Currently, she is on the international organizing committee of the 2014World Acadian Congress.Uros PetrovicA native of the former Yugoslavia, Uros Petrovicspent almost three years in Sarajevo during thecivil unrest and genocide of the 1990s. He workedfor the International Rescue Committee administeringand analyzing legal documents regulatinggas access to tens of thousands of households inthe besieged city. He was charged to ensure thatethnic minority households were given an equalopportunity to qualify for the program. He alsoserved as an interpreter and a translator.As conditions in Sarajevo worsened, Petrovic and his wife escaped to theUnited States, resettling in San Francisco, California, as refugees.Currently, Petrovic is a doctoral candidate (ABD) in Sociology at theUniversity of Kansas, where he also is a graduate Sociology teaching assistantin the Continuing Education Independent Study Program. He holds a master’sof science degree in Sociology from North Dakota State University, and alaw degree from the University of Sarajevo Law School.Petrovic is a consultant, trainer, public speaker, adviser, and researcher inthe area of Cross-Cultural Research and Multicultural Studies and Practice.He has conducted nearly 300 full-day training sessions and presentations inthe areas of cross-cultural communication; cross-cultural conflict resolution;multicultural interviewing; general principles of recruitment and retention ofhistorically underprivileged groups; multicultural networking and mentoring;general diversity and awareness; sexual harassment prevention; and, compliancewith federal regulations.Among the awards and honors that he has received are: the MesaSelimović Award for promotion of tolerance among different ethnic groups inBosnia and Herzegovina, (2007); the Josip Broz Tito Award for significant contributionto the issues of equality and protections of civil rights for minoritiesin the former Yugoslavia 1990; a top outstanding law student in Internationaland Domestic Civil Rights from law schools in the former Yugoslavia, 1990;and, first prize in the student-paper competition on the subject of OnNationalism and ethnic minorities, 1990.Petrovic is fluent in four languages: Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian, andMacedonian. He is proficient in Bulgarian, and has a good working knowledgeof German, Russian, and Slovene.8 | The Bell Towerof their class gets to see their work. TheSymposium also is a great learning experience.Students can learn about other topics outsidetheir field of study, or even within it.”Amber Garrison is majoring in BehavioralSciences, with a minor in Coaching. Participatingin the 2010 Scholars’ Symposium was a greatexperience for the senior from Oroville, California.She was part of a group project called theUMFK Rideshare Program. The group’s goal wasto present new options to further reduce theUniversity’s carbon footprint, and to give differentoptions to students, faculty and staff who do nothave transportation for traveling and commuting.“We discussed the effects of fossil fuel emissionson the environment and why it’s importantto lower those emissions. We conducted a surveythat was distributed to students, faculty and staffvia e-mail to reveal demographics and drivinghabits which helped us collect data for ourproject. Finally, we mentioned different transportationoptions that other universities or smalltowns have used that could possibly work in thetown of Fort Kent.“It takes a lot of time, hard work, and effort.There were many projects that were researchedby students either individually, or as a group. Theprojects that were created were presented usingPowerPoint, or posters; some students actuallypresented both. They were fantastic. I think theSymposium was a success, and those who participatedwere proud of their creations,” she said.Dr. Cardenas notes that with the widespread supportfrom all sectors on campus, the Symposium willcontinue to be stimulating and successful.Joining Dr. Cardenas on the organizing committeeare: Aaron Bernstein, assistant directorof Media Services; Stephanie Chick, presidentof the Student Senate; Leslie Kelly; director ofInformation Services; Dr. Terry Murphy, professor ofEducation; Nicki Ouellette, administrative assistantII for Information Services; Lise Pelletier,director of the Acadian Archives Acadiennes; RayPhinney, associate director of Student Activitiesand Diversity; Dr. Jenny Radsma, professor ofNursing; Dr. Melissa Standley, assistant professorof English; and, Leo Trudel, assistant professor ofBusiness.This year, the organizing committee plans tofurther engage the community by working withthe Diversity Committee to bring a speaker tocampus on the eve of the Symposium in remembranceof the Holocaust. This effort is beingspearheaded by Ray Phinney and Dr. MelissaStandley.The Scholars’ Symposia is open to the UMFKcampus community, and to members of the St.John Valley community. The symposium is free,but registration is required at:www.umfk.maine.edu/academics/symposium/

2011 DistinGuished SerVice AwardBernard A. paradis ’67Ben Paradis, educator, coach, husband,father, and volunteer extraordinaire, willbe honored with UMFK’s DistinguishedService Award at the 2011 Commencementon Saturday, May 7.Born in Frenchville, Maine, the secondoldest of six brothers and five sisters,Ben’s first hands-on experience began at avery young age helping his father repairingtypewriters and helping his mother doinghouse chores. His aspirations were tobecome an Oblate priest and perform2011 Honorary DeGree RecipientDouglas BrinkleyNoted historian, writer, and editor, Dr.Douglas Brinkley, will be the keynotespeaker at UMFK’s 129th Commencementon Saturday, May 7, 2011 in Sports Center.Dr. Brinkley also will receive an honorarydoctorate degree conferred by the trusteesof the University of Maine System.Douglas Brinkley currently is Professorof History at Rice University. His mostrecent book, The Wilderness Warrior:Theodore Roosevelt and the Crusadefor America, was published in July 2009and became an instant New York Timesmissionary work.Ben attended high school at the JuniorSeminary in Bucksport ME and one yearof college in Bar Harbor. Upon returninghome, he went to work at Fraser Paper inMadawaska Me. After only one year hedecided that was not for him and returnedto finish your higher education, where hegraduated in 1967 from Fort Kent StateCollege, now the University of Maine atFort Kent.Ben was the president of his class.Paradis began his teaching career atS.A.D. #27 in the fall of 1967, teaching 5th,6th, 7th, and 8th grade science at EagleLake Elementary School. It was there healso held his first coaching position in soccer,basketball and baseball. The followingfall he transferred to Fort Kent CommunityHigh School to teach Physical Science,where he has remained to this day.The next year, Ben was accepted atCornell University, where he graduatedwith a Masters in Physics. Upon returningto teaching at Community High School,Paradis began teaching the physics class,as well as other science courses. Althoughnot a big fan of lecturing, he chose tobestseller and the 2009 recipient of theNational Outdoor Book Award.Brinkley earned a bachelor’s degreeat Ohio State University and received adoctorate in U.S. Diplomatic History fromGeorgetown University. He spent a yearteaching history at the U.S. Naval Academyand at Princeton University. While a professorat Hofstra University, Dr. Brinkleyspearheaded the American Odysseycourse, which took students on numerouscross-country treks where they visitedhistoric sites and met seminal figures inpolitics and literature. Dr. Brinkley’s 1994book, The Majic Bus: An American Odysseychronicled his first experience teachingthis innovative on-the-road class, whichbecame the progenitor to C-SPAN’s YellowSchool Bus.Before assuming his professorshipat Rice, Dr. Brinkley served as Professorof History and Director of the RooseveltCenter at Tulane University in NewOrleans. From 1994 until 2005 he was theStephen E. Ambrose Professor of Historyand Director of the Eisenhower Center forAmerican Studies at the University of NewOrleans. During his tenure he wrote twobooks with the late Professor Ambrose:interact with his students to make learningphysics fun. In 1972, Ben started teachingscience courses at UMFK, where he stillteaches part-time today.In addition to his teaching career,Paradis has devoted over thirty yearscoaching the sport of skiing at the FortKent Community High School. Throughhis efforts, the Community High Schoolski team has enjoyed much success. Hisdedication has resulted in five, Class A andClass C state championships and more than20 Aroostook County Ski Leagues titles.Ben Paradis has served on numerousboards and organizations, including theMaine Education Association Board; TenthMountain Ski Center Board; director andpresident of the Lonesome Pine Trails; pastpresident of Northern Aroostook EducationAssociation; and as a director of the UMFKFoundation Board.This past fall, Ben was inducted into theMaine Ski Hall of Fame.As an educator and mentor, his loveand brand of teaching has inspired countlessstudents to appreciate the value ofan education. Aperum volorum sequamusnihictur? Dolorrum fugiae nuscilis voluptRise to Globalism: American Foreign PolicySince 1938 (1997), and The Mississippiand the Making of a Nation: From theLouisiana Purchase to Today (2002).On the literary front, Dr. Brinkley hasedited Jack Kerouac’s diaries, Hunter S.Thompson’s letters, and Theodore Dreiser’stravelogue. His work on civil rights includesRosa Parks (2000) and the forthcomingPortable Civil Rights Reader.Dr. Brinkley is contributing editor forVanity Fair, Los Angeles Times Book Reviewand American Heritage. A frequent contributorto the New York Times, The NewYorker, and The Atlantic Monthly, he alsois a member of the Theodore RooseveltAssociation, the Franklin and EleanorRoosevelt Institute, the Council on ForeignRelations and the Century Club.His forthcoming publications includeThe Quiet World: Saving Alaska’sWilderness Kingdom 1879 to 1960, and abiography of Walter Cronkite.Brinkley lives in Austin and Houston,Texas with his wife and their three children.The Bell Tower | 9

Inside & Outside the ClassroomLIVING & LEARNING TOGETHER ➤UMFK’s first residential learning community, the Nursing Living-Learning Community, held an open house in December to mark itspresence in The Lodge. The community houses up to 13 nursingstudents in its current wing on the first floor of The Lodge, and canbe expanded as its popularity grows. The community helps thenursing students to interact with their academic peers in a residentialsetting, improves their academic performance and social adjustment,and allows them to make a real connection between studentlife and student learning.BIOINFORMATICS ➤Five students from UMFK attended a Bioinformatics short course atthe Mt. Desert Island Biological Laboratory (MDIBL) in Bar Harbor. Thecourse was opened to all students who had completed at least a onesemester course in biology, which included basic genetics. At MDIBL,students were exposed to personalized genomics and medicinethrough state-of-the-art experiments, and access to current genomic/biological databases. The course introduced undergraduate studentsto bench-based molecular biology, as well as web-based biologicaldatabases and bioinformatics tools. In the laboratory students undertookexperiments including a single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)genotyping and sequencing DNA. Students also used course laptopsto investigate human genetic diseases through an introduction to theUCSC and Ensembl genome browsers. Laboratory experiments wereequally mixed with computer exercises and technical literature wasread to support the course content. Dr. Kim Borges-Therien, associateprofessor of Environmental Studies coordinated the UMFK students’participation in the MDIBL course.➤MAKING IT REAL: INTEGRATINGCOMMUNITY EXPERIENCES WITHPROBLEM-BASED LEARNING IN THECLASSROOM was a series of situational learning skitsperformed by eight senior nursing students during a fall lunchtimepresentation in Nadeau Hall Teleconference Room. The skitsfeatured students Deb Cannan, Rena Jackson, Lacey Martin, SaraMulvey, Heather Ouellette, Darsey Plourde, Tyler Stoliker, and TaraWaltz, all of whom were enrolled in Assistant Professor of NursingDiana White’s Mental Health Nursing course. The role-play skitsdemonstrated how students can learn mental health nursing principlesin a “virtual” clinical setting. Steve Michaud, UMFK’s webmaster,developed the software support for the course.10 | The Bell Tower

FOUR-SEASON ORGANIC GROWING ➤Environmental Studies students learned about four-season organicgrowing last fall in a new, one-credit course, Introduction to Four SeasonOrganic Growing, taught by Associate Professor of EnvironmentalStudies, Dr. Kim Borges-Therien. The course introduced students tothe fundamental concepts of organic growing in a mobile, unheatedgreenhouse environment. Students learned about the importance ofday length and temperature on plant growth, and gained knowledgeof soil building using organic techniques. Students also developed anunderstanding of how to grow vegetables and herbs in a mobile greenhouse,including planning for multiple harvests using intensive croppingtechniques. Students will apply the knowledge they learn in the classto develop a year-round planting and harvesting plan for a greenhouseplanned for campus later this spring. A highlight of the course was afield trip to Four Season Farm in Harborside, Maine. Pictured here onthe field trip are: (L to R) students Chase Card-Burns (Orono, Maine);Stephanie Chick (Lisbon, Maine); Charles Michaud (St. Agatha, Maine);Kerry Hafford (St. Agatha, Maine); Lisa Macleod (New Sweden, Maine);Kelsey Radley (Harrington, Maine); Kate Long (Charleston, West Virginia);Dave Planchet (Concord, New Hampshire); Mary Ellen Marucci (Fort Kent,Maine); Forestry and Environmental Studies Program Assistant, CurtHarvey; and Associate Professor of Environmental Studies,Dr. Kimberly M. Borges.NUTRITION IN THE KITCHEN ➤Students in Professor Deborah Pringnitz’ Nutrition class put their studiesinto practice in the Nowland Hall kitchen last semester. For their finalproject, students were required to do a major analysis of five days worthof food. In previous semesters, students had used their own recipes todo the analysis. But this past fall, Aramark food services offer the studentsthe actual recipes used in the cafeteria for their classroom exercise.But as an added bonus, Aramark invited the students into the kitchen tosee how they cook, and how a commercial kitchen operates. And in atrue experiential opportunity, the Nutrition students helped the Aramarkstaff prepare lunch for the day.The Bell Tower | 11

JIM MARKS“My Backyard,” an exhibit by artist Jim Marks was the featuredexhibit at the Blake Library Gallery throughout the month ofJanuary 2011.“The group of oil paintings concentrates on a specific place,my backyard. I have been grateful for the abundance of space inthe St. John Valley,” said Marks who resides in St. Agatha, Maine.“I painted city landscapes extensively while living in the city ofPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania. The rural landscape differs drasticallycompared to the city. Where the cityscape is predominatelyvertical, the Valley is more horizontal.”Marks responds more to weather and season, than specificsof space. His paintings are about the time of day, the type ofday, or the time of year. Details are minimal in his paintings,sacrificed for mood.Marks began practicing art seriously, at the age of 30, attendingnight classes in sculpture and drawing at the KalamazooInstitute of Arts in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He also received drawinginstructions from David Small, a well-known children’s bookillustrator.Marks later was accepted at the Pennsylvania Academy of theFine Arts, where he studied anatomy, sculpture, drawing, painting,and printmaking. He graduated in 2001.In addition to oils, Marks works with tempera paintemulsions, woodcarving, gelatin gesso, and metal leaf.Cultural EVents12In recognition of National Down Syndrome Awareness month,Blake Library Gallery exhibited oil paintings by Fort Kent artist,Erika Heidi Thiele, throughout the month of October.Thiele, a 40-year-old artist born with Down syndrome, wasfirst discovered by her high school art teacher who noticed herspecial talent and artistic ability. Erika has developed her talentSEEING ART BECOMES FUNDAMENTALSeeing Art Becomes Fundamental, the featured work of studentsin Therese Provenzano’s Art 200 Fundamentals of Art andEducation 327L, Arts Lab classes were on exhibit through themonth of December in the Blake Library Gallery.“Use what you have to find what you are looking for” is theapproach Provenzano teaches in each course.Fundamentals of Art is a hands-on studio course in the practicaluse of art and two-dimension design. Students in the classwere given the opportunity to develop techniques and skills in avariety of wet and dry materials.Provenzano emphasizes the basic visual elements that makea work of art be characteristically strong. In the Arts Lab class,she prepares education students, who are studying to becometeachers, how to use art within a classroom curriculum.“I am very pleased by the work the students accomplished,”Provenzano said. “There is nothing more exciting than to seestudents visually grasping the language. Growth was involved inmaking this work.”ERIKA THIELEthrough private lessons and art classes.Her exhibit of more than 30 oil paintings consisted of landscapesand flowers that she has painted over several years.Among her favorite works are renditions of Monet and VanGogh, classic landscapes and impressionist art, as well as seasonalscenes and still-life images of flowers and vases.Thiele has exhibited her paintings throughout Maine, includingshows in Augusta, Waterville, Bethel, and Bath.Her work drew national recognition from the National DownSyndrome Society in New York City when it chose two of herpaintings for the covers of invitations to the annual professionalWomen’s Luncheon Series in New York and Los Angeles.Thiele’s art work has strengthened her own self-confidenceand pride in her abilities, and serves as a model for what peoplewith disabilities can accomplish when given an opportunity.Provenzano says it is very important for the community to supportand promote the arts. “Engaging in the arts brings us closerto understanding ourselves and understanding the world we livein. Without question, the arts enrich our lives and awaken ouraspirations,” she commented.

Bengals in ActionAwards From The Sunrise Conference2010 Men’s All-Sunrise Conference AwardsOffensive Playerof the YearDefensive Playerof the YearCoachof the Year2010 Women’s All-Sunrise Conference AwardsOffensive Playerof the YearDefensive Playerof the YearCoachof the YearAndreANDERSONAll Conference TeamBARRINGTONBLAKEBILL ASHBYWhitneySINCLAIRAll Conference TeamShanaeARMSTRONgLucas LevesqueFORWARDAndre AndersonFORWARDJERMAINE WESTGOALIEDAVID GIROUARDFORWARDFORWARDMIDFIELDKEITH WILLIAMS IIMIDFIELDLUKA ODAKMIDFIELDWALFORD STEWARTWhitneySINCLAIRDoniqueFERRIERADEFENSEDEFENSEDEFENSEBARRINGTON BLAKE Oniqueky SAMUELS DAMION STONEAwards From The National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)MIDFIELDTheresa BiggsDEFENSEShanaeARMSTRONgDEFENSEAndrea BARILUMFK Teams Named NSCAACollege Team Academic AwardWinnersUMFK was one of 133 schools that had bothits men’s and women’s soccer programsrecognized for posting team grade pointaverages of 3.0, or higher. A total of 640 soccerteams — 196 men’s and 444 women’s—nationwide, received honors for the 2009-10academic year.NSCAA-NAIAAll-AmericanNSCAA-NAIA East RegionCoaches-of-the-Year16 | The Bell TowerAndreANDERSONBill AshbyMen’s SoccerLucas LevesqueWomen’s Soccer

2010 AwardsAwards From The National Associationof Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA)NAIA SCHOLAR-ATHLETESTo be nominated by an institution’s head coach, a studentathletemust maintain a minimum 3.5 grade point average on a4.0 scale, and must have achieved a junior academic status toqualify for the honor.NAIA ALL-AMERICAN HONORABLE MENTIONSThe National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) hasannounced its 2010 NAIA Men’s and Women’s Soccer All-AmericaTeams. Named to the Honorable Mention list were:MENAndreANDERSONKeithWILLIAMS IIAnderson was second in the NAIA in goals (25), assists (15),and total points (65). He was named the Sunrise ConferenceOffensive Player of the Year for the fourth straight season.Williams, a Sunrise Conference First Team Member, had 15goals and 5 assists for 35 total points.WOMENOniqUEKY SAMUELSMen’s Soccer Scholar AthleteANDRE ANDERSONMen’s Soccer Scholar AthleteWhitneySINCLAIRSinclair was named to the honorable mention list for the secondstraight season. She led the NAIA in goals (34), assists (22), andtotal points (90).kumIKO CHOWWomen’s VolleyballScholar-AthleteSHANAE ARMSTRONgWomen’s Soccer Scholar-Athlete2010 NSCAA/NAIAMen’s All-East Region First Team2010 NSCAA/NAIAWomen’s NAIA All-East Region First TeamKeith Williams II Luka ODAK ANDREANDERSONShanaeARMSTRONgThERESA BiggsWhITNEYSINCLAIRThe Bell Tower | 17

Bengals in ActionAll-AcademicAwardUSCAA Men’s Division IBasketball National2010-2011All-Academic TeamPablo LlamasBENGALS DROP HEARTBREAKER IN SC FINALTop-seeded Fisher College (Boston, Massachusetts) ended the Bengal men’s season and reignas conference champions, rallying from a 12-point deficit midway through the second half, todefeat UMFK, 69-68, in the Sunrise Championship title game. The Bengals ended the seasonwith a record of 18-10.The title game was played before a boisterous crowd and the teams didn’t disappoint thosein attendance with the lead changing hands several times on the day. In the end it was a pairof free throws that that carried Fisher to the win.The second-ranked Bengals defeated third seed Vermont Technical College, 76-73, in thesemifinals the previous evening to advance to the title game.Team captain Manny Odugbela (Junior, Providence, R.I.) scored career point 1,000 to reachthe coveted milestone in just his third year of league play.LADY BENGALS UPSET BY MACHIAS INCONFERENCE SEMIFINALThe top-seeded Lady Bengals basketball team’s season game to a sudden end in the semifinals,as the team was upset by the eventual conference champions, the University of Maine atMachias, 67-52. The women of UMFK ended their season with a record of 13-12.The Clippers came from behind in the first half after trailing early to take a 28-23 lead athalftime. Both teams exchanged points to start the second half before the Clippers slowlypulled away midway through the second stanza.Senior Amber Garrison, playing in her last collegiate contest, led the Bengals with 15points, seven rebounds, and five assists. Angela Norsworthy, Amanda Tracy, and Tara Waltzalso appeared in their final contests as a Lady Bengals.The loss by UMFK in the conference semifinal was just the second time in the last six yearsthat the Lady Bengals have not appeared in the championship game. Coach Lucas Levesque’sprogram has been to the NAIA National Tournament five out of the last seven seasons.UMFK Basketball Teams, Players, CoachesHonored by Sunrise ConferenceWOMENTeam Sunrise Conference Regular Season ChampionshipMENJenn ColpITTSRookie of the YearSecond TeamAMBER GARRISONFirst TeamLucas LevesqueCo-Coach of the YearKevin LoiselleRookie of the YearFirst TeamManny OdugBELASC Second Team18 | The Bell Tower

ATHLETICS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MAINE AT FORT KENTBRAGGING RIGHTS RETAINEDThe UMFK men’s and women’s soccer teams once again ownAroostook County bragging rights for the year, with the capture of therespective Potato Barrels from cross-county rival, the University ofMaine at Presque Isle. The men won the barrel for a tenth consecutiveyear, while the ladies captured it for the third year in a row.LADY BENGALS VOLLEYBALLCAPTURES SUNRISECONFERENCE CROWNThe UMFK women’s volleyball team won the 2010Sunrise Conference Championship 3-0 (25-16, 25-20,25-10), defeating cross-county rival, the University ofMaine at Presque on its home court. It was the UMFKprogram’s first-ever conference title.The Lady Bengals finish their season with an overallrecord of 13-3, and was undefeated in SunriseConference play, 7-0.Senior co-captains, right side hitter Kumiko Chow(Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada), and setter AmberGarrison (Oroville, California), led a well-balanced attackin the three game sweep of UMPI. Chow had 11 kills, 19assists, 10 digs and four service aces, while Garrison finishedwith a match-high 33 digs from the Libero position.Sophomore outside hitter, Anabel Chang (PalmSprings, California), added 17 digs and 10 kills and firstyear outside hitter, Laura Aronson (Turlock, California)had nine kills and eight digs. First-year setter, SavannahAsh (Waialua, Hawaii), turned in a strong overall performancewith 19 assists, six digs, four kills and three serviceaces. Junior middle hitter, Quintina Young (Portland,Maine), and junior outside hitter, Maliesha Caesar(Cayon, St. Kitts), held down the middle, up front, addingsix and four kills respectively, as well as applying constantdefensive pressure.UMFK was honored for its championship season followingthe match, as the Sunrise Conference gave out itsseason awards. Co-captain Chow was named Player ofthe Year, and Ash was named Rookie of the Year. Changand Garrison joined Chow and Ash on the all-conferenceteam. First-year Head Coach, Dan Plourde, was namedconference Coach of the Year. UMFK also took home theTeam Sportsmanship award.The Bell Tower | 19

Fort Kent State Normal SchoolClass NotesUniversity of Maine at FortMadawaska Training School1960sEdward Hamblin (’61) earned a bachelorof science degree from the Fort Kent StateNormal School. He was an assistant principalfor Henery L. Cottrell Elementary Schoolin Monmouth, Maine for five years. Edwardalso has retired from the Livermore Falls PostOffice after 25 years of service.Claudette (Soucy) O’Connell (’67) at theJanuary 15, 2011 wedding of Nora (Cyr)Hilton (’66) to Richard Linkletter of Athens,Maine. Nora taught in Van Buren, LisbonFalls, Skowhegan, Corinna, and Palmyra andretired after 25 years. She also worked eightyears at the Skowhegan Post Office. Richardis co-owner and president of Maine WoodsPellet Company and Harvesting, Trucking,and Timberland Company of Athens. Noraand Richard are members of the Churchof the Open Bible and continue to live inAthens.1970sTim and Elaine Schmidt (’70) continue tomake their home in sunny southern Maine,though they’ve experienced single digit temps.After a 25 year career at Pineland, Timhas been working at St. Mary’s Hospital inLewiston for the past 13 years. He completeda master’s degree in clinical counseling. Atthe same time, putting her teaching careeraside, Elaine started working as a librarian20 | The Bell TowerClaudette, Nora,and Richardat the Freeport Community Library. Theyboth enjoy their work and plan to continuefor a while, yet. It keeps them active, involvedwith people, and challenges them each day.It doesn’t necessarily keep them young, butthe benefits attached to their work, keepsthem current. Their two children, Aaron andTonya, are college educated, involved in theirown careers, and are happily married and raisingtheir own families. Tonya resides in Maineand Aaron resides in Arizona. Seeing thefamily grow, being with them, and the threegrandchildren, has been the best gift yet.David “Ernie” Ashton (’73) retired fromteaching after thirty years in the LewistonSchool System. He currently teaches twodays a week at the new Saint DominicAcademy in Lewiston and works on a parttimebasis in the Service Learning Programat Bates College. During the summermonths you can find him playing golf at theMartindale Country Club in Auburn, Maine.He love to walk and last year he walked 1,811miles in 337 days. You can contact David bye-mail at: dashton@bates.eduBradley Fogg (’75) hoped to be a teacher.Instead he ended up working in a correctionalfacility and has been there for thelast 35 years. Brad took a job at the MaineCorrectional Center (MCC) in Windhamshortly after graduation. He has served as aline officer, sergeant, captain and now worksas the personnel officer. After his employmentat MCC, he obtained a certificate in justiceadministration from the Brigham YoungUniversity and attended the Maine CriminalJustice Academy (MCJA) Corrections School.In 1983, he became certified as an MCJAinstructor and a subject matter expert inspecial needs prisoners; those with mentalhealth issues and suicidal tendencies. He isa staff instructor at MCJA and the MaineCorrectional Center. On the lighter side, Bradplayed soccer at UMFK (yes, with formerCoach Larry Murphy) and has followed theteam closely since his graduation. Although heno longer plays, he has been a certified highschool and collegiate referee for the past 36years. He has been a member of the NationalIntercollegiate Soccer Officials for 33 of thoseyears and served two years as president of theNew England Board. In 2003, he becamethe National Federation of High Schoolsrules interpreter for the state of Maine, byworking closely with the Maine Principals’Association and soccer officials around thestate. He continues to referee and assesshigh school and college level officials. Bradumpired high school and collegiate baseballfor 25 years. After that he gave several yearsto Little League baseball. Brad currently volunteershis time to the Town of Gray’s publicaccess television station, 16 of those years asthe station manager. He can often be seenaround town and at soccer games across thestate, and yes, he was in Fort Kent watchinggames at the end of October, in his UMFKhat and jacket. Although Brad did not go intotraditional teaching, working in a correctionalfacility has had its rewards. UMFK gave hima solid foundation for continuing his educationin a field that he has immensely enjoyedfor the past 35 years.Charles Nadeau (’75) and his wife, Margaret(Audibert) Nadeau on New Year’s Eve 2011.1980sBeth (Daigle) King (’91) left the deaf educationfield to pursue a family-owned HondaMotorcycle Dealership with her husband,Ted. They purchased Maui Moto last Augustand Beth now is the marketing and salesmanager selling ATVs, jet skis, motorcycles,and scooters. “It’s been fun learning an entirelynew profession, and I’m quite surprised howmy teaching skills come in handy when I holdweekly company meetings. Venn diagramsare useful here as well!” Beth resides on Mauifrom September through May and returnsto Fort Kent each summer with her threechildren.

Fort Kent State Teachers CollegeFort Kent State College A L of U the M University N I S P O of T Maine L I G H TFort Kent State CollegeFort Kent State CollegeKentBeth (Daigle) King(‘91) on a Buddy150 “Black Jack”scooter fromGenuine ScootersCompany.1990sPeter Walsh (’92) retired from lawenforcement/chief after 20 years of servicefor the Machias, Maine police department.He has also retired from the U.S. NavyIntelligence in 2005. Walsh served in theNavy for 21 years. This past year, Peterhas been attending Saint Leo Universityin Tampa, Florida. He will graduate inOctober 2011 with a bachelor of artdegree in criminal justice and home security.He will then begin work on completinga master’s degree in February 2012. Walshresides in Gainesville, Florida and spendshis summers in Millinocket, Maine.Peter WalshMolly Dumont (’96) is going to be a clinicalinstructor taking students to PenroseHospital in Colorado Springs, Colorado.She has been working on a master’s innursing education from Walden Universityon-line.Lori-Ann Cyr (’98) just opened a newretail store on Hill Street in downtownEdmundston, New Brunswick, Canada,called Sucré Salé. Having travelled allRose M. (Gagnon) Charette (’72) received the 2011 Fort Kent Citizen of theYear award in January at the Greater Fort Kent Area Chamber of Commerce annualdinner in recognition of her commitment to the citizens of the Town of Fort Kent.Rose graduated from UMFK with a Bachelor of Science degree in ElementaryEducation. She married Alphonse 1970, and together they raised three children:Brian, Roderick, and Nicole.Rose dedicated her life to raising her family and teaching. In addition to being afull-time mother and teacher, she devoted untold hours to, and has been involvedwith, several community organizations. Among the many organizations and activitiesthat she has been involved with are: honoring American veterans with various activities;seeking funding for the reflecting benches at Fort Kent’s Memorial Park; TheAmerican Legion; Veterans of Foreign War; Fort Kent Boy Scouts Unit 189; and WFKTChannel 4, public access television for Fort Kent.Rose worked with the scouting program at the Fort Kent Blockhouse State Parkfor several years. She worked on a plan to create a “home” for Boy Scout Troop189 - The Centennial Cabin – which was placed on a foundation. Rose composed lettersto potential donors, and was the main force behind the fundraising drive, whichaccomplished the work of finally placing the building on its foundation. The buildingstill stands in its place today, and is used by the local Boy Scout Troop.The summer of 2011 will mark the twentieth anniversary that Fort Kent’spublic television station, WFKT-TV, has been broadcasting. This milestone is, inno small measure, due to the countless hours of hard work and persistence ofRose Charette. She was instrumental in acquiring the funds necessary to beginthe station.During the “Flood of 2008,” Rose quietly exhibited her commitment to publicservice and to the Town of Fort Kent. The building in which the WFKT-TV station islocated, was evacuated due to high water. Rose went above and beyond the call ofduty to have the station on the air, so that she could pass flood information receivedfrom Fort Kent officials on to local citizens.The station is the most far-reaching project that Rose has helped bring to life inFort Kent. WFKT-TV is the only non-taxpayer-funded public access station serving theupper St. John River Valley.It was for her countless hours of hard work and selfless dedication to the Town ofFort Kent that she was honored as the 2011 Fork Kent Citizen of the Year.are yOU lOOKinG fOrfOreSTry Or GiS JOBS?If so, forward your e-mail address to professorDave hobbins at: dhobbins@maine.edu| 21

KentFort Kent State College of the University of A Maine L U M N IFort Kent State CollegeFort Kent State S P Teachers O T L I G H College TJoan Haines (’04) continued on to earn amaster’s degree at UMO in Orono, Maineand now is a family nurse practitioner workingin Houlton at Katahdin Valley HealthCenter.Erin Landry (’04) loves reading The BellTower, especially the ‘Class Notes’ section.Erin wants to share her good news. Sherecently got engaged to Mark Chisholm.They will be married in August 2011 inAntigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada.Melissa Serroul (’05) and her friend, SusanBaird (’05), met at UMFK in 2004 andgraduated as friends in May of 2005. Theyhave since lived and taught together andrecently completed their Master of Educationin December 2010 from St. Francis XavierUniversity in Antigonish, Novia Scotia,Canada. They currently reside in CapeBreton and both teach for the local schoolboard. Susan teaches at Baddeck Acadamyand Melissa teaches at Memorial HighSchool.l to r: Melissa and SusanStephen Duane Dean, Jr. (’06) has had agreat deal of fortuitous happenings since thelast corresponded with many of his esteemedfriends. Stephen had the good fortune tobegin teaching undergraduates at King’sCollege London for a module entitled ‘Power,Faith and Belief, 1500-1800.’ This, combinedwith his on-going work with special needschildren from deprived backgrounds, leaveshim with enough time to pursue his love oftravel, and to maintain friendships on severalcontinents. Having entered my second yearof a Ph.D. in history, he has had the goodfortune to present papers on his work onIreland in Glasgow, Scotland, the Instituteof Historical Research, and in March, at theInstitute of Irish Studies in Belfast, NorthernIreland. On a more personal note, he wasable to visit a dear friend in the lovely cityof Helsinki, Finland, and spend the mostrecent holiday season in southern Spain, inthe city of Seville. Throughout it all, Stephenhas taken his memories and friendships fromUMFK, and done his best to explain to peopleI meet along the way the Acadian peoples’hospitality, and of the severe and stark beautyof the St. John Valley. “To all my friends, mywarmest regards.”Tom Stephens (’07) is half-way through histhird year in the Nova Scotia Overseas schoolsystem. He currently is the administratorat the Sino-Canadian school in Nanchang,China. He has six frontline teachers andthree part-time teachers on the team. Oureducators come from England, United States,Philippines, and Canada. This year theyhave had 97 new students enrolled to bringthe student population to 157. In the age ofdeclining enrollments back in North America,Tom would suggest to any teachers still havinga hard time finding full-time employment,to feel free and contact him about a rewardingcareer overseas. They will be doubling theirstaff again next year. You may call Tom (12hours ahead AST) at (86)-791-8560595. Hise-mail is: waterwasp@hotmail.com A stateof Maine and/or Nova Scotia certification isrequired. Take into consideration that overseasteaching is not for everybody. Travelersand Reinventionists, need not apply. ThanksUMFK.Shelly (Blier) Deprey (’07) and MatthewDeprey (’06 ) currently reside in Sussex, NewBrunswick, Canada. Following his educationat UMFK, Matt completed a Bachelor ofScience in Forestry at University of Maine atOrono. He currently is a road maintenancesupervisor, employed by Irving Woodlands.Shelly is employed at the Sussex HealthCentre as a registered nurse. She works onthe Med/Surg and Palliative units. Thecouple were married last May.Shelly & MatthewChristine Gray (’06) has been a registerednurse for the past 24 years. She haspracticed in a variety of specialties includingacute care, home health, public health, andmanagement. For the past eight years, shehas worked as a certified wound, ostomy,and continence nurse (CWOCN) and is presentlyemployed in an on-call status in theoutpatient wound/ostomy clinic at CaryMedical Center in Caribou, Maine. Her educationincludes receiving a BS in nursing fromEast Stroudsburg University in Pennsylvaniain 1986, and a Master of Science in Nursingwith preparation as a clinical nurse specialistin community health from DeSales Universityin Pennsylvania in 2000. Her long-time interestin environmental issues prompted herto return to school in 2002. In 2006, shegraduated from UMFK with a bachelor ofscience degree in environmental studies.She currently is a graduate student at theUniversity of Maryland, pursuing a dual master’sdegree in environmental managementand business management. She also is pursuinga certificate in sustainability leadershipthrough the University of California Irvineand a master’s certificate in project managementthrough Villanova University. Chris hasrecently also received her LEED (Leadershipin Energy & Environmental Design) GreenAssociate accreditation through the U.S.Green Building Council (USGBC). Her interestis in promoting environmental sustainabilityinitiatives within the business and academicsectors and she hopes to eventually beemployed as an environmental sustainabilityconsultant. Chris lives with her husband,Steve, in Woodland, Maine with their twodogs, three cats, and three goats. They holdthe belief that small changes by everyonecan add up to a big difference for theenvironment. With this in mind, they activelyrecycle, use renewable bags when shopping, tryto buy organic and local as much as possible,and practice energy conservation (to namejust a few!). This semester Chris is interningat UMFK’s Center for Rural SustainableDevelopment.The Bell Tower | 23

Fort Kent State Normal SchoolClass NotesMadawaska Training SchoolPaula (Carson) Charette (’08) currentlyworks for Full Circle Health Care, LLC,an independent family practice, in PresqueIsle, Maine as a nurse practitioner. Shereceived her LPN and ADN from NorthernMaine Community College and BSN fromUMFK. She is a 2010 graduate of HussonUniversity’s Family and Community NursePractitioner track. Paula has been a registerednurse assessor for Goold HealthSystems with the St. John Valley for the past16 years. She resides in Fort Kent with herhusband, Roland.Matthew T. O’Malley (’09) graduatedwith a Bachelor of Science in BusinessManagement (Concentrations in SmallBusiness Management and FinancialServices). In October 2009, He moved toNaples Florida. Matthew works as a seniorreal estate consultant with the #1 NaplesArea Board of Realtors Agent. During atypical 70-hour work week, he often reflectsupon what his UMFK advisor/professor,Leo Trudel, stated throughout his timeat UMFK, “In the big scheme of things;none of this matters.” Matthew is gratefulfor UMFK’s active “non-traditional” students.Socializing with the older studentpopulation helped him prepare for his lifein Naples, which consists mostly of peoplethree times his age. He enjoys jet-skiingwith wild dolphins on the Gulf of Mexicoand kayaking in the mangroves around theEverglades on his days off, Matthew trulycannot wait to relocate to New England, sohe can be closer with family and friends. Forthe time being, he will continue to fend offthe “cougars” (who apparently all believe inprenuptial agreements). If anyone is interestedin relocating to southwest Florida orinvesting in bank owned properties feel freeto contact Matthew at: matthewomalley2@aol.comJessica Janecek (’10) took a job workingfull-time for a summer camp. The camp islocated in Pennsylvania, but the office is inNew York. She moved to Long Island, NewYork, last October. Jessica will spend nine24 | The Bell TowerMatthewmonths in New York and three months inPennsylvania, each year. Although she is notteaching, she will get kid overload for threemonths each year.Dawn Gagnon (’98 & ’10) is a new graduatefrom UMFK’s nursing program. She finallyis doing a job that she loves. Dawn is workingas a charge nurse at Northern MaineGeneral in Eagle Lake, Maine. She enjoysworking with the geriatric population. Whenshe have more experience, Dawn would liketo work as a hospice nurse providing care topatients who are dying.Francine Durnford (’10) mentions thatwhen her students see her graduation pictureson the classroom wall, they always ask“Ms. Durnford, where did you go to school?”Francine loves to tell them, she attended theUniversity of Maine at Fort Kent. It alwaysgenerates discussion and gets them thinkingabout the possibilities that await them in thefuture. They ask questions like, “What wasit like to go to school in the states,” “Whatprograms can you do there?” and my favoriteone, “How weird was it to cross the bordereveryday to go to class?” It’s a great icebreaker,and a great way for her students to get toknow her on a more personal basis. She wasone of the lucky ones that got a job right outof school. Francine is teaching at MarystownCentral High School (M.C.H.S), the schoolthat she graduated from in 2000. She eventeaches with some of the teachers thattaught her, quite an interesting experience.Francine teaches English and Social Studies,and loves every moment of it. As a studenthere at M.C.H.S, she always was activelyinvolved in sports teams, maybe a little morethan the academic aspect, to be honest.When she got hired, she knew she wanted togive back to the school in the same way thather teachers gave her, by providing studentsan opportunity to play the sports they’re passionateabout, in addition to her academicresponsibilities. Francine and a colleagueof hers coached girls’ volleyball and soccerand will be starting girls’ indoor soccer nextweek. Between teaching, coaching, andheading both the Healthy Living committeeand Prom committee, she is in for a busyyear, but one that she is sure will be a memorableone. A big thank you goes out to all herprofessors at UMFK for their part in gettingher where she is today. Francine experiencewas a very enjoyable one, and one that shewill take with her throughout the next 29years of teaching.Recently Deceased AlumniThe following alumni have passed awayin recent months. The UMFK campuscommunity extends our heartfelt sympathyto family and friends.Barbara Crocker Goodrich1938Bertram Bouchard1952Sterling Leblanc1969David Corrow1965Vernon Kent, Jr.1981We Wantto Hearfrom You!Have you recently changed jobs, weremarried, had a child, received an honoror award, furthered your education orjust want to let fellow alumni know whatyou are up to? We will include informationsent to us in the Class Notes sectionof the next edition of The Bell Tower.You can keep in touch with us by e-mail.Do not forget to send us photos.Baby Photo Policy: We love to receivephotos of your children, but our policy isthat an alumna/us need to be in the photoas well in order for it to be published inThe Bell Tower.Send your latest information to:umfknews@maine.eduor mail information/photos to:UNIVERSITY OF MAINE AT FORT KENTALUMNI AFFAIRS OFFICE23 University DriveFort Kent, Maine 04743

Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2011The UMFK Athletic Hall of Fame inducted four individuals as the Class of2011 at a ceremony held in mid-March. The four individuals’ careers spansix decades of alumni from the University. The members of the Class of 2011are: Emery “Legs” Labbe (’51/’67); Larry Violette (’66); Michael Charette(’89); and Emlyn Jacoby (’10). With the induction of the Class of 2011, theUMFK Athletic Hall of Fame will grow to 15 members. The Hall of Famewas established in 2008.Larry Violette — 1966Violette was a four sport star at UMFK in themid 1960s. He played basketball from 1963through 1966, and soccer during the 1964and 1965 campaigns. In 1963, he was thebasketball team’s MVP. He captained thesquad in 1964-65. He set a single-seasonscoring record of 170 points in 1964 andbroke his own record the following year in1965 with 187. He played all positions inbasketball. He was honored as the 1964Outstanding Male Athlete for his play inbasketball, soccer, and badminton.Emery “Legs” Labbe — 1951/1967Labbe played and excelled in many localsports including bowling, softball, andbaseball. Labbe is the former principaland vice principal for MSAD#27, a memberof the Fort Kent Lions Club, and a formertown councilor. “Legs” is perhaps bestknown for his support of UMFK Athletics inhis role as the former editor, publisher, andsports writer for the St. John Valley Times.He has established many connections withstudent-athletes, coaches, administrators,and the extended Bengal family.Michael Charette — 1989Charette was a standout soccer player forUMFK. He played for Coach Larry Murphy(HOF ’08) and was an all-conference andall-district player, as well as a team captain.After graduation, Charette achievedsuccess in the U.S. Navy, Naval Reserves,and Maine National Guard. He laterreturned to UMFK to earn a teaching certificatein Education, and serve as assistantmen’s soccer coach for two seasons.Emlyn Jacoby — 2010Jacoby was a member of the most successfulsoccer program in the University’s history.He was team captain; the 2007 MaleAthlete of the Year; a two-time AcademicAll-American; three-time All-Americanhonorable mention; four-time SunriseConference scholar-athlete; four-timeSunrise Conference first team member;and the 2006 Sunrise Conference Rookieof-the-Year.Jacoby led his team to the2007 national “Sweet 16” round, and in2008 to the national “Elite 8” round. In2009, he captained the Bengal team thatattained number 4 in the national rankings.Jacoby did all of this while attaininga 3.7 grade point average.UMFK AThLETIC hALL OF FAMEClass of 2008Floyd “Red” PowellLowell “Ozzie” OsgoodLarry Murphy ‘75Wulf-Dieter Koch ‘89Class of 2009Terry Drown ‘68Bob Marquis ‘77Jeff Pillsbury ‘87Shaun Tomblin ‘01Class of 2010Bernard “Bunny” LaPlante ‘66Juan G. Hernandez ‘88Dana M. Lemon ‘07

23 University DriveFort Kent, ME 04743-1292Non-ProfitOrganizationUS PostagePAIDBangor, MainePermit No. 46CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTEDWelcome BiathletesFourth graders from Fort Kent Elementary School lent a warm welcome as the University housed and fed biathletes who participated in the IBU WorldCup Biathlon, February 10-13, at 10th Mountain Ski Center in Fort Kent. The students drew posters of local Fort Kent landmarks and sites for the athletes’dorm rooms in Powell Hall. They also drew the flags from each of the countries of participating athletes, shown here, for the Nowland Hall dining room.Students are in the classes of UMFK alumnae (inset) Tammy Nadeau (’86), Linda Marquis (’83), and Shelly Lausier (’96).